Thyroid nodules classified as atypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significance deserve further research: Analysis of 305 surgically confirmed nodules.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the malignancy risk for nodules categorised as atypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significance atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) and to investigate the predictors of malignancy. METHODS: All nodules diagnosed as AUS/FLUS on fine needle aspiration (FNAs) performed between January 2011 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, ultrasonographic features, follow-up data and the final pathological results were recorded. After further exclusion, only nodules that underwent surgical excision were included in the final analysis. The malignancy rate and the range of malignancy rates were calculated. Clinical and ultrasound features were examined to determine the predictors of malignancy. RESULTS: During the study period, FNA was performed on 9938 nodules, and 1019 (10.2%) nodules were diagnosed as AUS/FLUS. After further exclusion, 976 nodules were evaluated. After the initial diagnosis of AUS/FLUS, 139 (14.2%) patients underwent surgery, 518 (53.1%) had repeated FNAs. A total of 305 (31%) had undergone surgical excision at different time points. For surgically confirmed nodules, the malignancy rate after the initial FNA was 34.5% (the lower and upper thresholds for the malignancy rate were 19.3% and 66.3%, respectively), and 37.9% after the repeated FNA. No ultrasound feature was determined as a predictor, whereas age (>55 years) was a predictor for malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: The overall malignancy rate for nodules diagnosed as AUS/FLUS and the malignancy rate for nodules that underwent repeated FNA after AUS/FLUS were higher than the expected malignancy rates of the National Cancer Institute. It is, therefore, suggested that the current recommendations should be reconsidered.

Sphenoid sinus brown tumor, a mass lesion of occipital bone and hypercalcemia: an unusual presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Brown tumor is a focal lesion of the bone caused by primary or, less commonly, secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). While the mandible is the most frequently involved bone in the head and neck region, atypical involvement of the cranium in the area of the sphenoid sinus is exceedingly rare. In the literature, a unique case of brown tumor of the sphenoid sinus was reported in a patient with primary HPT. We present a case of sphenoid sinus and occipital bone brown tumor associated with primary HPT. A 47-yr-old woman presented a 2-yr history of headaches, dizziness, diffuse body and articular pain, fatigue, and a 6-month history of intermittent nausea and vomiting, polydipsia, and polyuria. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an expansive mass lesion in the sphenoid sinus with erosion of the sellar floor and medial wall of the right orbit, and expansion in the medulla of bone. Examination of biopsy specimens obtained from sphenoid sinus mass confirmed the diagnosis of brown tumor. The biochemical laboratory studies showed elevation of parathyroid hormone and confirmed the diagnosis of primary HPT. Excision of a parathyroid adenoma affected the metabolic status into normalizing. At the follow-up of 12 months postoperatively, the size of sphenoid sinus brown tumor decreased and the mass of occipital bone disappeared. In conclusion, this is a first report of primary HPT masquerading as a destructive fibrous sphenoid sinus brown tumor associated with a mass lesion of occipital bone and hypercalcemia in the literature.

Ogilvie's syndrome after cervical discectomy.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) is characterized by abdominal distention and massive colonic dilatation without any mechanical cause of obstruction. Lumbar spine operations can be an etiologic factor. We had a case with Ogilvie's syndrome after cervical discectomy. We also treated successfully this case by parasympathetic agent, neostigmine.

Effects of octreotide on acute pancreatitis of varying severity in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the effects of the octreotide on the course of acute pancreatitis in rats. DESIGN: Prospective laboratory study. SETTING: Medical school, Turkey ANIMALS: 184 Sprague-Dawley rats, 120 of which were randomly allocated into 8 groups of 15 each for the survival study, and the remainder of which were randomly allocated into 8 groups of 8 rats each for assessment of biochemical variables and histological score. INTERVENTIONS: The same 8 groups were used for the two parts of the study: saline alone (control), octreotide alone (control), oedematous pancreatitis induced by cerulein with and without octreotide, moderate pancreatitis induced by low-dose glycodeoxycholic acid and cerulein with and without octreotide, and severe pancreatitis induced by high-dose glycodeoxycholic acid and cerulein with and without octreotide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality, results of biochemical tests, and histological score. RESULTS: No rats in the control groups died. Of those with oedematous pancreatitis 1 died that had not been given octreotide (7%) and 2 that had (13%). In the moderate pancreatitis groups 4 that had not been given octreotide died (27%) compared with one that had (7%). In the severe pancreatitis group 7 that had not had octreotide died (46%) compared with 6 that had (40%). Octreotide caused a reduction in serum amylase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in all groups, but reduced aspartate aminotransferase only in those rats with moderate pancreatitis. It prevented hypocalcaemia in rats with severe pancreatitis, but had no effect on serum electrolyte concentrations, alkaline phosphatase activity, or blood gas analyses. Rats with moderate pancreatitis that had been given octreotide had less tissue oedema, acinar necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration. In those with severe pancreatitis there was less tissue oedema but more acinar necrosis. CONCLUSION: If octreotide is given early in the course of the disease it may result in improved outcome, but it seems to be ineffective in severe pancreatitis in which acinar necrosis is already established.

