RESUMEN
Objectives: Aim was to evaluate clinicopathological and treatment outcomes of diffuse sclerosing variant papillary thyroid carcinoma [DSV-PTC]. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Two major tertiary care hospitals of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Material: Medical records of 1192 patients with confirmed papillary thyroid cancers [PTC], who were treated or followed up during the period of July 2000 and December 2012 were reviewed. Main outcome measure: To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of patients with DSV- PTC and perform comparative analysis of DSV-PTC with classic-variant PTC [CV-PTC]
Results: A total of 44 cases [3.7%] of DSV-PTC were identified. DSV-PTC patients were younger than their CV-PTC [p = 0.001]. The mean tumor size was larger in DSV-PTC as compared to CV-PTC [p < 0.0001]. Advanced pathologic tumor [pT] stage and positive lymph nodes were more often present in DSV-PTC than in CV-PTC [p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001 respectively]. Median follow-up was 8.05 years [range: 1.62-11.4]. Ten-year disease-specific survival [DSS] rates were lower in DSV-PTC [74.4%] than in CV-PTC [89.4%]; p = 0.001
Conclusion: DSV-PTC is more aggressive variant as compared to CV-PTC, and is associated with inferior DSS rates. An aggressive surgical approach followed by radioiodine therapy is warranted for these patients
RESUMEN
Metabolic syndrome [MetS] is a cluster of established cardiovascular risk factors that collectively increase predisposition to major chronic diseases, including heart diseases and diabetes mellitus. Citizens of developing countries such as Saudi Arabia are at risk for MetS as a result of industrialization and accessibility to fast foods. In this epidemiologic study, the kingdom-wide prevalence of MetS is determined. A total of 4578 Saudis aged 15-64 was randomly selected from 20 regions in Saudi Arabia. Anthropometrics were collected, and fasting blood samples collected to ascertain fasting blood glucose and lipid profile. Components of full MetS as defined by the International Diabetes Federation were used for screening. The overall prevalence of MetS is 28.3%. Prevalence was significantly higher in males than in females [31.4 vs. 25.2%; P = 0.001]. Prevalence of MetS was the highest in the northern and central region, and showed a parallel increase with age, and inversely with educational status. Region was also a significant contributor to MetS. Despite accumulating evidence of an epidemic, MetS remains largely unresolved in the kingdom. Aggressive public campaign should be launched, and policies implemented to control any future damage of MetS in the kingdom