Quality of Life Outcomes after Robotic Thyroid Surgery / 대한갑상선학회지

The robotic approach is the new frontier of thyroid cancer surgery, with several advantages over conventional open and endoscopic techniques. Recent assessments of quality of life (QoL) outcomes have found that patients undergoing robotic thyroid surgery using transaxillary approach experience lower levels of dissatisfaction and regret than patients undergoing conventional open thyroid surgery, largely due to differences in cosmetic outcomes. Prospective trials evaluating functional parameters, including pain, neck discomfort, and sensory changes in the neck, have favored robotic over conventional open thyroid surgery. Similarly, objective and subjective evaluations of voice and swallowing discomfort were improved in patients undergoing robotic thyroidectomy. Thus, use of a robot results in overall increases in cosmetic satisfaction and decreases in several measures of postoperative discomfort compared with the conventional open thyroid technique. However, a proper evaluation of QoL requires long-term assessments, and randomized controlled trials are necessary to definitively establish the real benefits of robotic surgery. This review provides merits and demerits of robotic thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection, based on published data, as well as comparing QoL outcomes after robotic and conventional open thyroidectomy.

Clinical study of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery for the treatment of 30 cases of early breast cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery on patients with early breast can-cer near the mammary areola. Methods:A total of 60 patients with early breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery in the Sec-ond Department of Breast Surgery, Tangshan People's Hospital from February 2011 to November 2013. These patients were random-ized into two groups, namely, the experimental Group A (n=30) and the control Group B (n=30). Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery was performed on the patients in Group A, whereas Group B underwent standard breast-conserving surgery. The specimen weight of the locally excised breast, the nearest distance of the tumor to the surgical margins, and the postoperative cosmetic result of the affected breast were compared between the two groups. Results: The specimen weights of the locally excised breast were 71.03 ± 12.92 and 41.53±7.13 g, and the nearest distances of the tumor to the surgical margins were 13.30±2.97 and 10.63±1.65 mm in Groups A and B, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (P0.05). Con-clusion:A larger amount of excised breast tissue and a wider scope of surgical margins were observed in Group A patients. However, the postoperative cosmetic result of the affected breast was almost similar for both groups. Therefore, oncoplastic breast-conserving sur-gery is a feasible and effective approach for early breast cancer patients.

Reconstrucción mamaria con colgajo TRAM pediculado / Breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap

The pedicle transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap (TRAM) is widely used for breast reconstruction, however is not exempt from complications. Between 2004 and 2010 the authors performed breast reconstruction after total mastectomy in 52 patients with pedicled TRAM flaps. Purpose: To describe the demography, outcomes and complications in patients operated for breast cancer and reconstructed with TRAM flap. To assess the influence of smoking, the laterality and timing of reconstruction. Material and Method: Retrospective, observational and comparative. We reviewed the medical records of 52 patients operated by the authors between 2004 and 2010. Four cases were excluded due to incomplete data. Results: In the 48 patients studied were 50 TRAM flaps. The most frequent comorbidity was smoking (27 percent). Regarding the timing of reconstruction, 74 percent (37) was performed immediately post-mastectomy and 26 percent (13) was deferred. Was used by 78 percent (39) ipsilateral TRAM, 18 percent (9) contralateral and 4 percent (2) bilateral. Only minor complications were observed and the cosmetic result evaluated by the surgeon's satisfaction was very good or excellent in 62 percent (31). Smoking, timing of reconstruction and laterality did not affect in complications or cosmetic outcome (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The pedicled TRAM flap is an excellent alternative for reconstruction in breast cancer patients. It is not exempt from complications, with a tendency to get better cosmetic results in the non-smoker group.

