Guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: a single-center report.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to present our experiences related to performing neck surgery using the guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting (GOSTT) procedure for patients who had locally recurrent or persistent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and who had undergone previous thyroid surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who had locally recurrent or persistent DTC, who had undergone previous surgery, and for whom reoperation was planned for metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs). We performed the neck surgery using the GOSTT procedure on all patients and at a single academic institution. RESULTS: The 11 patients had a total of 26 LNs, as marked with a radiotracer, and those LNs' mean size was 14.7 ± 8.2 mm (range: 5-34 mm). Histopathological examinations revealed DTC metastasis in all 26 of the preoperatively marked LNs. Of the 11 patients, only one needed a reoperation in the neck; she had another successful surgery (also using the GOSTT procedure). In the evaluation of the patients' final status, all were disease-free in their necks. There also were no GOSTT-associated postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The GOSTT procedure is a useful, successful, inexpensive, and comfortable procedure for marking and mapping metastatic LNs, especially in DTC patients who have undergone previous surgery.

Guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: a single-center report

ABSTRACT Objective: Our aim was to present our experiences related to performing neck surgery using the guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting (GOSTT) procedure for patients who had locally recurrent or persistent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and who had undergone previous thyroid surgery. Subjects and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who had locally recurrent or persistent DTC, who had undergone previous surgery, and for whom reoperation was planned for metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs). We performed the neck surgery using the GOSTT procedure on all patients and at a single academic institution. Results: The 11 patients had a total of 26 LNs, as marked with a radiotracer, and those LNs' mean size was 14.7 ± 8.2 mm (range: 5-34 mm). Histopathological examinations revealed DTC metastasis in all 26 of the preoperatively marked LNs. Of the 11 patients, only one needed a reoperation in the neck; she had another successful surgery (also using the GOSTT procedure). In the evaluation of the patients' final status, all were disease-free in their necks. There also were no GOSTT-associated postoperative complications. Conclusion: The GOSTT procedure is a useful, successful, inexpensive, and comfortable procedure for marking and mapping metastatic LNs, especially in DTC patients who have undergone previous surgery.

When People with Opioid-Induced Constipation Speak: A Patient Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common consequence of opioid use for chronic pain. OIC creates problems for patients independent of their pain syndromes, in addition to threatening pain treatment effectiveness. Healthcare practitioners need to be alert to how patients talk about OIC so that it is not missed. Using a survey mechanism, we sought patient expressions of the personal impact OIC imposes on how they are able to live their lives and on meanings that symptom relief would produce. METHODS: We used an online survey asking adults with OIC about quality of life implications of OIC and focused on open-ended text responses to questions about personal impacts of straining and meanings attached to OIC symptom relief. Participants were from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Sweden, and Norway. RESULTS: A survey of 513 people with OIC produced 280 text responses concerning the impacts of straining on quality of life and 469 text responses on the meaning OIC symptom relief would confer. Text responses about the quality of life impacts of straining often included explicit descriptions conveying physical, psychological, or practical problems. Text responses about the meaning conferred from OIC symptom relief primarily concentrated around freedom from the constraints that OIC can impose. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are willing and able to comment on the problems OIC cause them, using a variety of terms and phrases. Their comments concerning impacts on their lives will often refer to physical consequences, psychological effects, or practical implications. These insights provide healthcare practitioners guidance on how to engage patients about OIC.

Impact of Treatment with Naloxegol for Opioid-Induced Constipation on Patients' Health State Utility.

INTRODUCTION: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is the most common side effect of opioid treatment. Treatment for OIC typically involves a laxative. However, some patients have an inadequate response to these (laxative inadequate responders, or LIR). This has led to the development of treatments such as naloxegol. This analysis estimates the impact of naloxegol on the health state utility of LIR patients, examines if this utility impact is driven by the change in OIC status, and estimates the utility impact of relief of OIC. METHODS: The analysis was conducted using data from two 12-week randomized controlled trials, KODIAC 4 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01309841) and KODIAC 5 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01323790), plus KODIAC 7 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT01395524), a 12-week extension to KODIAC 4. All were designed to assess the efficacy and safety of oral naloxegol (12.5 and 25 mg) compared to placebo. Health state utility data were collected through the EuroQol-five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). Descriptive analysis was undertaken to estimate how EQ-5D utility scores and EQ-5D domain responses varied with treatment, OIC status, and over time. A repeated measure mixed-effects model was used to predict the change from baseline in health state utility score over time. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, LIR patients treated with naloxegol 25 mg reported a 0.08 improvement in the EQ-5D overall score after 12 weeks of treatment. The analyses also suggest that change in OIC status is a key driver of the impact of OIC treatment on health state utility. When other factors are controlled, relieving OIC is associated with a 0.05 improvement in health state utility, although treatment with naloxegol is associated with an improvement in health state utility over and above the improvement in OIC status. CONCLUSION: These analyses suggest that treatment with naloxegol improves patients' health state utility; driven predominantly by the relief of patients' constipation. FUNDING: AstraZeneca.

