Follicular neoplasms of the thyroid: predictors of malignancy?

Follicular neoplasms of the thyroid present a therapeutic challenge. Initial limited thyroidectomy may result in some patients requiring completion thyroidectomy for malignancy. In the current study we examined age, gender, race, time from nodule discovery to operation in months, history of radiation exposure, tumor size (cm), and cell type in patients with follicular neoplasms identified at the time of thyroidectomy in two socioeconomically diverse settings from 1993 through 2000 to identify possible factors associated with a greater chance of malignancy. Of 36 follicular lesions identified in 35 patients seven (19%) were malignant on permanent section. Hurthle cell histology was present in six of 36 lesions. Mean age of patients with benign lesions was 47 +/- 13 versus 50 +/- 15 in malignant cases (P > 0.05). Benign lesions measured 2.6 +/- 1.2 cm versus 3.1 +/- 1.7 cm in malignant (P > 0.05). Other factors found not to be significant included gender and time nodule was present (12.8 +/- 19 months benign vs 11.8 +/- 20 months malignant) (P > 0.05). Hurthle cell histology was associated with a 50 per cent malignancy rate (three of six) versus 13 per cent (four of 30) with non-Hurthle cell histology (P < 0.05). Two patients with exposure to radiation fallout had malignancies in lesions of one and 2 cm (P < 0.05). Patients from a socioeconomically disadvantaged setting had a malignancy rate of 50 per cent (six of 12) compared with a malignancy rate of 3 per cent (one of 24) from a socioeconomically affluent population (P < 0.05). In conclusion Hurthle cell histology and exposure to radiation fallout were associated with significantly higher rates of malignancy in follicular neoplasms and should be taken into account when deciding on the initial extent of thyroidectomy. The difference in malignancy rates observed between socioeconomic settings while significant requires further investigation.

The use of absorbable mesh in splenic trauma.

Previous reports from this hospital documented a splenic preservation rate of 50% (18/36) in adults after blunt and penetrating trauma. Recently (January through December 1984), use of an absorbable mesh helped to attain a 67% (22/33) salvage rate. The mesh is applied in such a fashion that it acts by tamponade. It proved useful in patients with bleeding from a large surface area or from deep parenchymal injuries, even those extending into the hilum. No deaths occurred in the splenic salvage patients. There was no difference in postoperative complications among the splenectomy, conventional splenorraphy, or mesh wrap splenorraphy groups. However, workup of persistent postoperative fevers in two splenic wrap patients revealed perisplenic fluid collections on CT scan. Aspiration yielded sterile fluid. Possible cause and effect relationship is being studied in the dog lab. We conclude that splenic wrapping is both a safe and efficacious method of splenic preservation.

Parenteral fat emulsions and immune adherence. The effects of triglycerides on red cell and neutrophil immune adherence in vitro and in vivo.

Parenteral fat emulsions may not only exert nutritional effects but may also affect immune adherence phenomena and red cell morphology. Red cell immune adherence (RCIA) was augmented in vitro by 0.05% to 0.1% Intralipid. Similar augmentation of RCIA was observed by peanut oil, corn oil, half-and-half cream, paraffin oil, and human low-density lipoprotein fractions. Neutrophil immune adherence was augmented in vitro by 0.2% to 1.5% of Intralipid. The effects of fat emulsions in vivo were studied in ten patients who received intralipid for nutritional purposes. Red cell immune adherence was augmented in five of ten patients and inhibited in four of ten patients. Neutrophil immune adherence was augmented in two of ten patients. Cytotoxic red cell transformations were evident in five of ten patients. Depression of RCIA in four of five patients was associated with cytotoxic red cell transformations.