Diagnostic Feasibility of Galectin-3 for Suspicious Malignant Thyroid Nodule in Preoperative Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology

PURPOSE: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is considered as the most feasible preoperative diagnostic tool for thyroid lesions. However, the false results of FNAC are not uncommon, and so we need a development of novel supportive preoperative diagnostic modality. In previous studies, galectin-3, a beta-galactosidase-binding protein, was expressed preferentially in thyroid malignancies. In this study, we analyzed whether the galectin-3 immunohistochemistry (IHC) is useful as a preoperative diagnostic tool. METHODS: 79 patients who underwent a definite surgery for thyroid nodule were analyzed. The preoperative routine stained cytology and galectin-3 IHC for fine-needle aspirates and the galectin-3 IHC for postoperative specimen were performed. Individual results were compared with the final diagnoses. RESULTS: Of 79 specimens, 28 (35.4%) were malignant. The false negative rate (FNR) of galectin-3 IHC in the surgical specimen was 10.0%. The FNR of galectin-3 IHC for the fine-needle aspirates was 50.0% and the FNR of routine cytology was 20.5%. However, the FNR of galectin-3 IHC in the fine-needle aspirates was lowered up to 20.0% in thyroid lesions obtained by using ultrasound-guided aspiration. Among the 14 cases reported as suspicious in routine cytology, 13 cases were revealed the accurate correlations in galectn-3 IHC. CONCLUSION: It appears that galectin-3 IHC in preoperative FNAC alone had a little accuracy. However, preoperative galectin-3 IHC in thyroid lesions obtained under the ultrasound guidance could be diagnostic. Especially in suspicious group in FNAC, galectin-3 IHC could be critical method in differentiating malignant lesions from benign lesions of thyroid.

A case of jejunal hemorrahage from metastatic renal cell carcinoma / 대한내과학회지

A 68-year-old man who had suffered left nephrectomy 6 years previously for renal cell carcinoma presented with a 6-week history of melena episodes. Physical examination and laboratory data were irrelevant. Gastroduodenoscopy and colononoscopy could not reveal a bleeding focus. An angiography was undertaken, which confirmed the presence of an abnormal tumor staining at the jejunum. For the preoperative evaluation, a small bowel study showed an about 2 cm sized eccentric filling defect at mesenteric side wall of distal jejunum in the left lower quadrant. A CT scan also showed a heavily enhancing bowel wall thickening. Small bowel resection was performed, and a 3 X 3 cm ulceroinfiltrating jejunal lesion was found which microscopically consisted of a proliferation of trabeculated clear cells. He had an unremarkable postoperative recovery. A follow-up CT scan at 3 months later showed no evidence of recurrence.

The Association of Reproductive and Menstrual Factors and Colon and Rectal Cancer Risk in Korean Women / 한국역학회지

Recently, there were several epidemiological studies demonstrating that reproductive and menstrual factors are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in women. A hospital-based case-control study has been conducted to investigate whether the histories of childbearing, menstruation, and breast-feeding are associated with colorectal cancer risk. The cases were consecutively diagnosed, histologically confirmed, incident patients with cancers of the colon and rectum aged 30-79 who were admitted to three tertiary hospitals in Seoul, Korea between March 1995 and August 1997. Controls were selected in the same hospitals as the cases during the same periods. Finally, a total of 151 cases and 110 controls were selected and interviewed on their reproductive and menstrual characteristics using a structured questionnaire. Earlier age at first birth appears to be related with increased risk of colorectal cancer (multivariate relative risk[RR] of colorectal cancer for or = 2.33; 95% confidence interval[CI] 1.1-5.1, p for trend 0.03). Compared with women who experienced menarche at age 16 or older, women whose menarche occurred at age 14 or less appeared at significantly higher risk of rectal cancer(multivariate RR of colorectal cancer for or =16 = 2.26; 95% CI 1.0-3.4, p for trend 0.03). We found no associations for parity, incomplete pregnancies, menopause, use of oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy. These findings suggest that events of reproductive life may have a bearing on female subsequent risk of colon and rectal cancer

Clinicopathologic Features of Early Recurrence Cases after Pancreatoduodenectomy in Periampullary Carcinoma / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Periampullary carcinoma could recur early even after curative resection in the small-sized lesion. The aim of this study is to clarify the clinicopathologic features of early recurrence cases after pancreatoduodenectomy in periampullary carcinoma. METHODS: 15 cases (group I) of recurrence within 6 months after pancreatoduodenectomy were compared clinicopathologically with 17 cases (group II) of no recurrence until 2 years after pancreatoduodenectomy between 1991 and 2000 in Hallym medical center. RESULTS: There were no differences in sex and age distri- butions between two groups (M/F ratio=8/7 vs 8/9, and average age=56.9 vs 57.5). The distributions of primary lesions were 4 cases of ampulla of Vater, 6 cases of common bile duct, 5 cases of pancreatic head in group I; 7 cases of ampulla of Vater, 8 cases of common bile duct, 2 cases of pancreatic head in group II, respectively. There were no differences in tumor size (2.8+/-1.1 cm vs. 2.4+/-1.5 cm), the number of lymph node metastasis, AJCC tumor stage, histological differentiation, neural or lymphatic invasion between two groups. The number of direct invasion to adjacent organs in group I was more than that in group II (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased number of direct invasion to adjacent organs could be an important prognostic factor of early recurrence after pancreatoduodenectomy even in small-sized or no lymph node-metastasized periampullary carcinoma.

Prognostic factors influencing the recurrence of thyroid cancer

No abstract available.