Can the unnecessary operations for suspected thyroid nodules be avoided by the combined use of the strain ratio and elastography score?

IntroductionOnly 5%–15% of thyroid surgical specimens are reported as malignant. Most of the operations are performed due to suspicion of malignancy as a result of fine needle aspiration biopsy but invasiveness, non-diagnostic results and potential repeat biopsies are disadvantages of fine needle aspiration biopsy.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of simultaneously using both the strain ratio and elasticity score in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, as well as to assess the compatibility of these two methods.MethodsA total of 144 nodules were included in the study. The final histopathologic diagnosis was used as the reference standard. The area under the curve sensitivity, specificity, and cut-off values of the strain ratio and elasticity score were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The compatibility and comparison of strain ratio and elasticity score were also performed.ResultsTwenty eight nodules (19.4%) were malignant. The strain ratio and elasticity score results were found to be significantly successful in predicting thyroid malignancy (p < 0.001 for both). Moreover, the area under the curve for the strain ratio and elasticity score were found to be 0.944 and 0.960, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of the elasticity score was found to be superior to that of the strain ratio, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.456). When the compatibility of the strain ratio and elasticity score was examined, the two evaluations were revealed to be statistically consistent with each other (Kappa = 0.767; p < 0.001). When the strain ratio and the elasticity score were used together, the specificity of capturing the correct diagnosis increased from 84.5% to 93.1%.ConclusionWhen the strain ratio an elasticity score were used together for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, more accurate results were obtained. Thus, combining both methods may be a promising alternative to fine needle aspiration biopsy in order to prevent unnecessary surgical interventions for suspected thyroid nodules.     

Greater Biosynthetic Liver Dysfunction in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Suggests Co-existent or Impending Cholangiocarcinoma

Background and Aim: Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) who develop cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) have a median survival of less than 6 months. In half of cases, PSC and CCA will be diagnosed either concurrently or within a year of one another. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that the degree of biochemical liver dysfunction is associated with concomitant or impending CCA. Methods: We did a chart review of patients diagnosed with PSC and CCA up to 18 months from presentation (“CCA” group) as well as patients with PSC that underwent transplantation with no sign of CCA in their explanted liver (“nCCA” group). Along with demographic data and follow-up length, we recorded their presenting liver function tests, including alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT, AST), total bilirubin (TBil), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), international normalization ratio (INR), and serum Ca 19-9 levels. Differences between mean values of the two groups were analyzed with a student’s t-test. Results: Twenty-four patients were included. The “CCA” group consisted of eight patients, and the “non-CCA” group had 16 patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in their presenting values of ALT, ALP, or serum Ca 19-9. However, the “CCA” group had significantly higher levels of AST, TBil, and INR. Conclusion: Patients with PSC and concurrent or impending CCA appear to exhibit significantly greater biochemical liver dysfunction than those who do not develop CCA. Therefore, newly-diagnosed PSC patients presenting with these findings may warrant more rigorous evaluation.     

Suspicious thyroid nodules 4 cm require a diagnostic lobectomy regardless of their benign fine needle aspiration results

Background/objectiveThe diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) seems limited in large thyroid nodules with Bethesda Cat. 2 result. We aimed to determine the incidence of carcinoma with benign cytology and the reason for the high false-positive rate in thyroid nodules ≥4 cm.MethodsThe records of 103 patients with thyroid nodules ≥4 cm with preoperative cytological diagnosis of Bethesda Cat. 2 who underwent thyroidectomy were consecutively reviewed. Characteristics between patients with malignant vs. benign pathology were compared.ResultsForty patients (38.8%) had malignancy. Malignancy was subclassified into follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (43%), minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma (20.0%), and minimally invasive Hurthle cell thyroid carcinoma (10.9%). Patients with malignant cytology had significantly more suspicious ultrasound findings than those with benign cytology (p = 0.001).ConclusionsPreoperative FNAB showed high false-negative rates in patients with thyroid nodules ≥4 cm with benign cytology. These nodules have a high malignancy rate with suspicious ultrasound findings.     

不同剂量右美托咪定对胃肠道恶性肿瘤根治术患者围术期电解质及术后康复的影响

目的 观察不同剂量右美托咪定对胃肠道恶性肿瘤根治术患者围术期电解质及术后康复的影响。
方法 选择择期全麻下胃肠道恶性肿瘤根治术患者106例,男40例,女66例,年龄55～75岁,BMI 18.5～25.0 kg/m²,ASA Ⅰ—Ⅲ级。采用随机数字表法将患者分为四组：麻醉诱导前,D1组、D2组和D3组右美托咪定负荷剂量分别为1.0、1.0、0.5 μg/kg（均于10 min内静脉泵注完成）,维持剂量分别为0.25、0.5、0.5 μg·kg^-1·h^-1;C组生理盐水50 ml/h泵注10 min,维持量10 ml/h,四组维持剂量均至术毕前约30 min停止输注。于动脉穿刺完成后5 min（t₀）、手术开始后1 h（t₁）、术毕（t₂）、入PACU后1 h（t₃）、术后48 h（t₄）测定血清K⁺、Na⁺、Ca²⁺浓度,于t₀—t₃时测定血清乳酸浓度。记录丙泊酚及瑞芬太尼用量。记录术后48 h内腹腔引流量、镇痛泵总按压次数、镇痛泵有效按压次数、氟比洛芬酯追加例数。记录住院时间及术后肺部感染等并发症的发生情况。
结果 与T₀时比较,t₄时D1组、D2组和C组血清K⁺浓度明显升高（P<0.05）,t₂—t₄时D3组血清K⁺浓度明显升高（P<0.05）。t4时D2组血清K⁺浓度明显低于C组（P<0.05）;t₂时D3组血清K+浓度明显高于D2组（P<0.05）。与T₀时比较,t₄时D1组、D2组和C组血清Na+浓度明显降低（P<0.05）。t4时D1组和D3组血清Na+浓度明显高于C组（P<0.05）。与t₀时比较,t4时D1组、D2 组和C组血清Ca²⁺浓度明显升高（P<0.05）。t₃、t₄时D3组血清Ca2+浓度明显升高（P<0.05）。t3时D3组血清Ca²⁺浓度明显高于C组（P<0.05）。与t₀时比较,t₁时D2组和D3组血清乳酸浓度明显降低(P<0.05)。与C组比较,D2组丙泊酚用量明显减少（P<0.05）,D1组、D2组和D3组瑞芬太尼用量明显减少（P<0.05）。四组术后48 h内腹腔引流量、镇痛泵总按压次数、镇痛泵有效按压次数、氟比洛芬酯追加率、住院时间和肺部感染率差异无统计学意义。
结论 右美托咪定的使用未降低胃肠道恶性肿瘤根治术患者围术期K+浓度,负荷剂量0.5 μg/kg、维持剂量0.5 μg·kg^-1·h^-1可轻度升高入PACU后1 h血清K+浓度,明显降低血清乳酸浓度,减少瑞芬太尼用量,且对术后康复无不利影响。