ABSTRACT
Thyroid nodular disease is a highly prevalent condition. Most nodules are asymptomatic and only identifiable on images. We have established a relationship between the particular spoke wheel pattern of thyroid masses and a benign histology. A review of our institutional database of thyroid punctured under ultrasound guidance, histologically studied between 2003 and 2011, was performed. Node selection criteria included: mixed /solid, round /oval, surrounded by a halo, with radial structures converging toward a central point, with or without calcifications, and with peripheral vessels along with others oriented toward the center of the thyroid masses. Seventy-nine (2.5 percent) out of 3.204 punctured masses exhibited this sign. Average size: 28.3 mm. Fifty-eight masses were benign colloid nodules as diagnosed on FNA biopsy. Remaining masses corresponded to Lesion Follicular (4 benign, surgically treated; 7 under follow-up, stable; 10 with no information). Despite being a rare radiologic finding, the spoke wheel sign may be another element contributing to ultrasonographic discrimination between benignity and malignancy, especially in large thyroid masses.
La patología nodular tiroidea es altamente prevalente. La mayoría de los nódulos son asintomáticos y solo identificados en imágenes. Hemos establecido la relación entre una morfología especial del nódulo en rueda de carreta e histología benigna. Se realizó una revisión de la base de datos de nódulos puncionados bajo US y estudiados histológicamente entre 2003 y 2011. Criterios de selección: nódulos mixtos/sólidos, redondos/ovales, rodeados por un halo, presentando estructuras convergentes hacia un punto central con o sin calcificaciones y vasos periféricos con otros orientados hacia el centro del nódulo. De 3.204 nódulos puncionados 79 (2,5 por ciento) presentaron el signo. Tamaño promedio: 28,3 mm. Cincuenta y ocho resultaron nódulos coloideos benignos en PAAF. El resto fueron informados como lesiones foliculares (4 operados benignos, 7 en seguimiento y estables, 10 sin información). Este signo es poco frecuente, pero puede ser un elemento más que colabore en la discriminación ecográfica de benignidad/malignidad, especialmente en nódulos tiroideos de gran tamaño.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Ultrasonography , Thyroid Nodule/pathology , Thyroid Nodule , Punctures , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has evolved from a massive utilization to a restricted use under very precise medical indications, in the light of the deletereous effects its indiscriminate prescription could entail. It is not beneficial for secondary prevention, but rather implies additional cardiocerebrovascular risks, and therefore it must be preferentially employed during perimenopausic and non-late periods, in the smallest possible dose and only over short periods of time, restricting its prescription to women presenting with severe estrogen deprivation syndrome or to osteoporotic patients intolerant to calcium and bifosfonates therapy. Breast cancer risk -which is low- is related to a estrogen therapy extended for more than seven years or associated with the use of progesterone for a period exceeding five years. Personal medical records of breast cancer imply absolute contraindication. Currently there are no research work supporting the safe use of phytoestrogens as an alternative therapy. It is likely that in upcoming days transdermal estrogen administration associated with natural progesterone could allow an increased use of them, but for the time being there are no massive studies supporting their recommendation.
