Outcomes of elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery for complicated colorectal cancer: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent types of malignant neoplasms. Age is a risk factor for this disease, with 75% of cases diagnosed in patients older than 65 years. Complications such as obstruction, hemorrhage, and perforation are present in more than one-third of cases and require emergency treatment. We aim to analyze the profile of elderly patients undergoing surgery for complicated colorectal cancer, and to evaluate factors related to worse short-term prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent emergency surgical treatment for complicated colorectal cancer was performed. Demographics, clinical, radiological and histological data were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were analyzed. The median age was 72 years, and almost half (46%) of the patients were female. Obstruction was the most prevalent complication at initial presentation (72%). The most common sites of neoplasia were the left and sigmoid colon in 22 patients (32.8%), and the right colon in 17 patients (25.4%). Resection was performed in 88% of cases, followed by primary anastomosis in almost half. The most frequent clinical stages were II (48%) and III (22%). Forty-three patients (65.7%) had some form of postoperative complication. Clavien-Dindo grades 1, 2, and 4, were the most frequent. Complete oncologic resection was observed in 80% of the cases. The thirty-day mortality rate was 10.4%. Advanced age was associated with worse morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with complicated colorectal cancer undergoing emergency surgery have high morbidity and mortality rates. Advanced age is significantly associated with worse outcomes.

Valor de predição para malignidade dos aspectos macroscópicos do nódulo tireoidiano / Predictive value for malignancy of the thyroid nodule macroscopically

Introdução: A punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) é um método de alta acurácia no diagnóstico pré-operatório dos nódulos tireoidianos, mas o "padrão folicular" segue sendo um fator de falha. Por outro lado, a utilidade do exame intra-operatório de congelação é controversa. Aspectos macroscópicos dos nódulos tireoidianos podem aumentar a acurácia diagnóstica pré e intra-operatória da PAAF e a biópsia de congelação. Objetivo: Avaliar os aspectos macroscópicos do espécime cirúrgico na tomada de decisão frente à doença nodular da glândula tireoide. Método: Durante 2007, 85 pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico por doença nodular tireoidiana foram avaliados por estudo prospectivo e os aspectos macroscópicos de 125 nódulos foram comparados aos achado histopatológicos. Resultados: Foi observado que o padrão de crescimento recente, a presença de aderências da tireoide, a ausência de hemorragia, a presença de necrose e a má delimitação do nódulo tiveram significado estatístico no resultado de doença maligna. Conclusão: Padrão de crescimento, aderências da tireoide, necrose e a má delimitação do nódulo são fatores indicativos de malignidade, enquanto a presença de hemorragia é fator protetor.

Introduction: The fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a method of high accuracy in the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but the "follicular" remains a factor of failure. Furthermore, the usefulness of intraoperative examination of freezing is controversial. Macroscopic aspects of thyroid nodules may increase the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative and intraoperative FNA biopsy and freezing. Objective: To evaluate the macroscopic aspects of the surgical specimen in the decision facing the nodular disease of thyroid gland. Methods: During 2007, 85 patients underwent surgical treatment for thyroid nodular diseases were evaluated by prospective and macroscopic aspects of 125 nodules were compared with histopathological findings. Results: We found that the pattern of recent growth, the presence of adhesions of the thyroid, absence of hemorrhage, necrosis and poor demarcation of the nodule had statistical significance in the outcome of malignant disease. Conclusion:Pattern of growth, thyroid adhesions, necrosis and poor demarcation of the nodule are predictors of malignancy, while the presence of hemorrhage is a protective factor.

O papel da biópsia intraoperatória de congelação para os nódulos tireoidianos / The role of intraoperative frozen sections for thyroid nodules

O valor da biópsia de congelação (BC) durante a tireoidectomia é controverso. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o papel da BC na conduta frente os nódulos tireoidianos. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: Trabalho prospectivo de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia tireoidiana por doença nodular e com PAAF guiada por USG prévia em 2006. A BC intra-operatória foi classificada em benigna, maligna ou neoplasia folicular. PAAF, BC e exame de "parafina" foram comparados. RESULTADOS: À BC, 54 por cento dos nódulos eram benignos, 30 por cento neoplasia foliculares e 16 por cento malignos. Todos os casos considerados benignos e malignos pela BC foram confirmados pelo exame de "parafina". Classificando as neoplásicas foliculares como "benignas" à BC, pois não possuem critério para indicação de tireoidectomia total, sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos para os testes positivo e negativo e acurácia global foram, respectivamente, 69 por cento, 100 por cento, 100 por cento, 91,5 por cento e 77 por cento. Casos classificados como "benignos" e "malignos" à PAAF foram confirmados pela BC e "parafina." Dentre os 42 casos de "neoplasia folicular" à PAAF, em um caso, a BC concluiu como carcinoma papilífero, em três, como benigno (confirmados pela "parafina"); e, em 38, manteve "padrão folicular", sendo 29 adenomas foliculares e nove carcinomas à "parafina". CONCLUSÕES: A BC somente está indicada nos casos cuja PAAF seja "neoplasia folicular."

