Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Clinical Manifestation and Prognosis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite relatively high incidences of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FV-PTC), there is a continuous debate regarding the clinical behavior, treatment outcome, prognostic variables and survival of this disease. We performed this study for the purpose of getting further understanding and more supporting ideas for the treatment of FV-PTC. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A clinicopathologic analysis of 116 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy with a final diagnosis of FV-PTC divided the patients into three groups: the FV-PTC only group (group A, n=78), the FV-PTC group who developed classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (C-PTC) (group B, n=38) and the C-PTC only (group C, n=320, 2003, Korea Cancer Center Hospital). The three groups were compared with respect to the following various clinicopathological characteristics: age at diagnosis, tumor size, stage of tumor, capsular invasion, age, metastasis, extent, size score, multifocality of tumor, LN metastasis, treatment, and recurrence. RESULTS: The mean tumor sizes, disease stage, and type of initial surgery were similar in three groups. However, the prevalence of nodal disease and capsular invasion were significantly higher in the groups B and C compared to the patients of group A. The 8-year disease-free survival rate was 93.7% in the patients with FV-PTC only, 90.4% in the patients with C-PTC only and 88.2% in the patients with FV-PTC group, who developed C-PTC (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical behavior and prognosis of PTC and FV-PTC groups did not differ significantly. In treating FV-PTC, we find that it is desirable to choose a similar strategy as that used to treat C-PTC.

Three Cases of Cervical Rib / 대한이비인후과학회지

Cervical rib is a normal asymptomatic congenital bone abnormality that occurs in 0.4% of the population; 70% of these cases are bilateral. Cervical ribs are found incidentally on routine radiographs, though sometimes patients complain of a hard or pulsatile neck mass in the supraclavicular area. Although most of these ribs produce no symptoms and need no therapy, a few cases are symptomatic and require treatment. Furthermore, a cervical rib can displace the great vessels superiorly and may cause iatrogenic hemorrhage during neck surgery. Thus, otorhinolaryngologists should be aware of the diagnosis and management of this condition in patients with a neck mass. Here, we report three cases of cervical rib and include a review of literature.