Preoperative Ultrasonographic Evaluation in Detecting Extrathyroidal Extension and Risk Factors of Extrathyroidal Extension in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is one of the risk factors to be considered when deciding on operation extent and radioiodine ablation in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Ultrasonography (USG) is the most widely used imaging modality in preoperative evaluation of thyroid carcinoma; however, few studies regarding accuracy of USG in preoperative evaluation of ETE have been reported. In this study, we investigated the accuracy of preoperative USG in detection of ETE and evaluated other risk factors associated with permanent ETE. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 349 consecutive patients who underwent curative thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Preoperative USG findings according to percent of contact and disruption of thyroid capsule were evaluated and compared with the permanent pathology. Clinicopathologic characteristics were investigated for assessment of the risk factors associated with ETE. RESULTS: ETE was identified in permanent pathology of 68 (19.5%) patients. When we defined the ETE on preoperative USG as more than 25% contact with the adjacent capsule, the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 43.03% and 90.73%, respectively. Size of the nodule and preoperative USG findings with the percent of contact with adjacent capsule and capsule disruption showed an association with ETE on permanent pathology. However, in multivariate analysis, only size of the nodule and capsule disruption on USG were identified as risk factors for prediction of ETE on permanent pathology. CONCLUSION: Capsule disruption on preoperative USG can provide useful predictive information about permanent ETE. Another risk factor associated with ETE was size of nodule in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Serum Thyroglobulin Varies according to Thyrotropin Levels during Preparation for Treatment by Radioactive Iodine Ablation and Scan / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Periods of L-T4 withdrawal and low iodine diet, which are required prior to the treatment and tracking tests that take place after a thyroidectomy, can be of a long duration and cause suffering for patients. The purpose of this study, conducted in South Korea, was to confirm if periods of L-T4 withdrawal and low iodine diet can be shortened by using TSH level prediction. By inquiring into the correlation between TSH level and serum Tg level, and measurement of the amount of iodine present in urine during the low iodine diet period, a thyroglobulin (Tg) cutoff level can be predicted. METHODS: total of 168 patients were included as research subjects. In each case, L-T4 was suspended 3-4 weeks prior to conducting radioactive iodine ablation and 131I scan, and then a low iodine diet was carried out for 2-4 weeks. Serum TSH, Tg and anti-Tg antibodies were measured on the second week of L-T4 withdrawal, and the spot urine Iodine/Creatinine ratio was measured on the second and fourth week after treatment. RESULTS: Three weeks after L-T4 withdrawal, TSH levels increased to over 30μIU/ml in 97.2% of the patients, and serum thyroglobulin levels also increased with TSH level to over 30μIU/ml. There was no measured difference in the amount of iodine in the subject's urine during the low iodine diet period. CONCLUSION: It was found that L-T4 withdrawal can be reduced to 3 weeks or less, and that the Tg cutoff level differs according to TSH level. Based on these results, we suggested that the low iodine diet period can be reduced to 1-2 weeks.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Papillary Microcarcinoma: Results from Retrospective Analysis of 176 Patients / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The clinical importance and characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTC) are still under debate, and the criteria for appropriate treatment have yet to be established. In this study, we attempted to examine the appropriate extent of surgery and the desirability of prophylactic lymph node (LN) dissection through identification of factors influencing LN metastasis and capsular invasions. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 176 consecutive biopsy-proven PTC patients. The clinical and pathological prognostic factors including LN metastasis and capsular invasion were analyzed. Chi-square test and independent sample T-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 47-years-of-age (range 23~80 years). Among 108 patients who underwent central LN dissection, 38 (35.8%) patients showed LN metastasis. Univariate analysis revealed that male patients showed significantly more LN metastasis than female patients and lymphovascular invasion significantly affected LN metastasis. Twenty-eight (14.8%) patients showed capsular invasion. Tumor size, especially tumors ≥5 mm in diameter, and tumor multiplicity were significantly associated with capsular Invasion. Lymphatic or venous invasion also affected the occurrence of capsular invasion. CONCLUSION: Patients who are male, have a tumor larger than 5 mm in diameter, or multiple tumors are more likely to develop LN metastasis or capsular invasions. These factors could help us to decide the extent of thyroidectomy and to select patients who need prophylactic LN dissection.