A Case Report of Bilateral Adrenal Sarcomatoid Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. Sarcomatoid adrenal carcinoma is even more aggressive type of ACC. Bilateral malignant adrenal tumors are extremely rare except for those that represent metastasis from an extra-adrenal organ. Here we report a 53-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and weight loss. Abdominal computed tomography revealed bilateral adrenal masses and a mass in her liver. Surgical specimens showed pleomorphic tumor cells with epithelial and spindle cell morphology and immunohistochemical staining was compatible with sarcomatoid carcinoma. Sarcomatoid adrenal carcinoma should be kept in mind during the management of bilateral adrenal masses.

Patient preferences for change in symptoms associated with opioid-induced constipation.

INTRODUCTION: While opioids have become a standard treatment option for those experiencing moderate to severe chronic pain, side effects of constipation and related symptoms have interfered with their usage in as many as 40-50% of treated patients. Prior research has elucidated the range of these symptoms, but no study has determined which of these symptoms patients most desire improving or whether improving constipation itself by as little as one more bowel movement per week is deemed an important change. METHODS: We conducted an online patient survey of 513 participants residing in one of six countries who reported having chronic pain, were taking opioids, and experiencing opioid-induced constipation (OIC) to address these questions. RESULTS: Respondents rank ordered their preferences and the following eight symptoms generated >80% endorsement as important to improve: improvement in having bowel movements without rectal pain, soft stools that are not loose or watery, regular bowel movements, a reduction in rectal straining, relief from feeling bloated, feeling less fear about having OIC when following their opioid medication regime, a desire to worry less overall about having a bowel movement, and with less 'stomach' area pain. When asked 'how important is it you to have 1 more bowel movement per week", over 90% endorsed it was 'somewhat', 'very', or 'extremely important' with nearly 70% (n = 354) endorsing the 'extremely' or 'very important' response options. In multivariate models, being in more overall pain or reporting fewer than 3 bowel movements per week were found to be independent predictors of the importance. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the notable range of OIC symptoms most desired by patients to improve and demonstrate that bowel movements of only one more per week were important to register a meaningful improvement. The latter is particularly helpful for those assessing the minimal clinically important difference in treating this condition.

Hyperparathyroid crisis presenting with hyperemesis gravidarum.

PURPOSE: Primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy is a rare condition, and the diagnosis may be confounded by pregnancy related conditions. Since the appropriate management reduces the maternal and fetal complications; differential diagnosis becomes quite crucial. METHOD: Clinical course of a patient with hyperparathyroid crisis will be discussed with the review of the literature. A 22-year- old, (gravida 2, para 1) woman was presented with hyperparathyroid crisis at the 11th weeks' gestation. She was hospitalized twice due to hyperemesis gravidarum. When she was admitted to the hospital for the third time due to increased vomiting and weight-loss, serum biochemistry panel was performed and it revealed severe hypercalcemia that serum Ca was 17.59 mg/dl, and she was referred to our hospital as parathyroid crisis. Maternal hypercalcemia was resolved after urgent parathyroidectomy. She was diagnosed as preeclampsia at the 30 weeks' gestation and delivered a male infant weighing 1,090 g at 33 weeks' gestation with APGAR scores 6 at 1 min, and 7 at min 5, without evidence of neonatal hypocalcemia or tetany. RESULTS: Urgent parathyroidectomy is the definite treatment in symptomatic patients with hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy. Resolving maternal hypercalcemia prevents neonatal tetany and hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Hyperemesis may lead to hypercalcemic crisis in patients with hyperparathyroidism, so serum Ca level should be checked in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum especially who detoriate rapidly. Although they share some common pathogenetic mechanisms, there is not enough evidence for attributing preeclampsia to primary hyperparathyroidism.

[Cervical spine and pain]. / Omurganin servikal bölümü ve agri.

Chronic pain originating from the cervical spine, that may have diverse etiological factors, is a common condition in the clinical practice. Having distinct properties in the spine, cervical column has a wide range of motion and is commonly subject to traumatic injury. In this review, after the anatomical properties that has clinical significance and the evaluation of a patient with cervical pain are explained, the common cervical spinal pain conditions are discussed by emphasizing the therapeutic approaches in each condition.

Comparison of pulsed radiofrequency with conventional radiofrequency in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was to evaluate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in comparison with conventional radiofrequency (CRF) in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. A total of 40 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia were included. The 20 patients in each group were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. Each patient in the Group 1 was treated with CRF, whereas each patient in the Group 2 was treated by PRF. Evaluation parameters were: pain intensity using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), patient satisfaction using a Patient Satisfaction Scale (PSS), additional pharmacological treatment, side effects, and complications related to the technique. The VAS scores decreased significantly (p<0.001) and PSS improved significantly after the procedure in Group 1. The VAS score decreased in only 2 of 20 patients from the PRF group (Group 2) and pain recurrence occurred 3 months after the procedure. At the end of 3 months, we decided to perform CRF in Group 2, because all patients in this group still had intractable pain. After the CRF treatment, the median VAS score decreased (p<0.001) and PSS improved (p<0.001) significantly. In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that unlike CRF, PRF is not an effective method of pain treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

[Percutaneous lumber nucleoplasty]. / Perkütan lomber nükleoplasti.

