Lateral and median cysts of the neck.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: was to present clinical picture, indications for surgery, immediate and remote results of surgical treatment for lateral and median cysts of the neck. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 17247 patients were operated between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2011 for neck tumors. RESULTS: Neck cysts were diagnosed in 34 (0.2%) patients, including lateral in 12 (35.3%) and median in 22 (64.7%). Lateral cyst once descended to the mediastinal. Nodular goitres were diagnosed in 17 (50%) of them--with the lateral cysts 4x and median cysts 13x. Guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the cyst-like lesions revealed the presence of protein masses in all patients. The lesions were found to have inflammatory character in 6 patients (17.6%) regarding median cysts (5x) or lateral cyst (1x). Out of them, 3 patients developed purulent inflammatory process. All patients were operated. The operation consisted of radical resection of the cyst only or plus partial resection of both thyroid lobes and total resection of pyramidal lobe if concomitant goitre was found. Two patients required one-stage resection of the enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. Suspected focus of thyroid papillary cancer was found by intra-operative examination in neck median cyst wall in one patient. However, paraffin tests did not confirm the suspicion. Another patient was found by histopathological examination to have active tuberculotic process within both lateral cyst and lymph nodes. The patient received intensive antituberculotic treatment postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Median cysts of the neck are more often accompanied by thyroid tumor-like goitres than lateral cysts. 2. Radical resection of the cysts in operative treatment results in good long term patient condition and prevent in recurrence of the illness.

Diagnosis of metastatic tumours to the thyroid gland by fine needle aspiration biopsy.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant metastases are rarely found in the thyroid gland, the incidence reaching approximately 2% of all thyroid malignant neoplasms. They are most often caused by tumours of the kidneys, lungs, mammary glands, ovary, and colon or by melanomas. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) for diagnosing tumour metastases to thyroid glands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 15122 patients were operated between 1990 and 2009 for goitres. Malignant neoplasm was diagnosed in 733 (4.8%) patients. Malignant metastases to the thyroid gland were detected in 10 patients, namely 2 men and 8 women aged 48-89 years. The group made up 1.4% of all patients operated for malignant thyroid tumour. Preoperative diagnostic procedure consisted of thyroid scintigraphy, thyroid ultrasonography, and cytology of the material obtained through FNA. In addition, the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland was examined. The range of operation was established through clinical assessment of the tumour, preoperative cytology, and intra-operative histopathology. RESULTS: Among 7 patients with thyroid metastases from renal clear cell carcinoma, as diagnosed postoperatively, cytology of the thyroid material obtained through FNA revealed follicular tumour in 3 (43%) patients, tumour cells in 2 (28.5%) and atypical cells in the other 2 (28.5%). Intraoperative histopathology confirmed the presence of metastasis from renal clear cell carcinoma (1) and indicated thyroid medullary cancer (1), follicular tumour (4), or trabecular adenoma with necrosis (1). Among two patients with thyroid metastases from breast cancer, cytology confirmed a metastasis from breast cancer in one (the woman was disqualified for surgical treatment) and indicated follicular tumour in one. Intraoperative histopathology suggested thyroid anaplastic cancer. Examination of biopsy specimen revealed epithelial cells accompanied by cell atypia in one patient with thyroid metastasis from lung cancer. Intra-operative examination also indicated cellular atypia in the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: Follicular tumour diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients after treatment for other cancers, especially renal clear cell carcinoma, should alert the surgeon to the possibility that it could be a metastasis of this cancer to the thyroid gland.

Management of patients with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism referred to surgical treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Aim of the study was present personal observations connected with the management of patients referred to surgical treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHT) or tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THT), and to assess immediate results of such management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 175 patients aged 21-80 years were treated surgically for SHT, and 16 patients aged 36-64 years were treated surgically for THT, between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2008. The patients were classified for surgical treatment in cooperation with a nephrologist, internist, and anaesthesiologist. Each patient underwent bilateral exploration of the neck and assessment of all identified parathyroid glands. Subtotal parathyroidectomy or resection of parathyroid glands combined with autotransplantation (the latter in two patients with recurrent SHT) were performed. Ionized calcium concentration in blood serum, water-electrolyte equilibrium, and cardiovascular system were monitored postoperatively. RESULTS: A fall in ionized calcium levels was obtained postoperatively in all patients. Successful surgical treatment was confirmed by intraoperative macroscopic and immunochemical examinations. Intensive bleeding from the wound was noted in 2 (1%) patients, and intensified stenocardial symptoms in 15 (7.9%) patients with SHT. No deaths were noted during the perioperative period. Five (2.8%) patients with SHT required emergency dialyses. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Surgical treatment of secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism requires close cooperation between the surgeon, nephrologist, internist, and anaesthesiologist. 2. Successful results of the treatment, including minimum cardiovascular complications, can only be obtained in integrated cooperation with a dialysis centre.