BRAF: a tool in the decision to perform elective neck dissection?

BACKGROUND: Some studies have demonstrated a correlation between the presence of a BRAF mutation and aggressive characteristics, including lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) has been proposed for treatment of PTC. Given the potential complications of CND, we undertook a prospective study to determine the correlation between the BRAF mutation and lymph node metastasis. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with PTC underwent total thyroidectomy and routine prophylactic CND. All patients were tested for the BRAF mutation. RESULTS: Positive lymph nodes were found in 54.9% of patients. The BRAF mutation was found in 15 patients (29%). BRAF was not correlated with lymph node metastases. Lymph node metastases were correlated with multifocality (p=0.005) and angiolymphatic invasion (p=0.003) in univariate analysis. Age was also significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for the BRAF mutation does not help in deciding whether or not to perform CND.

Aneurisma de carótida interna extracraniano mimetizando tumor glômico / Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm presenting as glomus tumor

Aneurismas de carótida interna extracranianos (ACIE) são raros e o diagnóstico pode ser feito com ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada com contraste, ressonância nuclear magnética e angiografia. Este último é fundamental para definir a anatomia vascular e a melhor estratégia para o acesso operatório. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar e discutir um caso de aneurisma de artéria carótida interna extracraniano cujo diagnóstico definitivo foi realizado no intraoperatório, uma vez que, embora este diagnóstico tenha sido sugerido pela ultrassonografia pré-operatória, a tomografia computadorizada e a ressonância nuclear magnética com reconstrução arterial indicaram tratar-se de um tumor glômico.

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm is rare and the diagnosis is made by ultrasonography, computed tomography scan with contrast, magnetic resonance imaging and carotid angiography. The latter is important to define the vascular anatomy and best surgical approach. The aim of this study is to present and discuss a case of extracranial internal carotid artery aneurysm diagnosed intraoperatively. Ultrasonography suggested a carotid artery aneurysm but CT and angiographic nuclear scanning erroneously indicated a glomus tumor.

Doenças da tireóide em pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo / Thyroid disease in patients with hyperparathyroidism

Introdução: Os nódulos da glândula tireóide podem ser tratados durante a exploração cervical por afecção da paratireóide. Objetivo: A freqüência de doenças da tireóide em pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo primário e secundário foi revista. Métodos: Foram avaliados os dados disponíveis de 199 pacientes operados consecutivamente por hiperparatireoidismo primário (95 casos) ou secundário (104 casos). Os achados na glândula tireóide desses casos foram pesquisados. A glândula tireóide foi considerada normal quando nenhuma ressecção dela fora realizada ou quando o exame histopatológico relatava tecido tireóideo normal. A doença da tireóide foi avaliada em relação ao tipo de hiperparatireoidismo. Resultados: A glândula tireóide foi ressecada parcialmente ou totalmente em 126 situações (63,3%). Em 44 casos, a tireóide foi considerada normal pelo anatomopatológico e foi presumidamente normal em 117 pacientes ao todo (58,8%). Diferentes doenças da tireóide foram demonstradas com comprovação histopatológica em 41,2% de todos os casos tratados por hiperparatireoidismo (bócio em 28,1%, tireoidite em 6,5%, carcinoma papilífero em 6% e outros em 0,5%). Não houve diferença entre as doenças da tireóide no hiperparatireoidismo primário e o secundário, embora o carcinoma papilífero tenha sido mais freqüente no hiperparatireoidismo primário do que no secundário (9,5% no primário e 2,8% no secundário, p=0,07; Teste exato de Fisher). Conclusão: Doenças da tireóide são freqüentes nos pacientes operados por hiperparatireoidismo. A avaliação pré-operatória bem como atenção durante a operação são recomendáveis nesses doentes.

Introduction: Thyroid nodules may be treated during cervical exploration for a parathyroid disease. Objective: The frequency of thyroid disease found in patients with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism was reviewed. Methods: Data available from 199 patients consecutively operated on for either primary (95 cases) or secondary (104 cases) hyperparathyroidism. The findings of the thyroid glands in these patients were evaluated. The thyroid was considered normal when clearly stated in the pathology report or no thyroid resection was performed. Thyroid disease was evaluated according to the type of parathyroid dysfunction. Results: The thyroid gland was partially or completely resected in 126 cases (63.3%). In 44 cases the thyroid was considered normal by pathologic evaluation, and the thyroid gland was presumed normal in 117 patients (58.8%). Different pathologic proven thyroid diseases were detected in 41.2% (goiter was found in 28.1%, thyroiditis in 6.5%, papillary thyroid cancer in 6.0%, other 0.5%). There were no statistically differences between primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, although papillary thyroid cancer was more frequent in primary hyperparathyroidism than in secondary (9.5% in primary and 2.8% in secondary, p=0.07, Fisher?s exact test). Conclusions: Thyroid disease is a frequent problem in patients operated on for hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative as well as careful intraoperative evaluation of the thyroid gland is advised in patients with parathyroid disease.

