Bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in patients on long-term suppressive levothyroxine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer

PURPOSE: Current management for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer includes near total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy followed by administration of supraphysiological doses of levothyroxine (L-T4). Although hyperthyroidism is a well known risk factor for osteoporosis, the effects of L-T4 treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with thyroid cancer do not appear to be as significant as with endogenous hyperthyroidism. In this study, we evaluated the impact of long-term suppressive therapy with L-T4 on BMD and bone turn over markers in Korean female patients receiving L-T4 suppressive therapy. METHODS: We enrolled 94 female subjects (mean age, 50.84 +/- 11.43 years) receiving L-T4 after total or near total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid cancer (mean follow-up period, 12.17 +/- 4.27 years). The subjects were divided into three groups by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level (group 1 with TSH level 0.17 microIU/mL) and four groups by quartile of free T4 level. L-T4 dosage, BMD (examined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and bone turnover markers were evaluated according to TSH and free T4 levels. RESULTS: No significant decrease was detected in BMD or bone turnover markers according to TSH level or free T4 level. Also, the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia was not different among groups. CONCLUSION: Long-term L-T4 suppressive therapy after thyroid cancer management did not affect bone density or increase the prevalence of osteoporosis even though TSH levels were supraphysiologically suppressed.

Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Metastasis of Thyroid Papillary Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

Thyroid papillary carcinoma shows 40% of the lymph node metastasis rate, but metastasis to retropharyngeal lymph node is known to be rare. Patients underwent operation via transcervical approach due to retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma mimicking paraganglioma. Even though retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis is rare, it could go unnoticed with only history taking and physical examination of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients, especially since cervical ultrasonography is not a sufficient modality for the evaluation of retropharyngeal lymph node. Imaging studies such as MRI or CT scan is required to evaluate retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

Treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To study the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Method The clinical data and, in partricular, the treatment modalities of 173 cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed.Results All of the 173 patients were treated by resection and subsequent endocrine therapy.Different types of operations were selected in accordance with the clinical stages.No perioperative deaths occurred.There were altogether 30 operative complications including nerve injury.Ninety-one patients were followed up for over 5 years and no deaths occurred.Jugular lymphatic metastases occurred in 4 patients, sternum metastases in 2 and lung metastasis in 1.Conclusion Surgical resection and endocrine therapy are highly effective for the treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.