Laparoscopic abdominal observation method without anesthesia for preventing unnecessary second-look procedures: short report.

Second-look operations after massive intestinal resections secondary to mesenterovascular occlusion are a frequent practice. In about one half of patients who undergo second-look procedures, no intraabdominal intervention is necessary. We present a laparoscopic abdominal observation method to prevent unnecessary laparotomies. In the first operation, two laparoscopic trocars, 5 and 10 mm in diameter, were left in the abdominal wall. After an appropriate time interval, the abdomen was explored laparoscopically through these trocars without anesthesia. If obvious intestinal gangrene and anastomotic leaks were observed laparoscopically, the patients were reoperated on while under general anesthesia; otherwise, the procedure was terminated with removal of the trocars. This method was performed on six patients. Unnecessary relaparotomies were prevented in four patients; intestinal gangrene and anastomotic leaks were not missed in the remaining two patients. A larger patient sample is needed to assess the advantages of this method in preventing unnecessary laparotomies.

Effects of total parenteral nutrition using a solution enriched with branched-chain amino acids on experimental pancreatitis in rats.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of total parenteral nutrition enriched with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on acute pancreatitis (AP) induced by sodium taurocholate in rats. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) increased the survival rate and serum calcium, and reduced serum urea, liver transaminase, acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase levels, but it did not change the degree of pancreatic damage or serum amylase. Total plasma amino acid concentration and the concentrations of glutamate, glycine, alanine, taurine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalarine increased significantly after the induction of AP, but there was no difference between the control and therapy groups. Hyperglycemia occurred during the use of TPN. BCAA-enriched TPN can be used in the treatment of AP with few side effects.

Complications of 867 thyroidectomies performed in a region of endemic goiter in Turkey.

This article aims to define the incidence of complications in 867 thyroidectomies performed by residents with attending surgeons' supervision as part of a training programme, in a region of endemic goiter. Seven hundred and nine patients were female and 158 were male. The age of the patients ranged between 6 and 76 and mean age was 32.5. Cases were divided into two groups according to their disease nature. Group 1 included 805 patients with nodular colloidal goiter (NCG) and adenomas. The remaining 62 cases, 25 with recurrence of goiter (RG), 21 with thyroid malignancy (TM) and 16 with thyroiditis formed group 2. While the overall complication rate was 11.3% (93 cases) in group 1, it was 20.9% (13 cases) in group 2. The mortality rate was zero in both groups. The incidence of complications of 867 thyroidectomies performed by residents with the attending surgeons' supervision was within acceptable limits especially as far as group 1 was concerned. However we suggested that attending surgeons themselves, disregarding residents training, should perform the operation in special cases such as recurrent goiters, thyroid carcinomas with positive regional lymph nodes and thyroiditis with regional adhesions.

Intestinal obstruction caused by splenic volvulus: report of a case.

Torsion of a wandering spleen is rare, usually presenting as acute abdomen, and is commonly misdiagnosed. In special cases, ultrasonography, arteriography, and additional scintigraphy are extremely valuable in the preoperative diagnostic management. We herein present an unusual case of torsion of a wandering spleen in a 19-year-old female. The presenting symptom was acute gastrointestinal obstruction due to pressure of the enlarged and ptotic spleen in the pelvis. The intestinal obstruction with signs of peritonitis made a laparatomy with removal of the infarcted spleen imperative. After the operation, the patient made a complete recovery.

Effect of sucralfate on gastric emptying and mucus under stress in rats.

