Usefulness of ultrasound-guided core biopsy in thyroid nodules with inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy in thyroid nodules after two inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsies. To assess the complications of core-needle biopsy. To analyze the reliability of diagnoses obtained with core-needle biopsy. To measure the economic impact of avoiding lobectomies in patients with benign core-needle biopsy findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 195 core-needle biopsies in 178 patients. To determine the reliability of the core-needle biopsy findings, we compared the diagnosis from the core-needle specimen versus the histologic findings in the surgical specimens when core-needle biopsy findings indicated malignancy or follicular proliferation and versus the stability of the nodule on ultrasound follow-up for one year when core-biopsy findings indicated benignity. RESULTS: Core-needle biopsy yielded a diagnosis for 179 (91.7%) nodules, of which 122 (62.5%) were classified as benign, 50 (25.6%) as follicular proliferation, and 7 (3.6%) as malignant. The findings were inconclusive for 16 (8.3%) nodules. Minor complications were observed in 4 (2%) patients; no major complications were observed. The sensitivity of core-needle biopsy for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was low (42.8%) because the technique was unable to detect capsular or vascular invasion, although the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 100%. However, when we considered histologic findings of malignancy and follicular proliferation positive because both require surgical resection, the sensitivity increased to 97.5% and the PPV decreased to 83.3%. There were 79 nodules with ultrasound follow-up for at least one year; 76 (96.2%) had negative core-needle biopsy findings, and 74 (97.3%) of these remained stable. The negative predictive value (NPV) for malignancy of the benign nodules was 98.6%, although no malignant transformation was observed. Nevertheless, the results of the statistical analysis do not allow us to recommend forgoing ultrasound follow-up in patients with benign core-biopsy findings. The cost savings of avoiding lobectomy in patients with benign nodules and stability of the nodule on ultrasound follow-up for at least one year was about 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Core-needle biopsy of thyroid nodules is effective because it diagnoses more than 90% of nodules with inconclusive findings after fine-needle aspiration biopsy. It is safe if done by experienced professionals. It is reliable because it yields 100% specificity and 100% PPV for malignant nodule, 97.5% sensitivity for the detection of nodules that require surgery, and 98.6% NPV for benign nodules. It is efficient because it reduces the costs of diagnosis compared to lobectomy in benign nodules.

Utilidad de la biopsia con aguja gruesa ecoguiada en nódulos tiroideos con punción aspirativa con aguja fina no diagnóstica / Usefulness of ultrasound-guided core biopsy in thyroid nodules with inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings

Objetivos: Conocer el rendimiento diagnóstico de la biopsia con aguja gruesa (BAG) ecoguiada en nódulos tiroideos con dos punciones aspirativas con aguja fina (PAAF) previas no diagnósticas. Evaluar complicaciones de la BAG. Analizar la fiabilidad de los diagnósticos obtenidos mediante BAG. Medir el impacto económico de evitar lobectomía tras BAG con resultado benigno. Material y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de 195 BAG realizadas en 178 pacientes. Las referencias utilizadas para medir la fiabilidad de los resultados de la BAG fueron el análisis de la pieza quirúrgica tras una biopsia con malignidad o proliferación folicular (PF) y la estabilidad ecográfica superior a 1 año tras una BAG benigna. Se compararon costes directos de BAG más seguimiento ecográfico frente al que hubiera tenido realizar lobectomía sin complicaciones en los pacientes con estabilidad ecográfica superior a 1 año tras BAG benigna. Resultados: De los 195 nódulos sometidos a BAG, el resultado fue diagnóstico en 179 (91,7%), incluyendo 122 benignos (62,5%), 50 PF (25,6%) y 7 malignos (3,6%). No fue diagnóstico en 16 nódulos (8,3%). Hubo complicaciones menores en 4 pacientes (2%) y mayores en ninguno. La sensibilidad de la BAG para el diagnóstico de cáncer de tiroides fue baja (42,8%) por su incapacidad para detectar invasión capsular o vascular, aunque con especificidad y valor predictivo positivo (VPP) del 100%. Al considerar los diagnósticos de malignidad y PF como positivos, pues ambos obligan a resección quirúrgica, la sensibilidad ascendió al 97,5%, con descenso al 83,3% del VPP. Hubo 79 nódulos con seguimiento ecográfico superior a 1 año, 76 con BAG benigna (96,2%), de los cuales mostraron estabilidad 74 (97,3%). El valor predictivo negativo (VPN) para malignidad de los nódulos benignos fue del 98,6%, aunque no se detectó ninguna transformación maligna. Sin embargo, el análisis estadístico no permite recomendar la supresión del seguimiento ecográfico tras BAG benigna.(AU)

