THE ROLE OF THYROID FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN THE TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF THYROID NODULES IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION.

OBJECTIVE: Thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and cytology is a reliable diagnostic method used in the assessment of malignancy when evaluating thyroid nodules, in conjunction with clinical and ultrasonographic findings. The aim of this study is to compare clinical, ultrasonographic, cytological and histopathological findings in children who underwent thyroid FNA. METHODS: Subjects comprised 80 patients (52 female) aged 13.7±2.8 years at the time of FNA who where evaluated for thyroid nodules. Clinical, ultrasonographic and cytological findings of patients were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Autoimmune thyroiditis was present in 30% and history of radiotherapy to the head or neck in 10%. The cytological diagnosis of patients included: inadequate or hemorrhagic sample in 10%; benign in 42.5%; atypia or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) in 15%; suspicion of follicular neoplasia (SFN) in 7.5%; suspicion of malignancy (SM) in 8.8%; and malignant in 16.3%. Thirty-seven patients underwent thyroidectomy. Malignancy rates for histopathologic follow-up were 75%, 85.7% and 100% for SFN, SM and malignant categories, respectively. Only one benign and two AUS/FLUS FNAs were found to be malignant on histopathological examination. Among patients who had received radioiodinetherapy, 87.5% had malignancy. In this study, the sensitivity of FNA was 96%, specificity 50%, positive predictive value 90.9%, negative predictive value 75%, and diagnostic value of FNA was 89.2%. CONCLUSION: Thyroid FNA results were highly compatible with histopathological examination. Sensitivity, positive predictive value and diagnostic value of FNA were high.

Comparison of histopathological features and prognosis of classical and follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To compare the histopathological features and the outcomes of the follicular variant and classical variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. MATERIAL AND THE METHODS: Demographic data, histopathological features (tumor size, thyroid capsule invasion, extrathyroidal extension, vascular invasion and multicentricity), lymph node metastasis, local recurrence, distant metastasis and mortality during the follow-up of 258 C-PTC and 153 FVPTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were compared. The dynamic risk assessment system was used to refine postoperative risk estimates based on the assessment of response to initial treatment. RESULTS: The demographic data showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean tumor size showed no significant difference between the two groups. The rate of thyroid capsule invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in C-PTC than in FVPTC group, whereas multicentricity and bilobar involvement were significantly higher in FVPTC group than in C-PTC group. Central lymph node metastasis was significantly more frequent in patients with C-PTC than in those with FVPTC (p < 0.0001). Local recurrence was found in 22 (5.3 %) patients overall and was significantly more common in C-PTC group than in FVPTC group. In patients ≥45 years, the local recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with CPTC than in those with FVPTC. The local recurrence rate in patients <45 years was not significantly different between the two groups of patients. The multicentricity rate was significantly higher in the FVPTC group for both age groups. Dynamic risk assessment showed that the rate of intermediate- and high-risk groups showed no significant difference between C-PTC and FVPTC patients but the rate of low risk patients was higher in FVPTC group than in C-PTC group (p = 0.04). The recurrence rate in low-risk group was found higher in C-PTC compared to FVPTC patients (4.7 vs. 0.7 %, p = 0.04, respectively). The recurrence rate showed no significant difference in both intermediate- and high-risk groups in C-PTC and FVPTC patients. During the follow-up, the rate of distant metastasis and disease-specific mortality was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: FVPTC is a common subtype of PTC and has a higher rate of multicentricity with bilobar involvement. Although aggressive histopathologic features, such as thyroid capsule invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node metastasis, are significantly more frequent in CPTC than in FVPTC, the long-term outcome is similar in both subtypes after appropriate initial surgery and postoperative RAI ablation treatment.

Is heparinization necessary in the early postoperative period of renal transplantation from cadaveric donors?

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboemboli and bleeding are the complications that threaten the graft and patient's life in the early postoperative period after cadaveric renal transplantation. For this reason, heparin administration after renal transplantation should be administered carefully. The aim of this study was to evaluate the necessity for heparinization after cadaveric renal transplantation. METHODS: Between March 2009 and October 2010, we formed 2 study groups among 50 recipients who underwent either cadaveric (n = 25) or living donor transplantations (n = 25). We did not observe any risk factors for thromboembolism while group 1 did not undergo heparinization, group 2 received a prophylactic dose of low-molecular weight heparin for 1 week. Doppler ultrasonography (USG) was performed between postoperative 24-48 hours to examine the transplanted kidney vessels, and in one group 1 case for a bilateral lower extremity venous system examination. We were also compared postoperative thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, lymphorrhagia, and serum creatinine levels. RESULTS: The female/male ratios in group 1 and 2 were 14/11 and 8/17 with mean ages of 36.7 (range, 17-51) and 35.9 (range, 17-59) years, respectively. The mean preoperative serum creatinine levels were 7.9 ± 2.9 mg/dL and 6.8 ± 2.4 mg/dL, and at postoperative week 1, they were 5.1 ± 4.3 mg/dL and 1.2 ± 0.5 mg/dL, respectively. We did not encounter any partial or total thrombus upon doppler USG studies for renal and lower extremity venous systems. No clinical symptoms of pulmonary emboli were detected in any patients. Only 1 subject group 2 experienced massive postoperative bleeding. CONCLUSION: Herein, we have reported that, except for the patients with risk factors for venous thromboemboli, heparinization was not necessary in the early postoperative period and did not add benefits to outcomes of cadaveric renal transplant recipients.

Impact of total versus subtotal thyroidectomy on calcium metabolism and bone mineral density in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the impact of total versus subtotal thyroidectomy on calcium metabolism and bone mineral density in euthyroid, premenopausal women. SUBJECTS: The study included 24 premenopausal women who had undergone total (n = 10) or subtotal (n = 14) thyroidectomy and who were receiving nonsuppressive doses of thyroxine. The median post-operative period was four years. We determined, in all patients, the following parameters associated with calcium metabolism: total serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, intact parathormone, calcitonin and alkaline phosphatase. The bone mineral density of the spine and hip were measured using a Hologic QDR 4500C bone densitometer and were compared with controls matched for age and peak bone mineral density (using the t-test). RESULTS: The measured calcium metabolism parameters were normal in all patients, and none had osteoporosis. There was no significant difference in the bone mineral density measurements for the spine and hip, comparing patients who had undergone total versus subtotal thyroidectomy (using the t-test). CONCLUSION: The impact of total thyroidectomy on bone mineral metabolism is not significantly different from that of subtotal thyroidectomy, in premenopausal women with normal thyroid-stimulating hormone values.