Low-back pain is one of the most common causes for seeking professional medical assistance and the most frequent cause of absence from work. It is not rare that the intervertebral discs are the etiological factor. Degenerated discs with internal disruptions may cause axial back pain whereas protrusion or herniation of a disc may result in radicular pain. Open surgical procedures targeting the intervertebral discs are carried out frequently for years. But especially because of its lack of superiority over the conventional therapies in the long-term and the risk of development of failed back surgery syndrome, the investigators are forced to develop minimally invasive techniques of disc decompression. In the last two decades, better understanding of the spinal anatomy, function and pain generating mechanisms along with the technological achievements, has accelerated the development of many modalities for the treatment of low back pain. Chemonucleolysis, automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD), intradiscal laser discectomy, intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) and most recently percutaneous nucleoplasty are the minimally invasive techniques developed for this aim. Percutaneous nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive technique which uses radiofrequency energy to ablate the nucleus pulposus in a controlled manner for disc decompression. The current data about this new technique is insufficient yet, but the preliminary reports indicate that the technique is relatively safe and the outcomes are encouraging.

Effects of pulsed versus conventional radiofrequency current on rabbit dorsal root ganglion morphology.

Lesioning using radiofrequency (RF) current has been increasingly used in clinical practice for the treatment of pain syndromes. Although formation of heat causing "thermocoagulation" of the nervous tissues is thought to be responsible of the clinical outcome, a more recent modality of RF application named pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) delivers the RF current without producing destructive levels of heat. In our study, we compared the effects of conventional RF (CRF) and PRF on rabbit dorsal root ganglion (DRG) morphology, including also control and sham operated groups. The setting of the experiment and the RF parameters used were similar to those used in current clinical practice. The specimens were analyzed both with light microscopy and electron microscopy, two weeks after the procedure. At the light microscopic level, all groups had preserved the normal DRG morphology and no differences were observed between them. In the electron microscopic analysis there were no pathological findings in the control and sham operated groups. But the ganglion cells in the RF groups had enlarged endoplasmic reticulum cisterns and increased number of cytoplasmic vacuoles which were more evident in the CRF group. Some of the ganglion cells in the CRF group had mitochondrial degeneration, nuclear membrane disorders or loss of nuclear membrane and neurolemma integrity. The myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers were of normal morphology in all groups. Our results suggest that PRF application is less destructive of cellular morphology than CRF at clinically used "doses". Before making certain judgements, more experimental and clinical studies should be planned.

[Neuropathic pain: mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment]. / Nöropatik agri: Mekanizmalar, tani ve tedavi.

Neuropathic pain, resulting from the disturbances of central or peripheral nervous system with mechanisms that we cannot explain yet exactly, is really a troublesome situation both for the patient and the physician. Our knowledge about this difficult to diagnose and treat pain condition has improved a lot with the aid of recent experimental and clinical studies. This review summarizes the underlying mechanisms, common conditions, diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain.

Results of the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs pain scale in Turkey: a validation study.

UNLABELLED: Classification of pain and identification of the specific pain mechanisms through utilization of clinical data are helpful to the physician in choosing the appropriate treatment model. For discrimination between different pain types, various tests could be used. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale is a scale based on the analysis of data obtained during bedside examination. The LANSS Pain Scale, as first used by Bennett, is a very useful tool that provides immediate information in the clinical setting and helps distinguish nociceptive pain from neuropathic pain. In this study we targeted validation of the LANSS Pain Scale in the Turkish population. A total of 104 patients who consulted the Algology Department of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Outpatient Clinic were enrolled in our validation study. The sensitivity and specificity of the scale were found to be 89.9% and 94.2%, respectively. These results suggest a high validity level for the Turkish version of the LANSS Pain Scale. We believe that this scale is a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of neuropathic pain and can be used in future pharmacologic studies. PERSPECTIVE: Any measures that aid in differentiating neuropathic pain from nociceptive pain would facilitate effective management of pain. In daily practice the simplicity of the classification method is important. The present study suggests that Turkish version of LANSS can be used for the discrimination between neuropathic and nociceptive types of pain.

Myofascial pain syndrome in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain.

Myofascial pain syndrome is a painful musculoskeletal condition, and a quite common cause of chronic pain. It is characterized by the development of trigger points that are locally tender when active, and refer pain through specific patterns to other areas of the body. Its etiological factors are various; trauma, vertebral column diseases, systemic disorders, psychological distress, lack of motion, and chilling of the body parts. Myofascial pain syndrome may be misdiagnosed as arising from a visceral source especially if its probability is not kept in mind and a proper patient examination is lacking. Although there are many therapeutic approaches, trigger point injections can be diagnostic and therapeutic.