The effect of sucralfate on gastric emptying, gastric mucus production, and ulcer formation in cold-restraint rats was studied. The rats were treated with sucralfate in doses of 100 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. Sucralfate prevented ulcer formation dose dependently. This effect was maximum at doses of 500 mg/kg (P < 0.001). Administration of sucralfate lowered the increased gastric emptying rate and increased gastric mucus production. This effect was not dose dependent. It was found that the ulcer-preventive effect of sucralfate was due to a lowered gastric emptying rate and increased mucus production in addition to other mechanisms.

Solitary extramedullary plasmocytoma of the breast with kappa monoclonal gammopathy.

We report a case of solitary extramedullary plasmocytoma of the breast in a 85 year old woman. This is the third case of solitary breast plasmocytoma in the world's literature. This disorder is very rare and it was associated with a serum monoclonal protein. A similar case is presented and its clinical presentation and pathology discussed.

Influence of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on experimental pancreatitis in rats.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of thyroid releasing hormone on acute sodium-taurocholate-induced pancreatitis in rats. Thyroid-releasing hormone did not change the survival rate, serum amylase, glucose calcium, liver transaminases levels or the degree of pancreatic damage, but reduced lactate dehydrogenase. Our findings suggest that the use of thyroid-releasing hormone has no beneficial effect on the course of acute experimental pancreatitis.

Epidemiological aspects of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).

In order to evaluate the natural history of Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN), its epidemiological characteristics and the risk of its evolving into Invasive Carcinoma, we studied direct vaginal biopsies from 376 outpatients, we ascertained the predominant disease site and investigated whether the lesions (uni or multicentric) were only vaginal, were present at both the cervix and the vagina or were an extension of cervical lesions (DES-like areas). Moreover, in cervical and vaginal biopsies from 265 patients, we compared the severity of intraepithelial neoplasia of the vagina and cervix. In our series, vaginal lesions accounted for over half (52.6%) of the alterations attributable to HPV infection, while VAIN accounted for 46.5%; in 84.8% of cases, VAIN was associated with HPV. In 49.8% of cases, biopsies were from the upper third of the vagina and in 74.8% the pathological areas involved both the cervix and the vagina. The DES-like zone accounted for 7.9% of cases, vaginal wall involvement being limited to the upper third. Finally, the comparison of histological findings, in the 265 patients, confirmed that in 69.8% cases vaginal and cervical lesions were of the same grade; in 18.8% vaginal lesions were more severe than cervical lesions. In our study a higher number of vaginal biopsies were taken than in previous years, and it is difficult to establish whether this depends on improved diagnostic methods or on changes in epithemiological factors, such as the reported increase in the incidence of HPV lesions. A systemic search for lesions and a study on their evolution are therefore required to clarify this aspect.

Complicated marginal ulcers after surgery for duodenal ulcer.

During a period of 10 years, 10 cases of marginal ulcer (MU) after surgery for duodenal ulcer were evaluated retrospectively. The most common cause of MU was inadequate gastric resection plus incomplete vagotomy; the second common cause was incomplete vagotomy. In one case, the MU could be ascribed to malignant gastrinoma. In eight of the ten cases epigastric pain was a major symptom. MU was complicated with perforation, massive bleeding, gastrojejunocolic fistula and afferent loop obstruction in 2, 2, 2, and 1 cases, respectively. Gastroscopy was very useful for the diagnosis except in emergency cases. Hollander test was used in six of the 10 patients to evaluate if the vagotomy had been complete. The mean acid output by insulin induction was found 32 meq/h. As a surgical therapy, total gastrectomy (2 cases), truncal vagotomy (2 cases), truncal vagotomy plus 60% gastric resection or reresection and Roux Y gastrojejunostomy were performed. Postoperative complications (enterocutaneous fistula, intraabdominal abscess and delayed gastric emptying) occurred in 33 patients. One patient was lost after total gastrectomy in the malignant gastrinoma and gastrojejunocolic fistula case, due to sepsis. The patients were followed up for 4.4 years on the average. No recurrence was seen.

The effects of variously performed vagotomies on gastric secretion and gastric emptying in rats.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of (i) truncal vagotomy + pyloroplasty, (ii) proximal cell vagotomy and (iii) anterior proximal cell vagotomy + posterior truncal vagotomy on the gastric secretion and gastric emptying in rats. After vagotomy basal and 2-deoxy-glucose stimulated gastric secretion decreased significantly in all three vagotomy groups. Gastric secretion on the other hand was significantly higher in the proximal cell vagotomy group than on the other vagotomy groups. The rate of gastric emptying in proximal cell vagotomy and anterior proximal cell vagotomy + posterior truncal vagotomy groups was delayed. The best results were found in the truncal vagotomy + pyloroplasty group when the gastric secretion and the rats of gastric emptying are concerned.

