Expression of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to examine the rate of expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β1 (ERβ1), progesterone receptor (PR), and rate of overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a relatively large cohort of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We also aimed to examine whether each receptor influenced clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of PTC. @*Materials and Methods@#We made a microarray of paraffin-embedded PTC surgical tissues from 436 patients. We compared the results of the immunohistochemical staining for each hormone receptor with clinicopathological characteristics. @*Results@#The positive expression rate of hormonal receptors was 40.4% for ERα, 83.7% for ERβ1, and 71.3% for PR in patients with PTC. Overexpression of EGFR was shown in 19.3% of patients with PTC. The age was lower (44.6±12.1 years vs. 47.1±12.5 years, p=0.040) and tumor smaller (0.96±0.69 cm vs. 1.13±0.82 cm, p=0.020) in the ERα positive group, which also showed higher PR positivity (80.7% vs. 65.0%, p < 0.001) and overexpression of EGFR (27.3% vs. 13.8%, p < 0.001). However, neither the positivity of hormone receptors nor overexpression of EGFR affected the recurrence of PTC. @*Conclusion@#In conclusion, most (94.6%) patients with PTC were found to exhibit positive expression for ERs or PR. We also found that neither the positive expression of hormone receptors nor overexpression of EGFR were associated with the recurrence of PTC.

Weight change in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total thyroidectomy versus lobectomy

Purpose@#Thyroid hormone is an important hormone in maintaining metabolism and homeostasis in the body. There exists a common perception among patients that thyroid surgery will cause weight gain. Prevention of any undesired weight gain could be important for the maintenance of well-being in most patients. Our study compares changes in body mass index (BMI) and weight after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy in thyroid cancer patients. @*Methods@#A total of 967 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the study, from March 2011 to July 2016 at Chung-Ang University Hospital. Exclusion criteria were less than lobectomy, modified radical neck dissection, recurred operation, and combined operation for other causes. Primary endpoints were change in body weight and BMI at 2 years after surgery. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients with significant weight change. @*Results@#There were no differences between both groups in BMI after 2 years of thyroid operation. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not significantly different. Fifteen percent of patients showed significant change in body weight after 2 years of operation. The subgroup analysis of these patients showed no significant differences in gender, age, or extent of operation between those who had gained weight compared to those who had lost weight. There were also no differences in postoperative TSH levels, levothyroxine supplementation, or radioactive iodine treatment. @*Conclusion@#There was a minimal postoperative increase in mean BMI over the years in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer. However, weight change did not differ in those undergoing thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy.

Weight change in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total thyroidectomy versus lobectomy

Purpose@#Thyroid hormone is an important hormone in maintaining metabolism and homeostasis in the body. There exists a common perception among patients that thyroid surgery will cause weight gain. Prevention of any undesired weight gain could be important for the maintenance of well-being in most patients. Our study compares changes in body mass index (BMI) and weight after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy in thyroid cancer patients. @*Methods@#A total of 967 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enrolled in the study, from March 2011 to July 2016 at Chung-Ang University Hospital. Exclusion criteria were less than lobectomy, modified radical neck dissection, recurred operation, and combined operation for other causes. Primary endpoints were change in body weight and BMI at 2 years after surgery. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients with significant weight change. @*Results@#There were no differences between both groups in BMI after 2 years of thyroid operation. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not significantly different. Fifteen percent of patients showed significant change in body weight after 2 years of operation. The subgroup analysis of these patients showed no significant differences in gender, age, or extent of operation between those who had gained weight compared to those who had lost weight. There were also no differences in postoperative TSH levels, levothyroxine supplementation, or radioactive iodine treatment. @*Conclusion@#There was a minimal postoperative increase in mean BMI over the years in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer. However, weight change did not differ in those undergoing thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy.