Objectives: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy in thyroid nodules after two inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsies. To assess the complications of core-needle biopsy. To analyze the reliability of diagnoses obtained with core-needle biopsy. To measure the economic impact of avoiding lobectomies in patients with benign core-needle biopsy findings. Material and methods: This retrospective study reviewed 195 core-needle biopsies in 178 patients. To determine the reliability of the core-needle biopsy findings, we compared the diagnosis from the core-needle specimen versus the histologic findings in the surgical specimens when core-needle biopsy findings indicated malignancy or follicular proliferation and versus the stability of the nodule on ultrasound follow-up for one year when core-biopsy findings indicated benignity. Results: Core-needle biopsy yielded a diagnosis for 179 (91.7%) nodules, of which 122 (62.5%) were classified as benign, 50 (25.6%) as follicular proliferation, and 7 (3.6%) as malignant. The findings were inconclusive for 16 (8.3%) nodules. Minor complications were observed in 4 (2%) patients; no major complications were observed. The sensitivity of core-needle biopsy for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was low (42.8%) because the technique was unable to detect capsular or vascular invasion, although the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 100%. However, when we considered histologic findings of malignancy and follicular proliferation positive because both require surgical resection, the sensitivity increased to 97.5% and the PPV decreased to 83.3%. There were 79 nodules with ultrasound follow-up for at least one year; 76 (96.2%) had negative core-needle biopsy findings, and 74 (97.3%) of these remained stable. The negative predictive value (NPV) for malignancy of the benign nodules was 98.6%, although no malignant transformation was observed.(AU)

Usefulness of ultrasound-guided core biopsy in thyroid nodules with inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings. / Utilidad de la biopsia con aguja gruesa ecoguiada en nódulos tiroideos con punción aspirativa con aguja fina no diagnóstica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy in thyroid nodules after two inconclusive fine-needle aspiration biopsies. To assess the complications of core-needle biopsy. To analyze the reliability of diagnoses obtained with core-needle biopsy. To measure the economic impact of avoiding lobectomies in patients with benign core-needle biopsy findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed 195 core-needle biopsies in 178 patients. To determine the reliability of the core-needle biopsy findings, we compared the diagnosis from the core-needle specimen versus the histologic findings in the surgical specimens when core-needle biopsy findings indicated malignancy or follicular proliferation and versus the stability of the nodule on ultrasound follow-up for one year when core-biopsy findings indicated benignity. RESULTS: Core-needle biopsy yielded a diagnosis for 179 (91.7%) nodules, of which 122 (62.5%) were classified as benign, 50 (25.6%) as follicular proliferation, and 7 (3.6%) as malignant. The findings were inconclusive for 16 (8.3%) nodules. Minor complications were observed in 4 (2%) patients; no major complications were observed. The sensitivity of core-needle biopsy for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was low (42.8%) because the technique was unable to detect capsular or vascular invasion, although the specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 100%. However, when we considered histologic findings of malignancy and follicular proliferation positive because both require surgical resection, the sensitivity increased to 97.5% and the PPV decreased to 83.3%. There were 79 nodules with ultrasound follow-up for at least one year; 76 (96.2%) had negative core-needle biopsy findings, and 74 (97.3%) of these remained stable. The negative predictive value (NPV) for malignancy of the benign nodules was 98.6%, although no malignant transformation was observed. Nevertheless, the results of the statistical analysis do not allow us to recommend forgoing ultrasound follow-up in patients with benign core-biopsy findings. The cost savings of avoiding lobectomy in patients with benign nodules and stability of the nodule on ultrasound follow-up for at least one year was about 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Core-needle biopsy of thyroid nodules is effective because it diagnoses more than 90% of nodules with inconclusive findings after fine-needle aspiration biopsy. It is safe if done by experienced professionals. It is reliable because it yields 100% specificity and 100% PPV for malignant nodule, 97.5% sensitivity for the detection of nodules that require surgery, and 98.6% NPV for benign nodules. It is efficient because it reduces the costs of diagnosis compared to lobectomy in benign nodules.

