Erbium laser in gynecology.

The aim of this paper is to present a novel laser technology utilizing the erbium YAG laser for various minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures in gynecology. Non-ablative, thermal-only SMOOTH-mode erbium pulses are used to produce vaginal collagen hyperthermia, followed by collagen remodeling and the synthesis of new collagen fibers, resulting in improved vaginal tissue tightness and elasticity. This erbium laser technology is used for treatments of vaginal laxity, stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and vaginal atrophy. In the period from 2010 to 2014, several clinical studies covering all four indications were conducted with the aim to prove the efficacy and safety of this novel technology. An overview is presented of the results of these studies where several objective as well as subjective assessment tools were used. The results have shown that SMOOTH-mode erbium laser seems to be an effective and safe method for treating vaginal laxity, stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapses and vaginal atrophy.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in children and young adults:--a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an extremely rare disorder in children and young adults. In the literature, only small case series or case reports can be found. The aim of this study was to show our experience in the management of PHPT patients under the age of 20. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of PHPT patients who underwent surgery in our institution. From 2004 to 2010, 522 patients underwent surgery (74, male; 478, female). Of these, 7 patients were under the age of 19 (4 [5%], male, 3 [0.6%], female). The following was analyzed demographic characteristics, length of the disease, clinical presentation, and preoperative and postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium levels. Ultrasonography, scintigraphy, and computerized tomography were performed for preoperative localization, and the types of operations and histopathological findings were assessed. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 15.7 years. Average duration of disease was 4.8 months. Only 2 patients (28%) were asymptomatic. The mean serum calcium level was 3.06 mmol/l, and the mean PTH level was 620.6 pg/ml. Both parameters showed significant reduction after surgery. One patient was positive for multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome, while the other patients were sporadic. Five parathyroidectomies (72%), 1 double parathyroidectomy (14%), and 1 subtotal parathyroidectomy (14%) were performed. CONCLUSION: PHPT in children and young adults is rare. It occurs more frequently in young adults than in children, with slight predominance in males. Most of the patients are symptomatic at diagnosis. Surgery is a successful method of treatment.

Perioperative risk factors, morbidity, and outcome of 145 patients during phaeochromocytoma resection.

BACKGROUND: Phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma resection carries a high perioperative risk. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for and frequency of perioperative morbidity and mortality during resection of these tumours. METHODS: Computerized surgical, medical, and histopathology records, as well as anaesthesia cards for 145 patients undergoing surgery for phaeochromocytoma resection between 1995 and 2009 were analysed retrospectively. Preoperative notes, adverse intraoperative events, and postoperative complications occurring in the 30 days following surgery were recorded. Preoperative phenoxybensamine and propranolol dose, age, sex, ASA score, catecholamine urinary level and profile, tumour weight, duration of surgery, and malignancy and presence of bilateral tumours were investigated to determine their contribution to major intraoperative haemodynamic events. Univariate comparisons were carried out using the student t-test. The Mann-Whitney test was also used to allow for deviation from normality. Logistic regression with backward removal of insignificant variables was used for multivariate analysis. Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. RESULTS: The only statistically significant factor that increased the probability of intraoperative haemodynamic variability was the duration of surgery (p = 0.025). The most common intraoperative event was transient hypertension, occurring in 59 (40.7%) patients. Sustained hypertension was registered in only 10 (6.9%) patients. No mortality, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular incidents were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the severity of perioperative haemodynamic changes significantly correlated with the duration of surgery. Our patients had low perioperative morbidity and no mortality.

The incidence of familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer in a large case series.

PURPOSES OF THE STUDY: In contrast to familial medullary carcinoma, familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) is less frequent and has been less investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of FNMTC and analyse the main demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 1411 patients surgically treated for nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma, in the Center for Endocrine Surgery in Belgrade, from 1995 to 2006 were analysed. The possible presence of malignant tumours of the thyroid gland was investigated in their closest relatives in order to identify cases of FNMTC. Only data on first-degree relatives (parents and children) and second-degree relatives (grandparents, grandchildren and siblings) were taken into account in the analysis. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (11 females and 2 males) (0.92% of those with nonmedullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland) had a familial form of the disease. In five families two members had a tumour, and in one family three members. In five out of six families it was a papillary carcinoma and in one family a follicular carcinoma. Patient age varied from 20 to 79 years, with a mean age of 40 years. The tumour size ranged from 5 to 60 mm (mean 25 mm). In two of the thirteen cases the tumour penetrated the capsule of the thyroid gland. In four cases the tumour was multicentric and bilateral, and in a further two metastases were present in regional lymph nodes. During the follow-up period, which lasted from 2 to 12 years (mean 8.5 years), two relapses were detected. CONCLUSION: Familial nonmedullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland occurs very rarely.

[The incidence rate of thyroid microcarcinoma during surgery benign disease].