El uso de terapia de reemplazo hormonal ha evolucionado desde su empleo masivo a un uso restringido bajo indicaciones precisas, a la luz de los efectos deletéreos que pudiera significar su indicación indiscriminada. No es de utilidad en la prevención secundaria y más bien representa riesgos adicionales cardiovasculares y cerebro vasculares, por lo que se debe emplear de preferencia en el periodo peri-menopáusico y no tardío, en la menor dosis posible y por el menor tiempo necesario, restringiendo su indicación a las mujeres con síntomas de deprivación estrogénica severa o a mujeres osteoporóticas que no toleran la terapia de calcio y bifosfonatos. El riesgo de cáncer de mama -que es bajo- está relacionado con una terapia estrogénica prolongada de 7 años o más o en asociación con el empleo de progesterona por más de 5 años. Antecedentes personales de cáncer de mama representan una contraindicación absoluta. No hay trabajos a la fecha que apoyen el empleo sin riesgo de fitoestrógenos como una terapia alternativa al uso de estrógenos. Es posible que en el futuro la administración transdérmica de los estrógenos, asociado a progesteronas naturales permitan su mayor utilización, pero aún no se dispone de estudios masivos que aprueben su recomendación.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Phytoestrogens/administration & dosage , Breast Neoplasms/chemically induced , Hormone Replacement Therapy/adverse effects , Phytoestrogens/adverse effects , Menopause , Breast Neoplasms/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Depending on age, sex, and geographic area, 19 to 67% of the general population is found to have thyroid nodules when submitted to ultrasonica-lly-guided diagnostic puncture. Being benign in more than a 80%, most of them corresponds to colloid nodules. Indiscriminate fine-needle aspiration not only increases health costs but also generates anxiety in patients. The echographic-histological correlation of thyroid nodules made it possible to define five typical patterns (colloid patterns 1, 2, 3; neoplastic type, and malignant pattern). Thirty three percent of colloid nodules may appear as follicular neoplasms or malign nodules, being puncture the only means for recognizing and establishing the difference between them. Nevertheless, 67% of nodules presents a typical appearance that corresponds to colloid patterns 1, 2, and 3, which show a weak association to cancer risk(0%, 0% and 1,5%, respectively). On this basis, ultrasound follow-up is advised to recognize them in order to significantly diminish unnecessary diagnostic histological punctures.
En el 19 al 67%> de la población general se diagnostican nodulos tiroideos mediante ultra-sonografía, dependiendo de la edad, sexo y área geográfica. En más del 80% su naturaleza es benigna y la gran mayoría corresponde a nodulos coloideos. Su punción indiscriminada aumenta costos y genera ansiedad. La correlación ultrasonográfica-histológica de los nodulos tiroideos permitió definir cinco patrones característicos (patrón coloideo típico tipos 1 a 3, patrón neoplásico y patrón maligno). El 33%> de los nodulos coloideos simula la apariencia de nodulos de tipo neoplasia folicular o de aspecto maligno y sólo con punción se puede diferenciar entre ellos. No obstante, el 67%> de los nodulos tiene aspecto típico y corresponden a patrones coloideos Tipo 1, 2 y 3, con una baja asociación con cáncer (0%, 0%y 1,5% en los tres grupos respectivamente), lo que autoriza su seguimiento ultrasonográfico. Al reconocerlos como tal, se puede disminuir en forma significativa las punciones diagnósticas innecesarias.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy, Fine-Needle/methods , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Thyroid Neoplasms , Ultrasonography , Thyroid Gland/pathology , Thyroid Gland , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
Bronchogenic cysts are congenital malformations of the tracheo-bronchial tree usually located intrathoraxically. We report a 44 years old male with a bronchogenic cyst located exceptionally in the pre tracheal anterior cervical region, simulating a thyroid lesion
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Thyroid Nodule/diagnosis , Bronchogenic Cyst/diagnosis , Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis , Bronchogenic Cyst/surgery , Bronchogenic Cyst/pathology , Bronchogenic Cyst , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Background: parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi, a tracer that is taken up by byperfuncttoning parathyroid tissue, has a high yield in the diagnosis of abnormal parathyroid grouths. Aim: to assess the usefulness of parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi in patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism. Patients and methods: we analyzed retrospectively 29 patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism, in whom a scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi was performed. Results: twenty four of 25 patients in whom hyperfuntioning parathyroid tissue was evidenced with scintigraphy, were operated. Histological diagnosis of the escised parathyroid gland, showed 23 adenomas and 1 hyperplasia. Anatomical location disclosed by scintigraphy was concordant with surgical finding in all cases, including a mediastinic adenoma. Of the four patients with negative scintigraphic findings, two had transitory PTH elevations and in two the presence of adenoma or hyperplasia could not be demonstrated with other diagnostic procedures. Conclusions: parathyroid scintigraphy with Tc99m Sestamibi had an 86 percent sensitivity for the detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in patients with elevated PTH