Atypia of undetermined significance on thyroid fine needle aspiration: surgical outcome and risk factors for malignancy

PURPOSE: This study was performed to analyze the surgical pathology results of the "atypia of undetermined significance" (AUS) category from thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) and to describe the characteristics to distinguish a malignant from a benign nodule. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was done on 116 patients who underwent thyroid surgery from December 2008 to December 2012, following a diagnosis of AUS from preoperative thyroid FNA. We investigated the age, gender, size and site of the nodules, ultrasonographic criteria, cytological features, the number of atypia results after repeated FNAs, surgical method, and final pathologic results. RESULTS: Sixty-five out of 116 patients underwent total thyroidectomy and the rest had partial thyroidectomy. The final pathologic results were 41 malignancies (35.3%) and 75 benign diseases (64.7%). AUS was divided into group 1: 'cannot rule out malignancy' or group 2: 'cannot rule out follicular neoplasm'. After surgery, group 1 revealed papillary thyroid cancer in most cases and group 2 revealed follicular adenoma in most cases. Age over 40 years, ultrasonographic findings suggestive of malignancy, more than 2 results of atypia from repeated FNAs and nodules less than 2 centimeters were risk factors for malignancy on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that ultrasonographic findings suggestive of malignancy was a significant risk factor for malignancy. CONCLUSION: For proper evaluation of the risk for malignancy in thyroid AUS patients, the ultrasonographic criteria should be considered along with other clinicopathological findings such as age, nodule size, number of atypia, cytologic features.

Malignant thyroid bed mass after total thyroidectomy / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: Ultrasonographic (US) criteria on malignant thyroid bed mass have been suggested, including taller than wide shape, loss of echogenic hilum, abnormal vascularity, and microcalcification. The relationship between fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings and US findings on thyroid bed mass is unknown. We have retrospectively assessed the malignant thyroid bed mass after total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 2,048 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy due to PTC. FNA was performed in 97 patients on the thyroid bed under US surveillance. The 97 suspicious thyroid bed masses were divided into two groups: metastatic thyroid bed group (n = 34) and nonmetastatic group (n = 63). The groups were evaluated according to various clinical, serologic, and US findings. RESULTS: Within a median 47.0 months of follow-up, the proportion of malignant thyroid bed mass was high in large tumor size (1.37 cm vs. 1.03 cm), isthmic position (10.3% vs. 3.9%), and previous N1a (55.9% vs. 34.9%). US findings revealed that the presence of microcalcification or macrocalcification (47.1% vs. 19.0%) and thyroid bed mass height (5.4 mm vs. 3.9 mm) were the only discriminable criteria for central compartment recurrence. But, degree of echogenicity, loss of hilum, and irregularity of margin failed to discriminate malignant thyroid bed mass. CONCLUSION: US findings on malignant thyroid bed mass were different from previously reported general criteria on lateral metastatic nodes. Additional FNA cytology should be performed on patients, even low-risk patients, who present the above findings.

Clinical Experiences of Transarterial Embolization after Abdominal Surgery in Trauma Patients / 대한혈관외과학회지

PURPOSE: Transarterial embolization has been known as an effective nonsurgical treatment for selected patients with intraabdominal hemorrhage. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcomes of transarterial embolization after emergency operation in the blunt abdominal trauma patients with hemoperitoneum. METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2008, a total of 13 consecutive blunt abdominal trauma patients with intraabdominal hemorrhage who received transarterial embolization after abdominal surgery were included. The characteristics, procedures, and the clinical outcomes of patients were analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 6 males and 7 females. Age ranged between 21 and 77 years (mean 42.3 years). The most common injured organ was the liver (10 patients, 76.9%), and the most common embolized artery was hepatic artery (8 patients, 61.5%). Transarterial embolizations were intended to control the continued bleeding (9 patients, 69.2%), delayed bleeding (3 patients), and arteriovenous fistula (1 patient). Further, technical success was achieved in all 13 patients. One of 13 patients died of multiorgan failure. No procedure-related complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Angiography has a high detection rate of bleeding sites in patients with intraabdominal hemorrhage after blunt abdominal trauma. Transarterial embolization is considered as an effective and safe method in the management of intraabdominal hemorrhage after abdominal surgery in trauma patients.