ABSTRACT
Fine-needle aspiration cytology, which is well established to be accurate for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, may be inconclusive for the follicular thyroid neoplasms. As galectin-3 was suggested to be a marker of malignant thyrocytes, we investigated whether this protein might be helpful in the diagnosis of aspirates classified as undeterminate by cytology. After establishing an easy processing of aspirates for galectin-3 immunodetection, a series of aspirates categorised as benign (n=63), malignant (n=17) or undeterminate (n=34) was prospectively analysed for galectin-3. Only the patients with malignant or undeterminate lesions underwent surgery. Most lesions (86%) diagnosed as malignant by cytology or after surgery were positive for galectin-3. The majority of lesions (94%) classified as benign by cytology or after surgery was negative for galectin-3. The positive and negative predictive values were 83 and 95%, respectively. When focusing on the undeterminate lesions, the sensitivity and specificity were 75 and 90%, respectively, while the positive and negative predictive values were 82 and 87%, respectively. The specificity and the positive predictive value were higher (100%) when considering the percentage of stained cells. Altogether these results show that galectin-3 constitutes a useful marker in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions classified as undeterminate by conventional cytology.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/metabolism , Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/pathology , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Galectin 3/analysis , Galectin 3/immunology , Thyroid Neoplasms/metabolism , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/classification , Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Cell Line, Tumor , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Prospective Studies , Thyroid Neoplasms/classificationABSTRACT
A case of severe dyspnoea is reported which occurred in a 21-years-old woman with Willebrand-Jürgens disease four days after intubation during a dental operation. A 34 Charrière catheter was introduced into the glottis after a 22 Charrière catheter had failed to pass the obstruction. The patient was then artificially ventilated by means of a Spiromat and was subsequently tracheotomized after her cardio-pulmonary condition had become stabilized. The cause of the dyspnoea was a fibrin clot of 5-6 cm length. Three weeks after the tracheotomy and one week after extubation the patient was discharged from hospital in a satisfactory condition. The factors responsible for the development of the fibrin clot are discussed. If there is persistent stridor and aphonia after extubation a laryngologist should be consulted.
Subject(s)
Dyspnea/etiology , Intubation, Intratracheal/adverse effects , von Willebrand Diseases/complications , Adult , Blood Coagulation Disorders/etiology , Female , Humans , Respiration, Artificial , Surgery, Oral , Tracheal Stenosis/etiologyABSTRACT
A case of probably not congenital dissociated pendular nystagmus is reported in which on the contrary to similar published cases no neurological disorder is present.
Subject(s)
Nystagmus, Pathologic/diagnosis , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Nystagmus, Pathologic/congenitalABSTRACT
A case of noncongenital rare pendular nystagmus is reported in witch on the contrary to similar published cases no neurological disorder is present.
