Surgical approach to retrosternal goitre: do we still need sternotomy?

Retrosternal goitre is defined as a goitre with a portion of its mass > or = 50% located in the mediastinum. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice and, in most cases, the goitre can be removed via a cervical approach. Aim of this retrospective study was to analyse personal experience in the surgical management of retrosternal goitres, defining, in particular, the features requiring sternotomy. Over a 5-year period (2004-2008), 986 patients underwent thyroidectomy in the ENT Department of the University Hospital of Udine, Italy; in 53 patients, 37 females, 16 males (mean age: 64 years, range: 35-85), thyroidectomy was performed for a retrosternal goitre, which extended, at computed tomography at least 3 cm below the cervico-thoracic isthmus. Retrosternal goitres were removed via a cervical approach in 49 patients; a sternotomy was necessary in 4 patients (7.5%), due to an ectopic intra-thoracic thyroid in one patient, and a very large thyroid reaching the main bronchial bifurcation in the other 3 (mean weight of goitres: 883 g, range: 520-1600). Histo-pathological studies revealed a benign lesion in 50 patients and a carcinoma in 2 (3.7%). The incidence of transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism was 13% and 3.7%, respectively. Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in one patient (1.8%), post-operative bleeding in 3 patients (5.6%) and respiratory complications, requiring a tracheotomy in one case, in 2 patients (3.7%). Surgical removal of a retrosternal goitre is a challenging procedure; it can be performed safely, in most cases, via a cervical approach, with a complication rate slightly higher than the average rate for cervical goitre thyroidectomy, especially concerning hypoparathyroidism and post-operative bleeding. The most significant criteria for selecting patients requiring sternotomy are computed tomography features, in particular the presence of an ectopic goitre, the thyroid gland volume and the extent of the goitre to or below the tracheae carina. In conclusion, if retrosternal goitre thyroidectomy is performed by a skilled surgical team, familiar with its unique pitfalls, the assistance of a thoracic surgeon may be required only in a few selected cases.

Role of videofluoroscopy in evaluation of neurologic dysphagia.

For many years, videofluoroscopy was considered the gold standard for studies on swallowing disorders, and only recently has its role been challenged, due primarily to the widespread use of videoendoscopy in the evaluation of dysphagia. Albeit, videofluoroscopy still maintains its key role in this area and, in particular, in studies on dysphagia of neurological origin, on account not only of the possibility, with this procedure, to achieve complete and dynamic evaluation of all phases of deglutition, but also the high sensitivity and specificity in revealing the presence of inhalation. Aim of the present investigation was to analyse the technical procedure of videofluoroscopy and the principal indications in the study of dysphagia of neurological origin, in the attempt to reveal the advantages and disadvantages occurring in this examination, also with respect to other methods adopted in the evaluation of dyphagia. In conclusion, at present, no instrumental examination can be defined as ideal for the study of swallowing, but it can be seen that, with each of these procedures, the information forthcoming is actually complementary, thus achieving the aim to proceed as correctly and rapidly as possible, with the management of patients with dysphagia.

[Videofluoroscopic study of deglutition in patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Studio videofluoroscopico della deglutizione nei pazienti affetti da sclerosi multipla.

Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that affects the I/II motor neurons of the CNS and its symptoms include oropharyngeal dysphagia. The onset and course of this dysphagia significantly conditions the progression of the disease. The present study evaluates the incidence on deglutition and type of alterations in a sampling of 10 multiple sclerosis patients of which 4 showed clinical signs of dysphagia. The results, obtained by combining quantitative (clinical severity) and qualitative (functional alterations) parameters showed that 9 of the 10 patients (90%) presented radiological abnormalities in the progression of the bolus. The conclusion drawn is that the high prevalence of dysphagia in multiple sclerosis, even if not always manifest clinically, justifies drawing up a standard protocol for radiological evaluation and clinical follow-up in order to screen those patients at greater risk of pulmonary complications and delay them as long as possible.

[Relations between pure-tone audiometry and cortical evoked auditory potentials]. / Relazione tra audiometria tonale liminare e potenziali evocati uditivi corticali.

Slow vertex response (SVR) audiometry is presently one of the methods of choice in objective auditory threshold assessment. The aim of this study was to evaluate, as objectively possible, the relationship existing between the thresholds of SVR and or pure tone audiometry (PTA). The study was carried out on twenty subjects with hearing losses of various degrees and types. While mean differences between SVR and PTA thresholds ranged between 6 to 13 dB, in some cases values over 30 dB were found. No statistically significant intra- and interindividual discrepancies were found, even though in some cases the thresholds were given different in evaluations by different examiners. No statistically significant difference in SVR versus PTA thresholds was found in patients with sensory-neural and conductive hearing loss, while in subjects with normal hearing the difference between the thresholds was greater. Our results suggest that SVR is a reliable technique in objective threshold evaluation but that in single cases its threshold cannot be directly compared to that of pure tone audiometry.

Influence of perioperative transfusion therapy on the recurrence potential of locally advanced laryngeal carcinoma.

The present study was undertaken to determinate whether immunosuppression, induced by perioperative allogenic whole-blood transfusions (AWBTs), adversely affects prognosis after total resection of laryngeal cancer by promoting the appearance of recurrences. We studied 62 patients, aged 37-82 years with TNM stage III and IV (UICC, 1987) laryngeal cancer treated between 1977 and 1983. AWBTs were administered to 30/62 patients perioperatively. All patients were followed up for 4 years. After 4 years we found the following disease-free survival indexes: transfused, 12/30 (40%); nontransfused, 22/32 (70%; p less than 0.05). On the base of these dates, we conclude that AWBTs exert a significant influence on early recurrence and on survival in patients with laryngeal cancer.