The role of intraoperative frozen sections (FS) during thyroidectomy is controversial. AIM: to evaluate the role of FS for thyroid nodules management. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who had thyroid surgery for nodular disease and previous USG-guided FNAB in 2006 were prospectively analyzed. They underwent intraoperative FS evaluation, and the biopsy material was classified as benign, malignant or follicular neoplasm. FNAB, FS and paraffin sections were compared. RESULTS: Under the FS, 54 percent of the nodules were benign, 30 percent were follicular neoplasms, and 16 percent were malignant. All cases considered benign and malignant under the FS evaluation were confirmed through the histological "paraffin" analysis. Since it is not considered a definitive indication for total thyroidectomy, if the follicular neoplasms were classified as "benign" under the FS, their sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and global diagnostic accuracy were 69 percent, 100 percent, 100 percent, 91,5 percent e 77 percent, respectively. Among the 42 cases classified as "follicular neoplasm" under the FNAB, in 1 case the FS conclusion was for papillary carcinoma, in 3 cases as benign (all confirmed through the "paraffin"); and 38 cases continued as "follicular pattern", being 29 follicular adenomas and 9 carcinomas through the "paraffin". CONCLUSION: The FS is only indicated when the FNAB reports "follicular neoplasm".

Hipotireoidismo após hemitireoidectomia / Hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy

Introdução: A lobectomia tireoideana tem a vantagem de evitar que muitos pacientes necessitem ser submetidos à terapia de reposição definitiva com tiroxina. Objetivo: Avaliar a função tireoidiana após a hemitireoidectomia e os fatores de risco para o hipotireoidismo pós-operatório. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo de 69 pacientes consecutivos submetidos a lobectomia e istmectomia durante 2007. As determinações dos hormônios tireoideanos foram realizadas no pré-operatório e com um mês de pós-operatório e correlacionadas com os dados demográficos, clínicos e anatomopatológicos. Foram aplicados os testes U de Mann-Whitney e Exato de Fischer. Resultados: A massa do lobo tireoidiano remanescente teve uma tendência a fator de risco para hipotireoidismo (p=0,0949). Não houve significado estatístico quanto aos outros aspectos analisados. Conclusão: Foi detectado hipotireoidismo subclínico em 26,1% e hipotireoidismo clínico em 2,9% dos pacientes em pós-operatório. A massa do lobo tireoideano preservado teve uma tendência estatística (p=0,0949) a ser fator de risco para o hipotireoidismo.

Introduction: The thyroid lobectomy has the advantage of sparing many patients from the need of thyroxine definitive replacement therapy. Objective: To evaluate the thyroid function after the hemithyroidectomy and the risk factors for the postoperative hypothyroidism. Methods: It is a retrospective study of 69 consecutive patients undergone thyroid lobectomy and istmusectomy during 2007. Thyroid hormone determinations were performed before and one month after the surgical approach and were correlated to demographic, clinical e histopathological data. The Mann-Whitney U Test and the Exact Test of Fischer were employed. Results: The mass of the remaining lobe presented some statistical trend (p=0.0949) as risk factor for the hypothyroidism. No statistical significance was observed regarding the other analyzed aspects. Conclusion: Subclinical hypothyroidism was detected in 26.1%, whereas clinical hypothyroidism was detected in 2.9% of the patients in the postoperative period. The mass of the preserved lobe presented some statistical trend (p=0.0949) as risk factor for the hypothyroidism.

Punção aspirativa por agulha fina guiada por ultra-sonografia para nódulos tireoidianos / Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for thyroid nodules

Introdução: A punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) é um método eficaz, minimamente invasivo e seguro para o diagnóstico pré-operatório de nódulos tireoidianos e seu desempenho é superior quando guiada pela ultra-sonografia (USG). Objetivo: avaliar o uso da PAAF da tireóide guiada por USG. Pacientes e Método: Todos os pacientes submetidos à cirurgia tireoidiana por doença nodular e com PAAF guiada por USG prévia em 2006 foram prospectivamente avaliados no Hospital Ana Costa e na Santos da Irmandade da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos. Resultados: À citopatologia, 50% dos nódulos eram benignos, 34,5% eram neoplasia foliculares e 15,5% eram malignos. Assim, o padrão indeterminado de neoplasia follicular foi verificado em 42 PAAF (34,5%). Não houve resultados inconclusivos ao exame citopatológico. Todos os casos considerados benignos e malignos pela citopatologia foram confirmados pelo exame histopatológico. Se classificarmos as neoplásicas foliculares como sendo malignas à citopatologia, já que se constituem em indicação para a realização da tireoidectomia, sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos para os testes positivo e negativo e acurácia global da PAAF guiada por USG foram, respectivamente, 100%, 64,9%, 45,9%, 100% e 73%. Conclusão: A PAAF guiada por USG é um meio confiável e efetivo de diagnóstico etiológico dos nódulos tireoidianos e para sua indicação cirúrgica, sendo a neoplasia folicular ainda um fator de dúvida.

Introduction: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is an accurate, slightly invasive, and safe method for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the ultrasound (USG) guidance is valuable to enhance the FNAB diagnostic performance. Objective: to assess the usefulness of USG-guided FNAB of the thyroid. Patients and methods: All patients having thyroid surgery for nodular disease and previous USG-guided FNAB in 2006 were prospectively analyzed in Hospital Ana Costa, and Irmandade da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos. Results: Cytologically, 50% were benign, 34.5% follicular neoplasm, and 15.5% malignant. Thus, the indeterminate pattern of follicular neoplasia was observed in 42 FNAB (34.5%). There was no inconclusive result under the cytological analysis. All cases considered benign and malignant under the cytological evaluation were confirmed through the histological analysis. Since it is considered an indication for the surgical approach, if the follicular neoplasms were classified as malignant under the cytologic evaluation, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and global diagnostic accuracy of USG-guided FNAB were 100%, 64.9%, 45.9%, 100%, and 73%, respectively. Conclusion: The USG-guided FNAB is a reliable and effective means for the etiologic diagnosis of thyroid nodules and the indications for operative intervention. However, the follicular neoplasia is still a pitfall factor.