Impact of historic histopathologic sample review on the risk of recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Objective To compare the historic risk of recurrence (RR) and response to therapy to risk stratification estimated with historical pathology reports (HPRs) and contemporary re-review of the pathological slides in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Subjects and methods Out of 210 DTC patients with low and intermediate RR who underwent total thyroidectomy and remnant ablation in our hospital, 63 available historic pathologic samples (HPS) were reviewed. The RR and the response to therapy were evaluated considering historical histological features (histological type, tumor size, capsular invasion, number of lymph node metastases) and then, reassessed after observing additional histological features (vascular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, size of lymph node metastases, presence of extranodal extension, and/or status of the resection margins). Results A change in the RR category was observed in 16 of 63 cases (25.4%). Out of 46 patients initially classified as low RR, 2 patients were reclassified as intermediate RR, 4 as high RR, and 1 as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). Out of 17 patients initially classified as intermediate RR, 3 were reassigned to the low RR group, 5 as high RR, and 1 as NIFTP. The percentages of structural incomplete response at final follow-up changed from 2.2 to 0% (p = 1) in patients with low RR and from 6.3 to 20% (p = 0.53) in patients with intermediate RR. Conclusion A detailed report of specific features in the HPR of patients with DTC might give a more accurate RR classification and a better estimation of the response to treatment.

Riesgo dinámico en pacientes con cáncer diferenciado de tiroides no ablacionados / Dynamic risk assessment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer without remnant ablation

En la actualidad, el enfoque terapéutico y el seguimiento de los pacientes con carcinoma diferenciado de tiroides (CDT) es individualizado de acuerdo con el riesgo de recurrencia de la enfermedad, con una menor tendencia a ablacionar a pacientes de bajo riesgo de recurrencia. Por otro lado, la evaluación de las respuestas al tratamiento se validó en pacientes tratados con tiroidectomía total (TT) y ablación con radioyodo (RAI), pero son escasos los estudios en pacientes no ablacionados. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron describir las características de una población de pacientes con CDT no ablacionados y validar las respuestas al tratamiento durante el seguimiento. Se incluyó a 88 pacientes con un seguimiento mínimo de 12 meses. El 87,6% eran mujeres y la edad promedio en el momento del diagnóstico fue de 47,5 años. Basados en el Consenso Intersocietario Argentino, el 97,7% de la cohorte fue clasificada como de bajo riesgo y el 2,3% como de riesgo intermedio de recurrencia. Los pacientes presentaron una respuesta inicial excelente en el 73% de los casos, con un estado sin evidencia de enfermedad al final del seguimiento en el 85,5%. Una minoría de los pacientes (1%) presentó una respuesta inicial estructural incompleta, la cual fue similar al final del seguimiento (1%). Por otro lado, el 26% de los pacientes presentó una respuesta inicial indeterminada, aunque solo el 13,5% permaneció con esta respuesta al final del seguimiento. Nuestros datos validan las respuestas al tratamiento en pacientes con CDT que recibieron TT no ablacionados como una herramienta efectiva para la estratificación del riesgo dinámico. Los pacientes apropiadamente seleccionados tratados sin RAI tienen un excelente pronóstico, con una baja frecuencia de respuesta estructural incompleta en el seguimiento, inclusive menor que la de los pacientes de bajo riesgo ablacionados.

The therapeutic approach and the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is currently individualised according to the risk of recurrence, with a lower tendency to perform remnant ablation (RA) in patients with low risk of recurrence. While response to therapy assessment has been validated for DTC patients treated by total thyroidectomy (TT) and RA, it has not been widely confirmed in patients treated with TT without RA. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of the population of patients treated with TT without RA, and to validate the response to therapy. The study included 88 patients followed-up for at least 12 months after surgery. In the entire cohort, 87.9% were female and the mean age was 47.5 years old. Based on the Argentine Intersociety Consensus, 97.7% and 2.3% were classified as low risk and intermediate risk of recurrence, respectively. Patients had an initial excellent response to treatment in 73% of cases, with a disease-free status at the end of follow-up of 85.5%. A minority of patients (1%) presented with an initial structural incomplete response, which was similar at the end of follow-up (1%). On the other hand, 26% of the patients had an initial indeterminate response, although only 13.5% remained with this response at the end of follow-up. These results validate the responses to treatment in DTC patients treated with TT without RA as an effective tool for the dynamic risk stratification. Patients appropriately selected who did not receive RA have an excellent outcome, with a low frequency of structural incomplete response, even lower than that observed in low risk ablated patients.

Preditores de recorrência e progressão do câncer de bexiga: validação externa do escore de risco EORTC e a Classificaçãodo Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo / Predicting bladder cancer recurrence and progression: EORTC risk score external validation and the Sao Paulo Cancer Institute Classification

