Integration of a postoperative calcitonin measurement into an anatomical staging system improves initial risk stratification in medullary thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Staging systems applied to medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) rely on initial clinical and pathological features and do not consider the response to treatment. To determine whether MTC staging can be improved by incorporating the first postoperative calcitonin measurement. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Eighty-five patients being monitored for MTC (median follow-up 5 years) were retrospectively classified according to both the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the proposed combined risk stratification system (low, intermediate and high risk), which incorporates the first postoperative calcitonin measurement, using the outcomes no evidence of disease (NED), biochemical evidence of disease, structurally identifiable disease and death. RESULTS: Ninety per cent of AJCC I patients were classified as NED at final follow-up. When we added a postoperative calcitonin measurement, 95% low-risk patients were classified as NED at final follow-up. AJCC stages I and IV were associated, respectively, with no occurrence and a high rate (63%) of structurally identifiable disease. Stages II and III yielded similar predictions of structurally identifiable disease, 13% and 14%, respectively. When we included the postoperative calcitonin level, the patients with structural evidence of disease included none from the low-risk group, 10% from the intermediate group and 63% from the high-risk group. The proportion of variance explained analysis (PVE) was better for the combined risk stratification system (54%) than for the AJCC system alone (32%). CONCLUSION: Including the first postoperative calcitonin measurement with the anatomical staging system can better predict the clinical outcome of patients with MTC and refine the follow-up of these patients.

Reabordagem cirúrgica do nível VI para carcinoma de tiroide: experiência de um hospital universitário / Reoperation of the level VI for thyroid carcinomas: our experience

Introdução: A neoplasia de tiroide é a segunda neoplasiaendócrina maligna mais comum, sendo o carcinoma papilíferode tiroide o mais comum. Esses tumores costumam cursar commetástases linfonodais em 30 a 80% dos casos, havendo recidivascervicais em 5 a 15% dos pacientes. Nos casos de recidivas, areabordagem costuma ser necessária, aumentando a morbidadedesses pacientes. Objetivo: mostrar a experiência de nossoserviço nos casos de reabordagem do nível VI e descrever suascomplicações. Método: Estudo retrospectivo a partir da análisede prontuários dos pacientes submetidos à reabordagem do nívelVI entre abril de 2007 e abril de 2009. Todos os pacientes forampreviamente tratados com tiroidectomia total, sem abordagemdo nível VI. Pacientes: Foram 10 operações em 10 pacientes,com predominância do sexo feminino, 9:1, com idade média de48,3 anos. O seguimento médio dos pacientes foi de 8,1 meses.Resultados: O tempo médio de recidiva foi de 6,9 anos. A taxade complicações foi de 20%, com 2 casos com hipoparatiroidismodefinitivo, 1 caso com paralisia do nervo laríngeo, e nesse mesmopaciente, necessidade de sacrifício do laríngeo por invasãotumoral. Conclusão: A reabordagem do nível VI é uma cirurgiaque implica uma maior morbidade pelo risco aumentado dehipoparatiroidismo e lesão de nervo laríngeo inferior. No entanto,ela é passível de ser realizada nos casos indicados, sempre porum cirurgião experiente, para minimizar esses riscos.

Introduction: The thyroid neoplasms corresponds to the secondmost common endocrine tumors, while the papillary carcinoma isthe most common type. This tumors tend to have cervical metastasisin 30 to 80 % of the cases, with local reccurrence or persistencein about 5 to 15 % of the patients. In this cases, a new surgeryis necessary, wich implicates in higher complications. Objective:Describe the experience of our hospital in reoperation of the levelVI as well as it?s complications. Method: Retrospective studywith review of the pronctuaries of patients who were submitted toreoperation of the level VI between april of 2007 and april of 2009.All patients had been previous treated with total thiroidectomywithout dissection of the level VI. Patients: It was performed 10surgeries in 10 patients, being 9 females and 1 male. Average agewas 48,3 years, with average follow up of 8,1 months. Results: Themean time of reccurrence was 6,9 years. Our complications rateswere 20% of definitive hypoparathyroidism (2 cases) and 20% oflaryngeal nerve paralysis ( 2 cases). Conclusion: Reoperation ofthe level VI is a surgery with a higher risk of complications, suchas definitive hypoparathyroidism and/or laryngeal nerve paralysis.However, it?s still the current treatment for tumor reccurrence,and need to be performed by a experienced surgeon in order tominimize the risk.

Timpanoplastia com plugue de cartilagem na infância / Plug cartilage tympanoplasty in children

O tratamento das perfurações da membrana timpânica na população pediátrica com seqüelas de Otite Média Crônica representa um desafio ao Otorrinolaringologista. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados clínicos e audiométricos da técnica "inlay" com colocação de plugue de cartilagem do trago. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram analisados 23 pacientes (idade 1-15 anos) submetidos à timpanoplastia com plugue. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico retrospectivo. RESULTADOS: A taxa de sucesso de fechamento foi de 82,6 por cento, com melhora dos parâmetros audiométricos em 87,5 por cento dos pacientes. As complicações foram mínimas. CONCLUSÃO: Em face dos resultados obtidos, este método de timpanoplastia deve ser considerado uma boa opção para o tratamento das perfurações da membrana timpânica na infância.

The treatment of tympanic membrane perforations in the pediatric population with sequelae of chronic otitis media represents a challenge to otolaryngologists. AIM: to assess the clinical and audiometric results of the inlay technique with a tragus cartilage plug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we assessed 23 patients (ages between 1 and 15 years) who underwent plug tympanoplasty. Study design: clinical retrospective. RESULTS: repair success rate was of 82.6 percent, with audiometric parameters improvement in 87.5 percent of the patients. Complications were minimum. CONCLUSION: considering the results attained, this method of tympanoplasty should be considered a good treatment option for tympanic membrane perforation in children.

Plug cartilage tympanoplasty in children.

UNLABELLED: The treatment of tympanic membrane perforations in the pediatric population with sequelae of chronic otitis media represents a challenge to otolaryngologists. AIM: To assess the clinical and audiometric results of the inlay technique with a tragus cartilage plug. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed 23 patients (ages between 1 and 15 years) who underwent plug tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: clinical retrospective. RESULTS: Repair success rate was of 82.6%, with audiometric parameters improvement in 87.5% of the patients. Complications were minimum. CONCLUSION: Considering the results attained, this method of tympanoplasty should be considered a good treatment option for tympanic membrane perforation in children.

Perfuracao e cicatrizacao da membrana timpanica em criancas com otite media / Timpanic membrane perforation and cicatrization in children with otitis media

Os pediatras defrontam-se por vezes com a ocorrencia de perfuracao timpanica em criancas com otite media. No sentido de otimizar a abordagem terapeutica...