Risk Factors for Distant Metastasis in Patients with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The major issue of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) diagnosed after hemithyroidectomy is whether to undergo further treatments. The aim of this study is to examine the clinico-pathological characteristics of FTC and to evaluate the risk factors for distant metastasis. METHODS: From 1993 to 2010, 274 patients underwent initial thyroid surgery and were subsequently diagnosed as FTC. After review of the histological sections by an experienced pathologist, 211 patients were confirmed as FTC and were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathological features were compared based on the presence or absence of distant metastases, and the risk factors for distant metastases and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS) rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The patients included 39 males (18.5%) and 172 females (81.5%), with a mean age of 44.0±14.5 years. The median follow-up period was 99.5 months (range, 13.0~222.0). Distant metastases were detected in 23 patients (10.9%), including 15 synchronous distant metastases and 8 metachronous distant metastases. In multivariate analysis, age ≥45 years, widely invasive FTC, tumor size ≥4.3 cm, and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for distant metastasis. DMFS rates in patients with these risk factors were significantly poorer than those in patients without these risk factors. CONCLUSION: Older age, aggressive histological classification, larger tumor size, and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for distant metastasis. FTC patients with these risk factors may be candidates for further treatments after diagnostic thyroid hemithyroidectomy.

Second-Look Arthroscopic Results after Repair of Medial Meniscus Root Tears / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the healing rate of medial meniscus root repair according to the duration of symptom and to determine the association between healing status and the clinical result after medial meniscus root repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients who underwent arthroscopic meniscal root repair and second-look arthroscopy were included. Second-look arthroscopy evaluation of meniscal healing status was performed by dividing medial meniscal posterior root into the anterior half and posterior half and classifying by contact degree on the surface of the tibia and continuity. Clinical results were analyzed according to International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective scores and Lysholm scores. In addition, after dividing cases according to acute group and chronic group by six-month symptomatic period, differences were evaluated. RESULTS: Significant differences in post-operative clinical results were observed between the acute group and chronic group. A significant difference in meniscal healing status was observed between the two groups (p<0.001). A higher postoperative IKDC score and Lysholm score was observed for the completely healed group, as confirmed by second-look arthroscopy, than for the other groups. CONCLUSION: In the aspect of improving the clinical result, arthroscopic medial meniscal posterior root repair is a good treatment modality. Early repair of medial meniscal posterior root may lead to improvements in the clinical result such as meniscal healing status.