A Clinical Audit of Thyroid Hormonal Replacement After Total Thyroidectomy.

Background Thyroid hormone replacement (THR) in athyreotic patients post-thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer might seem like a straightforward clinical issue to address. To investigate the impact of THR on enhancing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, we conducted a clinical audit, tailoring the dosage based on patient weight and aligning with the standards outlined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the American Thyroid Association guidelines. Methodology This retrospective and prospective audit analyzed outpatient clinic records for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) post-total thyroidectomy. Retrospective data from March to May 2022 were collected, followed by prospective data after interventions adjusting HRT based on patient weight to digitize clinic notes. The second phase involved changes for 20 scheduled thyroidectomy patients among the total 37 included in the study. Results The thyroid profiles of both groups in the initial and subsequent cycles, treated with adjusted doses of THR, exhibited normal levels of thyroid hormones and calcium. No substantial differences were observed between the groups. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that older age, male sex, body mass index, and preoperative TSH level were the only significant predictors of the need for hormonal therapy. Conclusions Optimal dose of THR after total thyroidectomy had a positive effect on TSH levels in hypothyroidism patients. Hence, THR should be prescribed according to patient weight based on standards and guidelines.

Bone Scans in Preoperative Investigations of Breast Cancer Cases.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer constitutes about 28% of all new cancer diagnoses in women, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer among them. Our objective was to assess the role of bone scans (BS) in preoperative investigations of breast cancer. METHODS: This study involved 105 patients with varying stages of breast cancer, ranging from T1 to T4. We categorized them into three groups: group 1 comprised 40 women with breast cancer who underwent retrospective BS, group 2 included 30 patients with breast cancer who prospectively did not require BS for all cases, and group 3 consisted of 35 women retrospectively diagnosed with breast cancer who did not necessitate BS for all cases. The diagnosis of bone metastasis was confirmed upon obtaining a positive result through bone scintigraphy, subsequently affirmed by another imaging technique such as CT, X-ray, or MRI. RESULTS: The hospital costs were significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 compared to that of group 1, indicating that performing a BS for every case is unnecessary. It was observed that the time taken for surgery was notably shorter in groups 2 and 3 compared to that of group 1. BS in cases classified as M stage were deemed both costly and time-consuming. CONCLUSIONS: Routine BS are not cost-effective and represent an unnecessary investment of time. They should not be deemed mandatory as preoperative investigations in breast cancer cases. Instead, they should be considered in conjunction with MRI, particularly in cases of T4 breast cancer.

Comparison of Two Different Methods to Evaluate Ankle Syndesmosis on Lateral Ankle Radiographs.

Background Ankle sprains and fractures rank among the most commonly occurring musculoskeletal injuries and hold significant relevance in current medical practice. Accurate information regarding these injuries is crucial for their effective treatment. This study aimed to explore the viability of utilizing ankle lateral radiographs to evaluate syndesmosis in both emergency settings and operating theatres. Methods This randomized retrospective clinical study involved the analysis of 150 ankle lateral radiographs (54 males and 96 females) from patients who presented at our emergency department with suspected ankle injuries. Two authors jointly examined these radiographs and reached a consensus. The anterior tibiofibular (ATF) ratio and anterior-posterior tibiofibular (APTF) ratio were computed. Patients requiring syndesmotic fixation were classified as having experienced a genuine syndesmotic injury. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups: Group I (normal group) without fractures and Group II (abnormal group) with fractures. Comprehensive patient data, including medical history and clinical examinations, were recorded. Results Gender distribution within the studied population consisted of 54.67% males (n=41) and 45.33% females (n=34) in the abnormal group, while the normal group comprised 37.33% males (n=28) and 62.67% females (n=47). Both APTFR and ATFR methods were found to be inconclusive and unreliable for syndesmosis assessment in ankles. The sensitivity of APTFR stood at 21.33%, with a specificity of 86.67%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 61.5%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 52.4%. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of ATFR was 32%, with a specificity of 80%, a PPV of 61.5%, and an NPV of 54.1%. Conclusions Both techniques demonstrated low sensitivity when ankle fractures were present, indicating their unsuitability for routine clinical diagnosis of syndesmotic disruption via lateral ankle radiographs.