Safety of medial dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea based on anatomic constancy of the laryngeal entry point of the recurrent laryngeal nerve

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of safety of medial dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea. Medial to lateral dissection of the thyroid gland along the trachea after early division of the isthmus has been known to be a useful technique in thyroid surgery, especially for difficult cases, but the risk of injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has constrained thyroid surgeons from utilizing this technique to its full extent. METHODS: Distances of the laryngeal entry point (LEP) of 134 RLNs of 71 patients from the midline of the trachea, and some other anatomical distances, were measured intraoperatively. The relationships of the intraoperatively measured data with circumferences of the cartilaginous portion of the trachea (CCT) around LEP measured preoperatively by CT scan were evaluated. RESULTS: LEP was always located within 2 mm vertically from the horizontally extended line of the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage and was the closest point from the midline in the whole course of the RLN. The distance between LEP and the midline was very closely correlated with CCT measured on preoperative CT scan, and it can be accurately calculated with a regression equation; Distance between LEP and the midline = (0.42 × CCT) + (1.2 × sex) + 3.2 (mm) (sex: female=0, male=1; R2 = 0.85). CONCLUSION: Early division of the isthmus and dissecting the thyroid off the trachea to the calculated extent is a safe and effective procedure.

A comparative study of postoperative pain for open thyroidectomy versus bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic thyroidectomy using a self-reporting application for iPad

PURPOSE: Postoperative pain for robotic thyroid surgeries including bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) has not been well studied. In this study, we have developed a self-reporting application (SRA) for iPad and prospectively collected pain scores from open thyroidectomy (OT) and BABA robotic thyroidectomy (RT) patients. METHODS: Female patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma were included. Patients recorded pain scores for throat, anterior neck, posterior neck, chest, and back on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3. Once discharged, on postoperative day 14, a survey was also conducted on satisfaction of SRA and cosmesis. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were enrolled (27 BABA RT and 27 OT). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in clinicopathological characteristics and postoperative complication rates. Postoperative pain scores at days 1, 2, 3, and 14 were not significantly different between the groups for throat, anterior neck, posterior neck, or back. Postoperative analgesic requirements were similar between the 2 groups. Wound satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the BABA RT group (BABA RT 7.4 vs. OT 5.7; P = 0.016). Satisfaction scores for the usefulness of SRA were above 7.2 for all four questionnaire items on the 10-point scale. CONCLUSION: Postoperative pain for BABA RT is equivalent to OT but offers greater cosmetic satisfaction for patients. A mobile device application such as SRA may facilitate proper assessment and management of pain in postoperative patients.

Drain insertion after appendectomy in children with perforated appendicitis based on a single-center experience

PURPOSE: Management of appendicitis in children has always been an issue in pediatric surgery. Both diagnostic methods and treatment vary significantly among medical centers, and little consensus exists in many aspects of the care for patients with appendicitis. Here, we assessed the value of drain insertion after appendectomy in children. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent appendectomy for perforated appendicitis at a tertiary medical center between 2003 and 2012. Patients who had a peritoneal drain inserted after appendectomy were compared with patients without drains regarding preoperative features and postoperative outcomes. Statistical analyses included a 2-tailed Student t-test and a chi-square or Fisher exact test. RESULTS: In total, 958 patients were reviewed. Of 342 patients with perforated appendicitis, 108 (31.6%) had Jackson-Pratt (JP) drains inserted. The JP group had a longer hospital stay compared with the non-JP group (6.38 +/- 3.59 days vs. 3.87 +/- 2.38 days, P < 0.001). The JP group also had higher complication rates (22.2% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.003), including the formation of intra-abdominal abscesses. CONCLUSION: According to our results, there seems to be little evidence to support peritoneal drain insertion after appendectomy, even in perforated appendicitis cases.

Early Experiences of Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery in Pediatrics in a Single Center

Laparoscopic surgery has become popular in the past few decades, owing to less postoperative pain, fast recovery, and better cosmetic outcomes. The laparoscopic approach has been employed in pediatric surgery for the same reasons. After the first attempts of single incision laparoscopic appendectomy in pediatrics in 1998, single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has recently been proven to be safe and feasible for the pediatric population. However, limitations have been reported for SILS, such as the wide learning curve, compared to standard laparoscopic surgery, and the restricted number of hospitals with surgical training programs including SILS. In this study, we intend to present our initial experiences with SILS in children, and to describe the technique, instruments used, and outcomes. This is a retrospective study of 71 pediatric patients who underwent SILS, at a tertiary medical center, between September, 2012 and August, 2013. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographics, type of procedure, operation time, use of additional ports, conversion to open surgery, complications and hospital stay. Additional ports were inserted in 4 cases, for the purpose of traction. Postoperative complications were noted in 13 cases, which were mostly related to wound inflammation or formation of granulation tissue. According to our analyses, patients with complications had significantly longer use and more frequent use of pain killers. Notwithstanding the small sample size, many of the procedures performed in pediatric patients seem to be possible with SILS.