Overall survival of patients with thyroid cancer in Martinique (2008-2018).

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (TC) overall survival at 5 years was estimated at 97% in mainland France over 2010-2015. Its prognosis is known to be affected by patient age, tumor histology, size, and extension. This study aims to describe overall survival of thyroid cancer patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2018 in Martinique. METHODS: We included in this retrospective analytical study all patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. An overall survival analysis at 1, 3 and 5 years of thyroid cancer patients diagnosed in Martinique from 2008 to 2018 was conducted. Prognostic factors associated with survival have been identified. Stage at diagnosis and patterns of care among thyroid cancer patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 323 thyroid cancer patients were registered between 2008 and 2018. Papillary carcinomas represented 83% of diagnoses. Local stage or locally advanced invasion was found in 264 (88%) patients. 221 Multidisciplinary Teams reports files were reviewed. The overall survival observed in this population is 97% [93-99] at 1 year, 93% [88-97] at 3 years and 91% [85-95] at 5 years. Anaplastic, poorly differentiated and medullar tumors had lower survival rates at 5 years (39% [13-65]) compared to papillary tumors (93% [89-96]). We found that metastatic stage at diagnosis (HR = 3.1[1.3-7.6]; p = 0.01) and tumor size > 3 cm (HR = 2.7 [1.1-6.3]) were independent prognostic factors for OS in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates of thyroid cancer in Martinique are comparable to those observed in France.

Epidemiological, Clinical, Ultrasonographic and Cytological Characteristics of Thyroid Nodules in an Afro-Caribbean Population: A Series of 420 Patients.

The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical and ultrasound characteristics of malignancy in thyroid nodules and to evaluate the predictive value of the Bethesda system for thyroid cytology in the diagnosis of malignancy in an Afro-Caribbean population. We conducted a retrospective study in Martinique involving 420 patients with a diagnosis of thyroid nodules between 2011 and 2014. Of the 192/420 (45.7%) patients operated on for thyroid nodules, 9% had thyroid cancer. All patients with thyroid cancer were obese women with a mean age of 50 years. The final histological examination revealed papillary microcarcinomas in 61% of cases and papillary carcinomas in 39% of cases. Thyroid cytology alone had a low sensitivity (22.2%) and positive predictive value (15.4%) for the diagnosis of malignancy, with a good specificity (91.1%) and negative predictive value (94.2%). None of the standard ultrasound criteria of malignancy were significantly predictive of cancer, but hypoechogenicity and central vascularity were frequently found in malignant nodules. These epidemiological, clinical and ultrasound results could increase awareness and guide practitioners in their diagnostic approach and management of thyroid nodules in an Afro-Caribbean population. Bethesda system-based cytology revealed lower sensitivity in analyzing the risk of malignancy in this population. The high prevalence of papillary microcarcinomas may explain the inconclusive ultrasound and cytological results.

Epidemiologic, Clinical, Ultrasonographic, and Cytological Features of Thyroid Nodules in Predicting Malignancy Risk: A Retrospective Study of 442 French Afro-Caribbean Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate epidemiologic, clinical, cytological, and ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules in a sample French Afro-Caribbean population to determine if the standard criteria for predicting malignancy risk are applicable to this specific ethnic population. Methods and Design. This retrospectively designed study consisted of 442 patients who had consulted with the Endocrinology Department in Martinique (French overseas department) between 2007 and 2011. Of the 442 patients, 641 ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirations (US-FNA) were performed by two experienced endocrinologists, and 212 patients underwent surgery. The geographical situation, age, gender of the patient, clinical and ultrasonographic features, TSH level, and US-FNA results were considered and cross-referenced with their pathology results. RESULTS: The overall malignancy rate on final histopathology was 9% (women only), 80% of which were papillary cancer, and 20% were follicular cancer. Occult micropapillary carcinoma represented 35% of the papillary cancer. There was no significant difference in age, nodule localization, number of nodules, or thyroid function test between benign and malignant nodules. Contrary to the literature, we found only 12% incidentaloma in our series, while more than half of the nodules were discovered on palpation or as a clinical symptom. Hypoechogenicity in solid pattern nodules and nodules between 2 and 3 cm in size revealed a high diagnostic value in detecting malignancy. The corresponding rate of malignancy on Bethesda system histopathologic examination was as follows: 0% in undiagnosed (I), 0% benign (II) (micropapillary), 5% (FLUS)/atypia (III), 9% follicular neoplasm (IV), 33% suspected malignancy (V), and no malignant cytology (VI). These results show a different Bethesda system predictive value for this French Afro-Caribbean population. CONCLUSION: Studies evaluating ethnic cancer disparities among patients with thyroid cancer are limited and do not specifically focus on the French Afro-Caribbean population. Despite rare thyroid incidentaloma, 35% of the papillary cancer cases were micropapillary carcinoma, and the incidence and standardized mortality rate in Martinique are lower than in metropolitan France. The malignant risk distribution of thyroid FNA Bethesda classification in this sample population differs from the standard risk, and it is necessary to take that into account in the decision to operate by associating it with echographic malignancy criteria.

Cost of diabetic foot in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and United Kingdom: A systematic review.

AIM: Cost estimates for diabetic foot are available for developed countries based on cost data for different years. This study aimed to provide a comparison of the cost of diabetic foot in E5 (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom) and its characteristics across different conditions. METHODS: PubMed, Central and Embase databases were searched in February 2017 for English language publications. Bibliographies of relevant papers were also searched manually. Reviews and research papers from E5 regions reporting on cost of diabetic foot were included. Reported cost was converted to equivalent 2016 $ for comparison purposes. All the costs presented are mean cost per patient per year in 2016 $. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in the analysis. The total cost of amputation ranged from $ 15,046 in 2001 to $ 38,621 in 2005. The direct cost of amputation ranged from $ 13,842 in 2001 to $ 83,728 during 2005-2009. Indirect cost of amputation was more uniform, ranging from between $ 1,043 to $ 1,442. The direct cost of gangrene ranged from $ 3,352 in 2003 to $ 8,818 in Germany. Although, for the same year, 2003, the cost for Spain was almost double that for Germany. The total cost of an uninfected ulcer was $ 6,174 in 2002, but increased to $ 14,441 in 2005; for an infected ulcer the cost increased from $ 2,637 to $ 2,957. The different countries showed variations in the components used to calculate the cost of diabetic foot. CONCLUSIONS: The E5 incurs a heavy cost from diabetic foot and its complications. There is an unmet need for the identification of cost-cutting strategies, as diabetic foot costs more than major cardiac diseases.