Aplicación del adhesivo de fibrina tissucol® en eventraciones complejas / Application of Tissucol® fibrin glue in complex eventrations

Introducción. El desarrollo de seromas o hematomas tras la reparación de eventraciones abdominales es frecuente, sobre todo si se realiza una dermolipectomía asociada, y puede complicarse con una infección.Objetivos. Determinar la eficacia del adhesivo de fibrina Tissucol® en la reducción de complicaciones locales (seromas, hematomas, abscesos) tras eventroplastias y su repercusión en la estancia hospitalaria.Se comparan los resultados con un grupo control de 24 pacientes.Pacientes y métodos. Se incluye a 14 pacientes tratados con malla de polipropileno y dermolipectomía abdominal, con aplicación de Tissucol® vaporizado.Se analizan las características clínicas, tipo de cirugía y datos técnicos de la malla colocada, volumen y coste del adhesivo, morbilidad, estancia postoperatoria y recidivas.Resultados. Los pacientes estudiados son de mayor edad (p 30 en el 50 por ciento), más patología respiratoria, hipotiroidismo y neoplasias previas.El 50 por ciento de las eventraciones eran reproducidas, 42,9 por ciento tenían malla previa; en el 78,6 por ciento el defecto fue suprainfraumbilical (p < 0,0001), y se colocó una malla de mayor tamaño (p < 0,05), situándola premuscular en el 64,3 por ciento (p < 0,0001). El Tissucol® aplicado fue de 2,2 ml/paciente.La morbilidad local en el grupo estudio fue menor (el 21,4 por ciento frente al 41,7 por ciento), con menos hematomas (el 7,1 y el 16,7 por ciento) y abscesos (el 0 y el 20,8 por ciento). La estancia media también fue menor (9,2 frente a 11,6 días).No hubo mortalidad y la recidiva ha sido nula con seguimiento entre 2-18 meses.Conclusiones. A pesar de ser pacientes con condiciones clínicas desfavorables, de más alto riesgo, con eventraciones más grandes, multioperadas, y cirugía más compleja, tanto la morbilidad local como la estancia media han sido menores, por lo que se puede considerar que la aplicación del adhesivo Tissucol® disminuye la tasa de hematoma e infección locales y reduce consecuentemente la estancia media hospitalaria, sin efectos secundarios y con un mínimo gasto añadido. (AU)

Colocutaneous fistula due to polypropylene mesh.

Fistulae due to polypropylene mesh are known to occur if the prosthetic mesh is placed close to a hollow viscus. Some cases of enterocutaneous fistula have been reported but there are few cases of fistula affecting the large bowel. It is important to recognize these cases because they are severe complications of the prosthesis and difficult to manage. We present a case of colocutaneous fistula caused by fragmentation of polypropylene mesh and erosion into the sigmoid colon after recurrent incisional hernia repair.

Dehiscence of gastrojejunal stapled anastomosis after lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis.

We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with previous bariatric surgery and a large renal calculus following a prolonged lithotripsy session. The patient presented with peritonitis due to dehiscence of the gastrojejunal stapled anastomosis.

Complicaciones de la pancreatectomía asociada a la gastrectomía total por cáncer gástrico / Complications of pancreatectomy when associated with total gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Objetivo. Determinar la morbilidad y la mortalidad post operatoria de la pancreatectomía asociada a la gastrectomía total por cáncer gástrico. Diseño. Estudio retrospectivo de cohortes. Pacientes y método. Desde 1991 hasta 1998 se realizaron en el servicio de cirugía 111 gastrectomías totales consecutivas. La cohorte de estudio estaba formada por 28 casos tratados con una pancreatectomía distal asociada. La cohorte control estaba compuesta por las 83 gastrectomías restantes sin pancreatectomía asociada. Se analizó la mortalidad, la infección intraabdominal y pulmonar, la fístula postoperatoria y el índice de reintervenciones. Se realizó una regresión logística mediante el programa estadístico SPSS. Resultados. La pancreatectomía distal incrementó significativamente la incidencia de fístula pancreática (el 18 frente al 0 por ciento; p = 0,001), infección pulmonar (el 25 frente al 8 por ciento; p = 0,04) y el índice de reintervenciones (el 21 frente al 4 por ciento; p = 0,001). No hubo diferencias significativas en la mortalidad postoperatoria entre ambos grupos (el 11 frente al 9 por ciento). Sin embargo, la estancia hospitalaria postoperatoria fue, en promedio, 16 días más larga en los pacientes tratados con resección de la cola del páncreas (p = 0,02). Conclusiones. La pancreatectomía asociada a la gastrectomía total aumenta significativamente la morbilidad postoperatoria. Esta resección combinada sólo debe realizarse en pacientes con tumores proximales sin factores de riesgo y con estadios precoces de la enfermedad tumoral (AU)

Liver hematoma following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

We report the case of an 81-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for choledocholithiasis. A diagnosis of infected hematoma was made. A CT-guided puncture produced bloody matter that grew Citrobacter freundii. A catheter was left in place for 3 weeks before the patient could be discharged from hospital. We hypothesize that the hepatic parenchyma had been torn by the guide used during the ERCP. This case represents the first report of this type of iatrogenic injury.