Malignant melanoma with synchronous thyroid metastases: case report and literature review

SUMMARY Thyroid metastases are rare in clinical practice. We describe the case of an 85-year-old woman who was referred to our department due to a multinodular goiter with compressive symptoms and subclinical hyperthyroidism. The patient was also undergoing evaluation for a polyp in her left nasal cavity, which was then diagnosed as a malignant melanoma of the nasal mucosa. A thoracoabdominal magnetic resonance imaging obtained for cancer staging revealed a > 50% tracheal obstruction caused by the goiter. The patient underwent simultaneous total thyroidectomy and melanoma excision. Histological analysis of the thyroid showed the presence of multiple metastatic foci from the melanoma. Due to the patient’s age, a decision was made to maintain her under surveillance and administer palliative treatment if necessary. Although metastases to the thyroid are rare, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions in patients with a known primary tumor. The thyroidectomy, performed in this patient’s case, allowed the diagnosis of the metastases and relief of compressive symptoms caused by the goiter.

Indicação da anuscopia de alta resolução e citologia anal na prevenção de HPV e câncer colorretal em pacientes portadores de HIV / Indication of high resolution anoscopy and anal cytology for prevention of HPV and colorectal cancer in HIV patients

OBJETIVO: Rastreamento do papilomavírus humano (HPV) assim como sua correlação com a neoplasia anorretal nos pacientes portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) por meio da anuscopia de alta resolução (AAR) e da citologia anal. MÉTODOS: Desenvolvemos um estudo observacional, transversal e duplo-cego em que participaram 31 pacientes portadores do HIV independente de queixas proctológicas. Os pacientes foram submetidos à AAR e citologia anal cujas lâminas foram enviadas ao setor de anatomia patológica para coloração e posterior análise. RESULTADOS: Verificamos 22 pacientes do sexo masculino e 9 do sexo feminino entre 20 e 67 anos. Dos 31 analisados, quatro encontravam-se em estágio de imunodepressão, 23 utilizavam terapia antirretroviral, 16 com passado de sexo anal receptivo e 12 com passado de condiloma acuminado. À AAR 11 pacientes tinham alterações e 7 foram confirmados pela citologia. Verificamos ainda oito pacientes com alterações à citologia os quais possuíam ausência de alterações à AAR. À citologia apresentaram três células escamosas atípicas de significância (Ascus, do inglês atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), cinco com paraceratose e/ou hiperceratose, seis lesões intraepiteliais de baixo grau e uma lesão intraepitelial de alto grau. CONCLUSÃO: Sugerimos a utilização da AAR aliada à citologia anal para rastreamento nos pacientes portadores do HIV, visto que esses exames complementam-se para a detecção de lesões que estejam relacionadas ao câncer anorretal.

OBJECTIVE: Screening for HPV as well as its correlation with anorectal cancer in patients carrying the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) through high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) and anal cytology. METHODS: We developed an observational study, double-blind attended by 31 patients with HIV independent proctologic complaints. Patients underwent HRA and anal cytology slides were sent to which sector pathology staining and analysis. RESULTS: We found 22 males and 9 females between 20 and 67 years. Of the 31 tested, 4 were in stage of immunosuppression, 23 were using antiretroviral therapy, 16 with history of receptive anal sex and 12 with a history of condyloma acuminata. In the HRA 11 patients had changes and 7 were confirmed by cytology. We also verified eight patients with abnormal cytology who had no changes to the HRA. In the atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (Ascus) cytology had three, five with parakeratosis and/or hyperkeratosis, six intraepithelial lesions and a low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion high grade. CONCLUSION: We suggest the use of anoscopy high resolution combined with anal cytology for screening in patients with the HIV, since these examinations are complementary for the detection of lesions that are related to anorectal cancer.

Avaliação do preparo intestinal para colonoscopia comparando o uso do manitol e do polietilenoglicol: estudo prospectivo / Comparative evaluation of Bowel preparation for colonoscopy using mannitol and polyethylene glycol: a prospective study

Com o objetivo de estudar comparativamente o preparo intestinal para colonoscopia, 55 pacientes foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em grupos submetidos a preparo com polietilenoglicol (PEG) e solução de manitol. A qualidade do preparo do cólon no grupo que utilizou o PEG foi considerada excelente em 12 pacientes (44,4 por cento), bom em 15 (55,6 por cento) e ruim em nenhum caso, enquanto que naqueles indivíduos preparados com manitol a 20 por cento a qualidade foi, respectivamente, de oito (28,6 por cento), 12 (42,9 por cento) e oito (28,6 por cento) indivíduos, sendo a diferença estatisticamente significante (p=0,010). Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos quando comparamos o grau de satisfação dos pacientes, ou a quantidade de líquido no cólon durante o exame. Conclui-se que a qualidade do preparo intestinal com PEG para colonoscopia é superior ao manitol.

With the aim of studying comparatively intestinal prepare for colonoscopy, 55 patients were randomly distributed into two groups that used polyethylene glycol (PEG) and mannitol solution. The quality of bowel prepare in the group that used PEG was considered excellent in 12 patients (44,4 percent), good in 15 (55,6 percent) and bad in no cases, while in those prepared with manitol the quality of intestine preparation was, respectively, eight (28,6 percent), 12 (42,9 percent) and eight (28,6 percent) patients. The difference was considered statistically significant (p=0,010). There wasn't any statistical difference between the groups when we compared the satisfaction degree of the patients or the amount of liquid in the colon during the colonoscopy. We can conclude that the quality of bowel preparation for colonoscopy with PEG is superior to manitol.