Human papillomavirus infections of the genital region in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive women: integration of type 16 correlates with rapid progression.

The efficacy of treatment of HPV infections was evaluated in 14 HIV-1 seropositive women. Disease evolution was evaluated at follow-up examinations, and findings were compared to those in 14 historic HIV-negative women who had received similar treatment. HPV sequences were demonstrated by Southern blot in 13/14 HIV-positive women and by in situ hybridization in 5/13 HIV-negative women. Types 6/11, 16, and 31/33/35 were equally distributed in both groups; type 18 was never detected. In all but one case, the same viral type was present in different lesions, and in recurrences. Among the HIV-positive women, integration of viral sequences had occurred in the dysplastic lesions in 2 of the 3 HPV-16-positive cases; both cases showed progression to carcinoma in situ within 1 to 2 years. Despite comparable treatment, the HIV-positive women showed lesion persistence or progression, while all HIV-negative women experienced regression.

Vulvar invasive and intraepithelial neoplasia. Comparison of some epidemiological and clinical data.

We have compared some of the epidemiological and clinical data of 45 patients affected by Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN) and of 42 patients affected by Invasive Vulvar Neoplasia who came to our observation between 1986 and 1991. We have evaluated and compared the average age in the two groups of patients, their vulvoscopic pictures and the symptomatology referred at the time of the patients' diagnosis.

Colposcopic pictures of Abnormal Transformation Zone (ANTZ): colpocytological and histological findings.

The Authors have examined the correlation between the colposcopic pictures of the Abnormal Transformation Zone (ANTZ), in its varying degrees, and the colpocytological and histological examinations in order to seek a better definition of the indications of carrying out aimed biopsies. From our results a good agreement has been observed from the colpocytological and histological examination and the colposcopic pictures of the ANTZ. In patients with colposcopic images of ANTZ G2 the colpocytological examination diagnosed a CIN 3 in 80.6% of cases, invasive carcinoma in 6.4%, and in histologic examination CIN 3 in 71% and microinvasive carcinoma in 10.7%. Instead in the ANTZ G1, CIN 3 was revealed colpocytologically in 7.9% of the cases and histologically in 7.3%. Among these last, in half of the cases, the focuses of CIN 3 were present at the level of third inferior of the cervical canal. Finally, in ANTZ G0 there was cytological evidence in 6.6% of cases of CIN 3 with a histological correspondence of 3.9%. In particular the focuses of CIN 3, small and limited, had resulted from biopsies carried out on some glandular openings not clearly attributable to ANTZ G1. With regard to the opportuneness of carrying out aimed biopsies, mandatory in the cases of ANTZ G2, we feel it would be useful to carry them out also for ANTZ G1, above all if alterations are diagnosed at the colpocytologic examinations, and in ANTZ G0 if colpocytological alterations are present. Therefore integrating colposcopic and colpocytologic examinations and aiming the biopsies would seem to lead to good diagnostic reliability and adequate successive personalized treatment.

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Epidemiological and clinical study of 45 cases.

We observed 45 cases of Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VIN) histologically diagnosed which came to our observation between 1986 and 1991. The average age of the patients and the grade of the VIN lesions were evaluated. We also examined the eventual association with Papillomavirus infection, with non-neoplastic epithelial disorders in the adjacent areas and with intraepithelial neoplasias of the cervix and/or the vagina (CIN and/or VAIN). These data were studied in relation to the vulvoscopic pictures and symptomatology presented by the patients at the moment of diagnosis.

Risk of progression in low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

In order to evaluate the evolution of the low grade dysplasia using colpocytologic follow-up, 150 women, enrolled in this study, were submitted to yearly colpocytologic control for a period of four years. The rate of progression toward more severe forms was very low; three cases (2.14%) in the first year, one case (0.7%) in the second and two cases (2.32%) in the fourth. Eighty-eight per cent of the patients had cytologic signs of Human Papilloma Virus infection detected in cytologic and histologic examination.

Intraductal papilloma and papillomatosis.

The benign papillary neoplasms of the breast are still controversial topics in general surgery. There are two forms of the benign papillary lesions, solitary intraductal papilloma and multiple intraductal papilloma. These disorders are very rare and their clinical behaviour is different in each case. In this study, two cases of the multiple intraductal papilloma are presented and clinical findings and surgical therapy are discussed.