Hemi-Thyroidectomy versus Total Thyroidectomy in Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Sized 2 cm or Less

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The controversy over the optimal extent of thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has persisted over a long time period. Particularly, there is a lack of consensus in low-risk PTC sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the oncologic outcomes between hemi-thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy in patients with low-risk PTC sized 2 cm or less.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 1107 patients who were diagnosed as unilateral low-risk PTC with maximal tumor size 2 cm or less and initially underwent either hemi-thyroidectomy (n=550) or total thyroidectomy (n=557) was conducted. All patients underwent ipsilateral prophylactic central neck dissection. Patients had no evidence of gross extrathyroidal extension or lymph node metastasis. Clinicopathologic factors and recurrence rate were compared according to the surgical extent and factors correlated to recurrence were analyzed.RESULTS: While the total thyroidectomy group had more aggressive clinicopathologic factors such as minimal extrathyroidal extension, multifocality, and lymph node metastasis, recurrence rate was higher in the hemi-thyroidectomy group (p=0.006). However, when the contralateral lobe recurrence was excluded there was no difference in recurrence between the two groups (p=0.597). In patients with tumor sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm there was no significant difference in recurrence between the two groups (p=0.100).CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy may not decrease recurrence in patients with PTC presented with unilateral tumor sized >1 cm and ≤2 cm. Hemi-thyroidectomy could be considered the treatment of choice in these patients when they are presented as a low-risk group.

How low is low enough? Evaluation of various risk-assessment models for lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer: a Korean multicenter study / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify a standard for the evaluation of future models for prediction of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer through estimation of performance of well-known surgicopathological models. METHODS: Using the medical records of 947 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgical management with lymphadenectomy, we retrospectively assessed the predictive performances of nodal metastasis of currently available models. RESULTS: We evaluated three models included: 1) a model modified from the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) pilot study; 2) one from the GOG-33 data; and 3) one from Mayo Clinic data. The three models showed similar negative predictive values ranging from 97.1% to 97.4%. Using Bayes' theorem, this can be translated into 2% of negative post-test probability when 10% of prevalence of lymph node metastasis was assumed. In addition, although the negative predictive value was similar among these models, the proportion that was classified as low-risk was significantly different between the studies (56.4%, 44.8%, and 30.5%, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that a false negativity of 2% or less should be a goal for determining clinical usefulness of preoperative or intraoperative prediction models for low-risk of nodal metastasis.

How low is low enough? Evaluation of various risk-assessment models for lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer: a Korean multicenter study / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify a standard for the evaluation of future models for prediction of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer through estimation of performance of well-known surgicopathological models. METHODS: Using the medical records of 947 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgical management with lymphadenectomy, we retrospectively assessed the predictive performances of nodal metastasis of currently available models. RESULTS: We evaluated three models included: 1) a model modified from the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) pilot study; 2) one from the GOG-33 data; and 3) one from Mayo Clinic data. The three models showed similar negative predictive values ranging from 97.1% to 97.4%. Using Bayes' theorem, this can be translated into 2% of negative post-test probability when 10% of prevalence of lymph node metastasis was assumed. In addition, although the negative predictive value was similar among these models, the proportion that was classified as low-risk was significantly different between the studies (56.4%, 44.8%, and 30.5%, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that a false negativity of 2% or less should be a goal for determining clinical usefulness of preoperative or intraoperative prediction models for low-risk of nodal metastasis.

Transduodenal Local Resection for Low Risk Group Ampulla of Vater Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: A carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater has more favorable prognosis than other malignant tumors of the periampullary region, because it is symptomatic at an early stage. However, local resection of an ampullary carcinoma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment results of ampulla of Vater carcinomas, according to operation type in low risk group patients. METHODS: The records of 17 low risk group patients, among 120 patients with ampulla of Vater cancer, who underwent curative surgery beyween 1992 and 2002, were reviewed. All specimens were critically reviewed by a single expert pathologist. The relationship between surgical outcomes and operation type were assessed. RESULTS: There were 10 men and 7 women, with a median age of 57.8 years. 13 of the 17 patients underwent the Whipples operation or a PPPD, and 4 underwent a transduodenal local resection (TDLR). The operation time was shorter in the TDLR group, and was statistically significant. Among the 17 patients, only one had a recurrence in the inguinal area 33 months after the PD. CONCLUSION: Transduodenal local resection is a recommendable operation for low risk Ampulla of Vater cancer patients. During the operation, it is essential to accurately evaluate the depth of invasion, cell differentiation and positivity of the resection margin using frozen sections.