Comportamiento del cáncer de tiroides en la Unidad de Cirugía Adulto del Hospital Clínico Herminda Martín de Chillán: período 2017 al 2019 / Thyroid cancer behavior in the adult surgery unit of the Herminda Martin de Chillan Clinical Hospital: period from 2017 to 2019

Resumen Objetivo: Describir las características demográficas del cáncer de tiroides en la Región de Ñuble en pacientes operados en el servicio de cirugía del Hospital Clínico Herminda Martin del 2017 al 2019. Materiales y Método: Mediante estudio descriptivo, se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes operados en la Unidad de Cirugía de Adultos del hospital entre enero de 2017 y diciembre de 2019, tabulando las variables demográficas, clínicas e histopatológicas y método diagnóstico. Resultados: Se operaron 124 pacientes con afecciones tiroideas, 58 resultaron tener cáncer. Predominó el sexo femenino (50 pacientes). Se realizaron 43 tiroidectomías totales como primera cirugía y 15 disecciones cervicales. El carcinoma papilar fue el más diagnosticado (93,1%). Hubo discrepancias entre las categorías Bethesda II y IV en cuanto al diagnóstico definitivo. En mujeres el 36% de los tumores tuvo extensión extra tiroidea y el 54% tenían un diámetro mayor a 1 cm. Discusión: La prevalencia en el sexo femenino corresponde con los datos que se aportan a nivel mundial y en Chile. La discrepancia en el sistema Bethesda pudo corresponder a errores de la toma de muestra o su interpretación citológica. Los hallazgos de extensión y tamaño tumoral pueden estar en relación con el tiempo de espera para la cirugía. Conclusiones: El cáncer tiroideo es más frecuente en el sexo femenino. El carcinoma papilar fue el más diagnosticado. La asociación de tiroiditis con cáncer tiroideo fue de 98%. No se realizó ninguna cirugía conservadora.

Aim: To describe the demographic characteristics of thyroid cancer in the Ñuble Region in patients operated on by the Herminda Martín de Chillán Clinical Hospital surgery service from 2017 to 2019. Materials and Method: Through a descriptive study, the medical records of the patients operated on in the Adult Surgery Unit of the hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 were reviewed, tabulating the demographic, clinical and histopathological variables and method diagnosis. Results: 124 patients with thyroid conditions were operated on, 58 had cancer. The female sex predominated (50 patients). 43 total thyroidectomies were performed as the first surgery and 15 cervical dissections. Papillary carcinoma was the most diagnosed (93.1%). There were discrepancies between Bethesda categories II and IV regarding the definitive diagnosis. In women, 36% of the tumors had an extra-thyroid extension and 54% had a diameter greater than 1 cm. Discussion: The prevalence in the female sex corresponds to the data provided worldwide and in Chile. The discrepancy in the Bethesda system could correspond to errors in the sampling or its cytological interpretation. The findings of tumor extension and size may be related to the waiting time for surgery. Conclusions: Thyroid cancer is more frequent in females. Papillary carcinoma was the most diagnosed. The association of thyroiditis with thyroid cancer was 98%. No conservative surgery was performed.

White blood cell count and C-reactive protein together remain useful for diagnosis and staging of acute appendicitis in children

Background. Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common acute surgical condition of the abdomen, and the most commonly misdiagnosed.Objective. To analyse the white blood cell count (WBCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) contribution to the diagnosis of AA in children.Methods. This was a retrospective study of 943 consecutive patients operated on with the preoperative diagnosis of AA, in whom preoperative WBCC and CRP had both been measured. Postoperatively, the patients were divided into three groups: normal appendix (no AA), simple AA and complicated AA.Results. Of the 943 patients, 616 (65.3%) had simple AA. The mean (standard deviation (SD)) age for this group was 9.8 (3.2) years (p<0.01 v. complicated AA), the mean WBCC was 16.5 (5.0) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA and no AA), and the mean CRP level was 304.8 (409.5) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. complicated AA). The mean age of the patients with complicated AA (283/943, 30.0%) was 7.9 (3.7) years, the mean WBCC was 17.7 (6.2) × 109/L (p<0.01 v. no AA) and the mean CRP level was 1 076.2 (923.8) nmol/L (p<0.01 v. no AA). The mean age of the patients with no AA (44/943, 4.7%) was 8.8 (3.2) years, the mean WBCC was 13.1 (5.3) × 109/L and the mean CRP was 361.9 (447.6) nmol/L. The WBCC was normal in 113/899 patients with appendicitis (12.6%) and CRP in 139 (15.5%). Both the WBCC and CRP were normal in 17 patients with appendicitis (1.9%). The best receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained for WBCC when comparing all AA with no AA: cut-off point 15.0 × 109/L, sensitivity 65%, specificity 68%, area under the curve 0.70. The best ROC curve for CRP was obtained when comparing simple AA with complicated AA: cut-off point 361.9 nmol/L, sensitivity 74%, specificity 74%, area under the curve 0.81.Conclusions. The WBCC is helpful in diagnosing simple AA and CRP in diagnosing complicated AA. If both are normal, AA is very unlikely. Together the WBCC and CRP are useful tools in diagnosing and staging AA