El colgajo de recto abdominal con isla transversal de piel infraumbilical (TRAM) pediculado es ampliamente utilizado para la reconstrucción mamaria, sin embargo, no está exento de complicaciones. Entre los años 2004 y 2010 los autores realizaron reconstrucción mamaria post-mastectomía total en 52 pacientes con colgajos TRAM pediculados. Objetivo: Describir la demografía, resultados y complicaciones de las pacientes operadas por cáncer de mama y reconstruidas con colgajo TRAM. Evaluar la influencia del tabaquismo, la lateralidad y el momento de la reconstrucción en dichos resultados. Material y Método: Diseño retrospectivo, observacional y comparativo. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de las 52 pacientes operadas por los autores entre los años 2004-2010. Se excluyeron 4 casos por datos incompletos. Resultados: En las 48 pacientes estudiadas se realizaron 50 colgajos TRAM. La comorbilidad más frecuente fue el tabaquismo (27 por ciento). La reconstrucción se realizó en un 74 por ciento (37) de manera inmediata postmastectomía y en un 26 por ciento (13) fue diferido. Se utilizó en un 78 por ciento (39) TRAM ipsilateral, 18 por ciento (9) contralateral y 4 por ciento (2) bilateral. Sólo se observaron complicaciones menores; el resultado estético evaluado por la satisfacción del cirujano fue muy bueno o excelente en un 62 por ciento (31). El tabaquismo, momento de la reconstrucción y la lateralidad no influyeron en las complicaciones ni en el resultado estético (p > 0,05). Conclusiones: El colgajo TRAM pediculado es una excelente alternativa de reconstrucción en pacientes mastectomizadas. No está exento de complicaciones, con una tendencia a obtener mejores resultados estéticos en el grupo no fumador.

Microsurgical Experience with Supraorbital Keyhole Operations on Anterior Circulation Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: Conventional pterional approach is a commonly used neurosurgical technique for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms. However, this technique requires more extensive brain exposure than other key hole approaches and is sometimes associated with surgical traumatization or cosmetic problems. The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative outcome between pterional and supraorbital keyhole approaches in the patients with anterior circulation aneurysms. METHODS: The authors reviewed patients with anterior circulation aneurysms who underwent aneurysm clipping via pterional or supraorbital keyhole approach at a single institute over a period of 2 years. Ninety-eight patients harboring 108 aneurysms were included in this study. Various outcomes were recorded, which included clinical grade, cosmetic problems, patients' satisfaction and complications such as chewing discomfort, frontal muscle weakness, hyposmia, infection. RESULTS: The supraorbital approach exhibited a shorter operation time compared with the pterional approach. Complications such as chewing discomfort occurred less frequently in the supraorbital approach group. Moreover, the cosmetic outcome was significantly better in the supraorbital group than in the pterional group. CONCLUSION: The supraorbital keyhole approach reduced intra- and postoperative complications, including chewing discomfort and cosmetic disturbances, compared with the conventional pterional approach.

Selective Deep Lobe Parotidectomy for Preservation of Parotid Function: A Case Report

Tumors of the deep lobe of parotid gland are rare. These benign tumors have usually been treated by total parotidectomy, which has functional and esthetic side effects. Recently, there has been a trend for operations of parotid gland benign tumors to be less radical and selective deep lobe parotidectomy has been introduced. This technique preserves the superficial lobe and facial nerve when tumor is located in the deep lobe. Selective deep lobe parotidectomy preserves parotid salivary function, minimizes the incidence of facial nerve damage and gustatory sweating (Frey's syndrome) and improves cosmetic outcome. We report a case of pleomorphic adenoma of the deep lobe that was successfully treated by selective deep lobe parotidectomy with satisfactory result.

Cosmetic outcome and curative effect of radiotherapy for early breast cancer after conservative surgery / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

93% at 36 months. The local control rate was 100%. The 1- and 3-year survival rates was 100% and 98% , respectively. Conclusions Tangential field radiotherapy for early breast cancer after conservative surgery has a satisfied result in both tumor control and cosmetic outcome, which can definitely improve the life quality of the patients.