Análise crítica dos exames iniciais de seguimento pós-tireoidectomia total por carcinoma bem diferenciado / Analysis of the initial follow-up exams after total thyroidectomy for well-differentiated, low risk thyroid cancer

Introdução: a incidência do câncer de tireóide tem aumentado nos últimos anos devido ao aumento do diagnóstico precoce. Considerando a tireoidectomia total como parte do tratamento, o seguimento [e realizado inicialmene com a pesquisa de corpo inteiro (PCI), dosagem sérica tireoglobulina (Tg) estimulada pelo hormônio tireo-estimulante (TSH) e sem estímulo. Objetivo: análise da importância relativa dos três exames na detecção de doença e indicação de terapia complementar conforme conduta do serviço. Pacientes e Método: estudados retrospectivamente os dados (gênero, idade, tipo histológico, tamanho do tumor, PCI e Tg com e sem estímulo de TSH) referentes aos pacientes operados por carcinoma bem diferenciado de tireóide entre 1999 e 2004, excluindo tipos histológicos mais agressivos, tumores > 4cm, extensão extratireoidiana e dosagem positiva para anticorpos anti-Tg. Os pacientes foram analisados em dois grupos (tumores com menos de 1cm e entre 1 e 4cm), sendo calculada sensibilidade dos exames em relação ao padrão-ouro (PCI associado a Tg estimulada). Resultados: dos 85 pacientes, 81 eram mulheres e 4 eram homens, com idade m[edia 44 anos. A sensibilidade da PCI e da Tg sem estímulo foi de 26,9%, enquanto a da Tg estimulada foi de 92,2%. Entre os tumores < 1cm, a sensibilidade da PCI foi de 16,6%, a da Tg sem estímulo foi de 33,3% e da Tg com estímulo de TSH foi de 100%. Discussão: O carcinoma bem diferenciado de tireóide tem excelente prognóstico para o grupo de baixo risco. A tireoglobulina estimulada foi o exame mais sensível em todos os grupos, com sensibilidade de 100% nos tumores menores que 1cm. A interpretação dos exames de seguimento deve ser individualizada e a indicação de ablação de restos tireóideos não deve ser aplicada em todos os pacientes

Intruduction: the incidence of thyroid cancer has been rising in the last years due to the improvement of early diagnosis. Considering the total thyroidectomy as part of the treatment, the follow-up can be performed with total body scan and thyroglobulin measurement, with and without TSH stimulation. Objective: to analyze the relative importance of each exam in detecting disease and the indication of complementary therapy as routine. Patients and methods: retrospective review of patients' charts, which underwent total thyroidectomy as part of the treatment for well-differentiated thyroid cancer, including gender, age, histologic subtype, size of tumor, total body scan, thyroglobulin with and without TSH stimulus. The patients with aggressive histologic subtypes, tumors > 4cm, extra-thyroid extension, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were excluded. The patients were analyzed in two groups- tumors < 1cm and between 1 and 4cm. The sensibility of each exam was calculated in relation to gold-standard total body scan associated with thyroglobulin. Results: 85 patients were studied, being 81 women and 4 men, with median age of 44 years-old. The sensibility of Tg without stimulus and total body scan were 26.9% and the sensibility of stimulated Tg was 92.2%. The sensibility of total body scan, Tg without stimulus and Tg with TSH stimulus was, respectively, 16.6%, 33.3% and 100%. Discussion: the well-differentiated thyroid cancer has excellent prognosis in the low-risk group. Stimulated thyroglobulin was the most sensitive exam in all groups, with a sensibility of 100% in the group with tumors < 1cm. Follow-up exams interpretation must be individualized and the ablation must not be applied for all patients

Selective neck dissection for node-positive necks in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a word of caution.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the regional recurrence (RR) rate in a consecutive series of patients with node-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (N(+) HNSCC) who underwent selective neck dissection (SND) as part of their treatment in a single institution. DESIGN: Retrospective case series with 2 years of follow-up. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred ninety-one patients with N(+) HNSCC underwent 256 neck dissections (NDs) between 1999 and 2002. Of these, 17 had unilateral SNDs and 11 had bilateral NDs (6 patients, bilateral SND; 5 patients, radical ND and SND). There were 22 men and 6 women, ranging in age from 37 to 79 years (median age, 53 years), with 17 laryngeal, 5 hypopharyngeal, 4 oral cavity, 1 oropharyngeal, and 1 nasopharyngeal primary tumors, which were classified as follows: T1 (n=2 [7.1%]), T2 (n=2 [7.1%]), T3 (n=7 [25.0%]), and T4 (n=17 [60.8%]). The neck stages were N1 (n=8 [28.6%]), N2a (n=2 [7.1%]), N2b (n=7 [25.0%]), and N2c (n=11 [39.3%]). Most patients had tumors that were stage III (14.3%) or stage IV (85.7%) and had undergone postoperative radiotherapy. The minimum follow-up period was 2 years (median follow-up period, 36 months). Two patients (7.1%) died of postoperative complications, and 2 became unavailable for follow-up before 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The RR rate. RESULTS: There were 4 RRs (11.8%) among 34 patients who underwent SND, and 2 RRs (40%) among 5 patients who underwent radical ND. None of the patients with T1 or T2 tumors had recurrences; 1 (14.3%) of 7 patients with T3 tumors and 3 (17.6%) of 17 patients with T4 disease had RRs. One (12.5%) of 8 patients with N1 stage cancer, none of 2 patients with N2a stage cancer, 2 (28.6%) of 7 patients with N2b stage cancer, and 1 (9.1%) of 11 patients with N2c stage cancer had RRs. CONCLUSIONS: The RR rate was acceptable in patients with T1/T2 tumors and N1 nodal stage disease. However, it was higher in those with advanced T tumors and/or N2b stage cancer.