Usefulness of dynamic risk stratification in pediatric patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma

PURPOSE: Recently, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) dynamic risk stratification (DRS) has been verified to be more valuable than the static anatomical staging system for predicting prognosis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical usefulness of DRS, which is based on the response to initial treatment, with that of ATA initial risk stratification in pediatric patients. METHODS: A total of 144 pediatric patients underwent thyroid operation from August 1982 to December 2013 at Yonsei University Hospital (Seoul, Korea). Among them, 128 patients with complete clinical data were enrolled in this study. Clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed by medical chart review. The mean follow-up duration was 11.5 years. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 2.1 cm; 80.4% of patients were diagnosed with conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma, and 7.0% of patients were diagnosed with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Low-risk patients had the highest probability of an excellent response to initial treatment (66.6%). High-risk patients had the highest probability of a structural incomplete response (100%) and the lowest probability of an excellent response (11.1%). The ATA risk stratification and the DRS system were independent risk factors for disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.041 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The DRS system, which is based on the response to initial treatment, can offer more useful prognostic information compared with ATA risk stratification in pediatric patients with DTC.

Risk Factors of Postoperative Hypocalcemia after Total Thyroidectomy of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Postoperative hypocalcemia is a common complication of thyroidectomy. This study evaluated the incidence and predisposing risk factors for postoperative permanent hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: There were 1,247 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy and complete treatment and observation for differentiated thyroid cancer between January 2012 to December 2012 who were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, those remaining normalcalcemic (Group I-824 pts) and those who had hypocalcemia requiring treatment (Groups II-423 pts). Group II was subdivided into a transient hypocalcemic group (Group IIA-409 pts) and a permanent hypocalcemic group (Group IIB-14 pts). RESULTS: Female gender, thyroiditis, preserved parathyroid number, lateral lymph node metastasis, RAI treatment, preoperative parathyroid hormone and preoperative vitamin D were significantly associated with the development of postoperative hypocalcemia by multivariate analysis. Comparing patients with transient versus permanent hypocalcemia, tumor size and multiplicity were significantly related to the development of permanent hypocalcemia by multivariate analysis. RAI treatment and parathyroid hormone level on the postoperative third day were significantly related to recovery from transient hypocalcemia to normo-calcemia. CONCLUSION: Risk factors of postoperative hypocalcemia were associated with preoperative patient factors and advanced thyroid cancer. Advanced thyroid cancer was a risk factor for permanent hypocalcemia. To prevent postoperative hypocalcemia, we should focus on patient condition and need to preserve parathyroid gland more carefully in thyroid surgery.

Surgical Outcomes of Adrenocortical Carcinoma; 20 Years of Experience in a Single Institution / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor. Early detection is difficult and prognosis is poor. We report on 20 years of ACC surgical experience at our institution. METHODS: This study included 32 ACC patients who underwent surgical resection at the Department of Surgery of the Yonsei University Health System in South Korea between January 1990 and February 2012. We reviewed these 32 patients and retrospectively analyzed long-term clinical outcomes and prognosis after radical surgery for ACC. RESULTS: The median age of the 32 patients at diagnosis was 42.25 years (range 3~81 years). There were 16 (50%) female and 16 (50%) male patients. Mean tumor size was 12.36 cm (range 1.8~20 cm). Twenty-five patients (78.12%) had nonfunctioning tumors while the other seven patients (21.87%) had functioning tumors. Seventeen patients (53.12%) were classified as stage II, two (6.25%) as stage III, and 13 (40.62%) as stage IV. Fourteen patients underwent radical surgical resection, while 14 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, two received adjuvant radiotherapy, and two received adjuvant chemoradiation. Four patients were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 28 patients, 15 patients survived. The 5- and 10-year overall survival was 60.6% and 37.8%, respectively (median survival=85+/-24.3 months). Seventeen patients (53%) experienced disease recurrence. Five- and 10-year recurrence-free survival was 41.5% and 29.7%, respectively (median survival=18+/-5.5 months). CONCLUSION: Early stage at diagnosis and surgical resection were the most important prognostic factors associated with prolonged survival. The role of additional therapy remains controversial and new agents should continually be evaluated for efficacy.

Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder without Epstein-Barr Virus Presented as Small Bowel Perforation in Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report / 대한이식학회지

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is documented as one of the serious complications leading to mortality particularly in organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Extant literature confirms beyond doubt that the most common site of involvement of PTLD is lymph nodes, and rarely involved is the gastrointestinal tract. It is a well-known fact that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a risk factor for PTLD development. In this study, we report a case of PTLD presented as small bowel perforation without EBV infection after long-term immunosuppressive therapy in a renal transplant recipient.