Preoperative High-Resolution Ultrasound for the Assessment of Malignant Central Compartment Lymph Nodes in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The identification and removal of malignant central compartment lymph nodes (MCLN) is important to minimize the risk of persistent or recurrent local disease in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). While the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative ultrasound for the assessment of lateral compartment node metastases is well recognized, its role in the identification of central compartment node metastases in patients with PTC is less established. This study delineates the utility of high-resolution ultrasound (HUS) for the assessment of MCLN in patients with PTC. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of 227 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for biopsy-proven PTC by a single endocrine surgeon in an academic tertiary care center between 2004 and 2014. Preoperative sonographic results were compared to postoperative pathology reports to determine the accuracy of HUS for the assessment of MCLN. Statistical analysis also included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). RESULTS: HUS identified abnormal central compartment nodes in 51 (22.5%) patients. All 227 patients underwent a careful central compartment node exploration. One hundred and four (45.8%) patients had MCLN identified by surgery, of whom 65 (62.5%) had a negative preoperative central compartment HUS. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative HUS for the assessment of MCLN were 0.38 and 0.90, respectively. The PPV and NPV were 0.76 and 0.63, with an accuracy of 0.66. CONCLUSION: Preoperative HUS is quite specific for the identification of MCLN in patients with PTC. The present findings emphasize, however, that a negative HUS does not obviate the need for careful exploration of the central compartment to minimize the risk of persistent or recurrent local disease.

Approval and perceived impact of duty hour regulations: survey of pediatric program directors.

OBJECTIVES: To determine pediatric program director (PD) approval and perception of changes to resident training and patient care resulting from 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Common Program Requirements. METHODS: All US pediatric PDs (n = 181) were identified from the ACGME. Functional e-mail addresses were identified for 164 (90.6%). Three individualized e-mail requests were sent to each PD to complete an anonymous 32-question Web-based survey. RESULTS: A total of 151 responses were obtained (83.4%). Pediatrics PDs reported approval for nearly all of the 2011 ACGME duty hour regulations except for 16-hour intern shift limits (72.2% disapprove). Regarding the perceived impact of the new standards, many areas were reportedly unchanged, but most PDs reported negative effects on resident education (74.7%), preparation for senior roles (79.9%), resident ownership of patients (76.8%), and continuity of care (78.8%). There was a reported increase in PD workload (67.6%) and use of physician extenders (62.7%). Finally, only 48.3% of PDs reported that their residents are "always" compliant with 2011 requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric PDs think there have been numerous negative consequences of the 2011 Common Program Requirements. These include declines in resident education and preparation to take on more senior roles, as well as diminished resident accountability and continuity of care. Although they support individual aspects of duty hour regulation, almost three-quarters of pediatric PDs say there should be fewer regulations. The opinions expressed by PDs in this study should prompt research using quantitative metrics to assess the true impact of duty hour regulations.