Thyroid microcarcinoma are well-differentiated tumors less than 1 cm in diameter. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients operated of benign thyroid disease at the Center for endocrine surgery, Institute of endocrinology, Clical Center of Serbia in Belgrade, from January 1st to December 31st 2004, in order to establish the incidence of microcarcinoma. Indications for surgery were euthyroid multinodular goiter in 201 patients, thyroiditis in 31, thyroid adenoma in 178, Graves disease in 89 and Plummers disease in 79 patients. The results of this study, demonstrate that in 13.4% of the patients operated for goiter, 6.4% operated for thyroiditis, 5.6% for thyroid adenomas, 9.0% for Graves disease and 7.0% of the patients operated for Plumers disease, the presence of a microcarcinoma was noticed in the definitive histopathologic examination. The results obtained are in line with the current knowledge of high incidence of thyroid microcarcinoma.

[Rational diagnosis and surgical treatment of solitary thyroid nodules]. / Racionalna dijagnoza i hirursko lecenje solitarnog nodusa stitaste zlezde.

Few subjects in endocrine surgery have generated as much controversy as the management of thyroid nodule. The controversial issues include evaluation of laboratory findings and imaging diagnostic procedures in the patient with solitary thyroid nodule. The major issue in relation to controversies is choice of optimal diagnostic workup.

[Classification, staging, prognostic factors and risk factors in thyroid carcinoma]. / Klasifikacija, stepenovanje, prognosticki faktori i faktori rizika kod karcinoma stitaste zlezde.

Thyroid carcinomas arise from follicular cells (papillary, follicular, Hurthle, anaplastic), parafollicular cells (medullary) and stroma (lymphoma, sarcoma). Gradation and prognostic factors are different for every one of histological type. Most patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis. At the other extreme is anaplastic thyroid cancer whose usual mean survival can be measured in months. Exposure to external radiation and living in endemic goiter area increase the frequency of thyroid cancer. Medullary thyroid carcinoma is often familial and may occur in associations with the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes.

[Specifics of preoperative care, intraoperative monitoring and postoperative evaluation of patients with thyroid carcinoma]. / Specificnosti preoperativne pripreme, intraoperativnog monitoringa i postoperativne evaluacije bolesnika sa karcinomom stitaste zlezde.

The aim of the study was to show the standards of preoperative management, intraoperative monitoring and postoperative evaluation of patients with thyroid gland carcinoma. It was point out the importance of the preoperative diagnosis of the tumor, and the concurrent diseases. The special attention was paid to difficult airway recognition and resolving this situation. Both, anesthetist's and surgeon's point of view of perioperative and postoperative complications were discussed with special interest on early surgical complications and the need for urgent anesthetic treatment. Criteria for minimal and desirable monitoring of vital functions were suggested in order to prevent, recognize and cure complications. Our conclusions were based on recent references from the world literature and on our own experience in Center for endocrine surgery KCS, Belgrade.

[Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland]. / Papilarni karcinom stitaste zlezde.

Papillary thyroid cancer is after ovarian cancer the most frequent malignant disease of the endocrine system and because of this fact, early detection and appropriate surgical treatment is essential. Radical surgical treatment lower the risk of the disease relapse and postoperative adjuvant therapy with radioiodine is possible as well as postoperative follow up with thyreoglobulin measurement. If the total thyroidectomy is performed in highly specialized institution the risk of postoperative complications is acceptable and therefore is the treatment of choice for papillary thyroid cancer. Only the patients with occult papillary thyroid cancer can be treated with hemithyroidectomy. In our series of 410 patients the majority of the patients (85.12%) were in the early phase of the disease and the degree of successfully performed radical surgery for papillary thyroid cancer was very high (tumor reduction was performed in only 1.46% of cases).

[Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland]. / Folikularni karcinom stitaste zlezde.

Follicular thyroid cancer is the second most common thyroid malignancy. This tumor has a predisposition for hematogenous dissemination an extra thyroid spread. Accurate cytological diagnosis of follicular thyroid cancer is not possible and this fact highlights the necessity for surgical treatment of any suspicious thyroid nodule. Aggressiveness of this tumor is greater than in the case of papillary thyroid cancer and it is the reason for radical surgical treatment of follicular thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy facilitates later adjuvant therapy with thyroid hormones and radioiodine. This procedure improves the outcome and the risk of relapse. Results of our study clearly demonstrate that diagnosis of follicular thyroid cancer in us is established in the early phase of the disease (78.57%), but the significant number of the patients (21.43%) is still in the advanced phase of the disease.

[Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland (sporadic, familial)]. / Medularni karcinom stitaste zlezde (sporadicni, familijarni).

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is uncommon thyroid tumor with specific characteristics which undoubtedly divide this tumor from other thyroid malignancies. Patients with sporadic or hereditary form of MTC differ in clinical presentation, recurrence of the disease and outcome. The aim of study was to establish surgical characteristics of MTC as well as clinical factors that influence surgical treatment. The study group consisted of 68 patients with MTC managed at the Center for Endocrine Surgery between 1987 and 1999. Retrospective analysis included clinical form of the disease, general data, histological and other tumor characteristics. Mean age of the patients were 47.3 years (female/male ratio: 1.5:1). Mean size of tumor was 80.5 cm3, 72.1% patients had tumor greater than 4 cm. in diameter or extrathyroid spread. The majority of patients were in II and III stadium of the disease. Primary operation (at least total thyroidectomy) was performed in 57 (84%) patients. 2(3%) had postoperatively temporally nerve palsy and 7(10.29%) temporally hypoparathyroidism. The overall survival was 46.8 +/- 9.9% after 9 years and 63.6 +/- 7.2% at 5 years. Postoperative calcitonin value is significant predictor of survival/Spearman's coefficient (R = 0.7048)/, worse prognosis is in correlation with high postoperative calcitonin values. The treatment of choice is at least total thyroidectomy and central lymph nodes resection if enlarged lymph nodes are found. Precise operative technique lowers the risk of postoperative complications. Complex approach to the patient with MTC includes all available methods in pre and postoperative evaluation as well as surgeon's knowledge and skill.

[Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid gland]. / Anaplasticni karcinom stitaste zlezde.

The aim of the present paper was to study some characteristics and possibility of surgery of anaplastic thyroid cancer. During five years period in Center for endocrine surgery, we found anaplastic thyroid cancer in 65 patient (44 female and 21 male), median age 63 years (from 37 to 88 years). Surgical treatment was peerformed in one half (32) anaplastic thyroid cancer patients, at majority of them operative biopsy or tumor reduction only. Radical surgery was performed in about 10% patients. Possibility of surgery in anaplastic thyroid cancer are very limited. In one third patients there were long standing goiter or thyroid nodule or histological verified dedifferentiation of papillary thyroid cancer. This patient should be operated formerly, before anaplastic transformation.

[Lymphoma and other rare malignant tumors of the thyroid]. / Limfomi i drugi retki maligni tumori stitaste zlezde.

UNLABELLED: Primary thyroid lymphomas are rare. Surgery is seldom indicated. The aim of the study is to find out the main characteristics of primary thyroid lymphomas in our patients, indications for surgery and the possibility of treatment. frequency and characteristics of rare thyroid tumors. METHOD: Retrospective study of 1044 patient operated for malignant thyroid tumor. RESULTS: From 1995 to may 2003. We operated upon 15 patients with primary thyroid lymphomas. 2 men and 13 women mean age of 50.12 years (from 22 to 74 years), also one patient of age 69 with insular thyroid cancer. Reason for surgery was thyroid tumor in all, compressive disturbances in 9, among them 4 with asphyxia. Radical total thyroidectomy was performed in 4 (26.7%), whole in others some residual tumor tissue was could not be removed in spite of thyroidectomy in 3, hemithyroidectomy in 2, tumor debulking in 5 and only open biopsy was performed in one patient. There was no operative mortality. no postoperative hypocalcaemia and no recurrent nerve palsy. Histological type of tumor was Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 13 patients, Hodgkin disease in 2 female patients of age 22 and 24. Hashimoto thyroiditis was present in 3 patients. After surgery, 13 patients were treated with chemotherapy, one patient died one month after the operation and one patient refused chemotherapy. Follow-up data are available for 9 patients and the mean follow-up period was 20 months (1-48 months). Three patients died after a month, 2 and 3 years after surgery. Six patients are without local relapse. In one patient who refused chemotherapy, a year after thyroid surgery, resection of large intestine was performed because of lymphoma of the colon. CONCLUSION: Malignant thyroid lymphomas are rare. They present with rapidly growing thyroid tumor, compression and asphyxia. Surgery is only temporarily effective and it is necessary to start with chemo-radiotherapy as soon as possible. Rare forms of thyroid cancer have to be histologically recognised in order to choose the best way of treatment.

[Surgical treatment of recurrent thyroid carcinoma]. / Hirursko lecenje recidiva karcinoma stitaste zlezde.

UNLABELLED: Recurrent thyroid tumors are much less frequent but more aggressive than primary tumors. The aim is to find out their characteristics, aggressiveness and the possibility of radical surgical excision as well as the frequency of complications. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Retrospective study on 69 patients operated for recurrent thyroid tumors. RESULTS: Recurrent tumors were found in 42 patients with papillary, 11 with follicular (8 with Hurthle), 9 with medullary and 7 with anaplastic thyroid tumors. Relapse in thyroid bed on dominant side had 41 patients (59.4%), relapse on the opposite side we found in 19 patients (27.5%) and relapse in lymph nodes outside of thyroid bed in 37 patients (53.6%). In 33/69 patients, the first procedure was incomplete (reduction in 5, partial resection in 19, hemithyroidectomy in 9). The second procedure was incomplete in 14, near total thyroidectomy in 2, total thyroidectomy in 33 and dissection of lymph nodes in 33, among them in 20 with the operation in thyroid bed. Pre-operative recurrent nerve palsy had 2 patients and transitional recurrent nerve palsy occurred after second procedure in 2 patients. Among 33 patients after thyroidectomy for recurrent tumor, postoperative hypoparathyroidism occurred in 8 (24.2%), of whom in 2 permanent (6%). In the group of 54 patients with recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer, radioiodine therapy after first operation had received only 7 patients (13%). CONCLUSION: The main causes of thyroid cancer relapse are incomplete first procedure and aggressiveness of cancer. It is not always possible to excise the complete recurrent tumor. After surgery for papillary cancer, radioiodine therapy is seldom used.