Clinical relevance of erythrocyte ferritin in microcytic anemias.

BACKGROUND: Erythrocyte ferritin (EF) reflects the balance between iron supply and its utilization for hemoglobin synthesis. This balance is altered in microcytosis. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of both EF and the ratio (FRR) plasma ferritin (PF)/EF in these disorders. METHODS: A total of 231 subjects participated in the study. Samples from 93 adult patients with different causes of microcytosis, 57 healthy subjects and 81 full-term newborns were analyzed to determine EF and PF concentrations and other hematological parameters. RESULTS: In patients with iron deficiency, and in contrast to PF, EF decreased only in the presence of anemia and in direct correlation with the degree of microcytosis (Pearson's p<0.001). EF values for thalassemia patients were higher than those observed in controls (p<10e-5), while PF concentrations were similar between these groups. This EF increase was more marked in the delta-beta thalassemia group (p<0.05). Finally, FRR was much higher in patients with anemia of inflammation than in those with thalassemia (p<10e-5), thus helping to discriminate between these disorders. CONCLUSIONS: EF and FRR are tools that may be useful in the diagnosis of the main causes of microcytosis.

A non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve in a man undergoing thyroidectomy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: A non-recurrent variant of the inferior laryngeal nerve has been seldom reported. These reports are mostly based on cadaveric dissection studies or large chart review studies in which the emphasis is placed on the determination of the frequency of the variation, and not on the clinical appearance of this variant. We graphically describe the intraoperative identification of a non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. CASE PRESENTATION: A 44-year old Caucasian man was referred to the Head and Neck Surgery Outpatient Clinic with the diagnosis of a nodular mass in his left thyroid lobe that had been growing for one year. A fine needle aspiration puncture was compatible with thyroid papillary cancer. It was decided that the patient should undergo total thyroidectomy. During surgery, a non-recurrent right inferior laryngeal nerve was noted. This nerve emanated from the right vagus nerve, entering the larynx 3 cm after its origin. The nerve did not show a recurrent course. The nerve on the left side had a normal configuration. The surgery and post-operative period were uneventful, and the patient had no change in his voice. CONCLUSION: This paper allows those interested to become acquainted with the normal intraoperative appearance of a non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. This will undoubtedly be of significance for all of those performing invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures in the neck and upper thoracic regions, in order to minimize the risk of iatrogenic injury to this nerve. This is of extreme importance, since a unilateral lesion of this nerve may result in permanent hoarseness, and a bilateral lesion may lead to aphonia and life-threatening dyspnea.