Introdução: Classificações de risco baseadas em fatores preditivos de recorrência e progressão são essenciais para condutas no câncer de bexiga. Tabelas de risco combinam essas variáveis para uso clínico. As tabelas de risco da Organização Europeia para Pesquisa e Tratamento do Câncer (EORTC) são aceitas para esse propósito, mas nunca foram validadas no Brasil. Objetivos: Validar as tabelas de risco EORTC e criar uma classificação de risco baseada na população de pacientes acompanhados em um centro terciário de câncer. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 561 pacientes submetidos a ressecção transuretral (RTU) de câncer de bexiga superficial de fevereiro de 2005 a junho de 2011. As variáveis analisadas foram as mesmas das tabelas de risco EORTC. A regressão logística foi realizada usando SPSS. A análise da curva COR determinou o limite de tamanho do tumor. Resultados: As tabelas de risco EORTC não conseguiram prever recorrência nem progressão. Na análise para prever recorrência isoladamente, estadio T e tamanho do tumor previram o desfecho. O limite de tamanho do tumor foi definido em <4cm vs ≥4cm (AUC=0,61; p=0,001). Criamos uma classificação: Ta/CIS=0 pontos, T1=4 pontos, tamanho do tumor=0 ou 3 pontos. A classificação de risco foi obtida somando os pontos. A taxa de recorrência em 2 anos foi: escore 0=11,2%; escore 3=20,7%; escore 4=29,2%; escore 7=37,9%. Para prever recorrência e progressão, estadio T e tamanho do tumor previram significativamente o desfecho. A classificação em escores foi: Ta/CIS=0 pontos, T1=2 pontos, tamanho do tumor = 0 ou 2 pontos. A classificação de risco foi obtida somando os pontos. A taxa de recorrência em 2 anos foi: escore 0=17%; escore 2=28,6%; escore 4=40,7%. Conclusões: Constatamos que as tabelas de risco EORTC não conseguiram prever recorrência ou progressão do câncer de bexiga na nossa população. Portanto, desenvolvemos uma classificação de risco para auxiliar urologistas a individualizar as condutas por paciente.

Introduction: Risk classification based on predictive factors of bladder cancer recurrence and progression is essential for management decision. Risk tables combine these variables for clinical practice use. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk tables are widely accepted for this purpose, however they were never validated in Brazil. Our aim was to validate the EORTC risk tables and create a risk classification based on our population. Methods: Retrospective study of 561 patients who underwent transurethral resection of superficial bladder from February 2005 to June 2011. Variables analyzed were the same as EORTC risk tables. Logistic regression was performed using SPSS. ROC curve analysis was used for determining the cut-off for tumor size. Results: EORTC risk tables were not able to predict neither disease recurrence nor progression. In our analysis for predicting bladder cancer recurrence alone, we found that T stage and tumor size predicted outcome. Tumor size cut-off was defined as < 4 cm vs ≥ 4 (AUC=0.61; p=0.001). We created a scoring classification: Ta/CIS=0 points, T1=4 points, tumor size=0 or 3 points. Risk classification was obtained by adding the points accordingly and the following recurrence rate at 2 yrs by group: score 0=11.2%; score 3=20.7%; score 4=29.2%; score 7=37.9%. The statistical model for bladder cancer recurrence or progression found that T stage and tumor size predicted the outcome. The scoring classification was: Ta/CIS=0 points, T1=2 points, tumor size=0 or 2 points. Risk classification was obtained by adding the points accordingly and the following recurrence rate at 2 yrs by group: score 0=17%; score 2=28.6%; score 4=40.7%. Conclusions: We found that EORTC risk tables could not predict bladder cancer recurrence or progression in our patient population, possibly due to differences in patient characteristics. Therefore, we developed a new risk classification to aid urologists to individualize the management decision per patient.

Synovial sarcoma of the extremities: prognostic factors for 20 nonmetastatic cases and a new histologic grading system with prognostic significance

PURPOSE: To evaluate 20 cases of nonmetastatic synovial sarcoma of the extremities regarding prognostic factors, and to propose a histologic grading system with prognostic significance. METHODS: The cases of 20 patients (14 females and 6 males) with nonmetastatic synovial sarcomas of the extremities treated between 1985 and 1998, were retrospectively evaluated regarding prognostic factors. A histologic grading system with prognostic significance is proposed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 48.4 months (range, 16-116 months). There was local recurrence in 3 cases (15 percent), microscopic surgical margin being the only prognostic factor identified. Seven patients (35 percent) died of the disease in a mean postoperative period of 31.7 months (range, 16-53 months), all with pulmonary or brain metastasis. The survival rate was 65 percent in 48.4 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The unfavorable prognostic factors identified regarding survival were high histologic grade, tumors proximal to the knee or elbow, and spontaneous tumor necrosis over 25 percent. Local recurrence did not have influence on survival in this study. The presence of mast cells appears to have a positive influence on survival, although statistical significance was not reached (P = 0.07). The oncologic and functional result was good in 6 cases (30 percent), regular in 7 (35 percent), and poor in 7 cases (35 percent).

OBJETIVO: Avaliar casos de sarcoma sinovial não-metastático das extremidades no que se refere a fatores prognósticos, e propor um sistema histológico de pontuação com significado prognóstico. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Vinte casos (14 do sexo feminino e 6 do sexo masculino) de sarcomas sinoviais não-metastáticos das extremidades tratados entre 1985 e 1998 no departamento de Ortopedia foram avaliados retrospectivamente no que se refere a fatores prognósticos e está sendo proposto um sistema de pontuação histológico com significado prognóstico. RESULTADOS: A média dos períodos de acompanhamento foi 48,4 meses (mínimo 16 meses, máximo 116). Houve recorrência localizada em 3 casos (15 por cento), sendo a margem cirúrgica microscópica o único fator prognóstico identificado. Sete pacientes (35 por cento) morreram da doença, todos em período pós-operatório médio de 31,7 meses (mínimo 16 meses, máximo 53), todos com metástase pulmonar ou cerebral. A sobrevida foi de 65 por cento em 48,4 meses de acompanhamento. CONCLUSÃO: Os fatores prognósticos desfavoráveis identificados referentes à sobrevida foram: grau histológico alto, tumores proximais de joelho ou cotovelo e necrose espontânea de tumor acima de 25 por cento. Neste estudo, a recorrência localizada não influiu na sobrevida. Parece que a presença de mastócitos influi positivamente na sobrevida, porém não obtivemos significado estatístico (p=0,07). O resultado oncológico e funcional foi bom em seis casos (30 por cento), regular em sete (35 por cento) e insatisfatório em sete (35 por cento).