Clinical Review of the Hepatic Resection for Hepatolithiasis: Factors Affecting Postoperative Complications / 한국간담췌외과학회지

PURPOSE: The hepatolithiasis and associated cholangitis result in liver atropy, biliary stricture, liver abscess and intrahepatic malignancy, and a hepatic resection should be performed in such cases. The technical difficulty and accompanied inflammation with a hepatic resection frequently cause postoperative complications. Therefore, the factors affecting the postoperative complications were evaluated. METHODS: Twenty one patients, with hepatolithiasis that had received a hepatectomy at the Department of Surgery, Eulji University Hospital between March 2001 and January 2003, were reviewed. RESULTS: The postoperative complications were intraabdominal abscess (7 cases), pleural effusion (3 cases), wound complication (3 cases), T-tube site leakage (1 case), cardiac arrest (1 case), acute pancreatitis (1 case), hepatitis A (1 case) and delayed gastric emptying (1 case). The overall complication rate was 57% (12/21 patients) and the most common complication was an intraabdominal abscess (7 cases). The factors that may affect these complications were analyzed. Preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) increased the postoperative complications, which was statistically significant (p=0.027). Especially, preoperative PTBD and hepaticojejunostomy increased the rate of an intraabdominal abscess, which was statistically significant (p=0.026, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: With hepatolithiasis requiring hepatic resection there is a need to avoid unnecessary preoperative PTBD and bypass surgery for the reduction of postoperative complications, including an intraabdominal abscess. Conversely, it is considered important to remove every stone and avoid needless bypass surgery under an operation and for a hepatic resection to be performed after removing PTBD, where possible.

Usefulness of Preoperative Percutaneous Transhepatic GB Drainge on Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients with Acute Cholecystitis / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has many clinical advantages and is now recognize as the choice of treatment for gallstones. However a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is often not feasible or is converted to the conventional open method in patients with acute cholecystitis because of inflammation around the gallbladder, adhesion, unclear anatomy, or intraoperative complications. Recent studies recommended that acute cholecystitis patients or gallbladder empyema patients undergo a percutaneous transhepatic GB drainage (PTGBD) first and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy later because PTGBD can be very helpful for improving the patient's state. METHODS: This study was carried out on 99 patients with acute cholecystitis or GB empyema who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy after PTGBD at Eulji University School of Medicine from January 1996. These cases were compared with a control group of 41 patients who showed similar symptoms, ultrasonographic finding, operative finding, and pathologic results. RESULTS: There were no differences in the age and the sex distributions, the symptom duration, laboratory finding except alkaline phosphatase and leucocytosis. Among PTGBD group, a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy was possible in 63 patients (63.6%), the other 36 patients were converted to open cholecystectomy. In control group, only 15 patients (36.6%) out of 41 underwent a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This difference was statistically significant (P= 0.003). We analyze two groups about factors that can affect open conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In multivariate analysis, preoperative PTGBD and degree of wall thickening are the independent risk factors that can convert LC into open cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: We think that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed some time after PTGBD to improve the patient's condition by eliminating acute inflammation or decompressing the gallbladder may be recommended for management of acute cholecystitis patients with severe clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic findings of marked gallbladder dilatation or pericholecystic fluid collection.

Intravenous Atropine Sulfate Therapy for Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of intravenous atropine sulfate therapy in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). From 1998 to 2000 among 35 cases of IHPS, pyloromytomy was performed in 13 (Group A), and intravenous atropine was given as a primary therapy in 22 cases (Group B). In group A, all cases were cured completely. In group B, 13 (59 %) out of 22 cases were successfully treated with atropine, but 9 were failed therapy, and required operation. The recovery period to normal feeding and the hospital stay of the successful atropine group were longer than those of pyloromyotomy, 8.6 days vs. 2.9 days and 13.2 days vs. 4.1 days, respectively. In conclusion, intravenous atropine therapy did not replace pyloromyotomy, but it might be an alternative for the selected patients with contraindications for operation.

A Clinical Report of 111 Internal Arteriovenous Fistulas in 111 Patient for 5 Years

PURPOSE: Hemodialysis remains the most important support for patients with end stage renal disease, and vascular access is an essential component for their life. Since 1966, internal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has been used widely today. If vessels were not available for AVF, the alternative would be used such as prosthetic graft. But in 1997, the National Kidney Foundation-Dialysis Outcome and Quality Initiative (DOQI) recommended increased use of native arteriovenous fistula to improve overall patency and curtail angioaccess costs. This retrospective study is to review our experience and to evaluate the overall patency rate and the influencing factors on the patency of the AVF. METHOD: From March 1995 through October 2000, 111 fistulas were created of 111 patients in Eulji university hospital. Among them, 106 cases were able to follow up survey. The statistical analysis used by SPSS package. RESULT: The male versus female ratio was 1.22:1 and the age distribution was occurred on from 3rd decade to 9th decade. the common causes of renal failure was hypertension, glomerulonephritis and diabetes (62.1%). the autogenous graft fistulas were performed in 101 cases (wrist/antecubital fossa. 101/3), Goretex graft fistula were 7 cases. The early graft failures were 12 cases (11.4%) and the causes was thrombosis or stricture, and immaturation, psudoaneurysm, venous hypertension in order of frequency. At 12, 24, 36 months, the assisted patency rates of AVF were 80.4, 76.5, 71.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We could get higher patency rate of AVF due to liberal use of native veins and aggressive intervention of the failing AVF as recommendation of DOQI.