Delayed Absorption of Oxidized Cellulose (Surgicel) in Post‐Thyroidectomy Patients

Delayed absorption of oxidized cellulose (Surgicel; Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ) may mimic a pseudoabscess or a recurrent mass on sonography after tumor surgery. Here we present 3 cases of thyroidectomy in which Surgicel was still apparent on sonography after 26 to 47 months of follow‐up. We show sonographic findings and discuss the utility of sonography for diagnosis of delayed absorption of Surgicel in post‐thyroidectomy patients.     

Small Atypical Cervical Nodes Detected on Sonography in Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the probability of metastasis of small atypical cervical lymph nodes detected on sonography in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. Methods. .We reviewed, retrospectively and blindly, sonographic findings of 148 patients (118 men and 30 women; mean age, 58.2 years) who underwent curative neck dissection. Each lymph node was classified by using a 4‐point scale: 1, definitely benign; 2, indeterminate (small [short‐axis diameter <10 mm for levels I and II and <7 mm for levels III–VI] atypical node); 3, definitely metastatic; and 4, large (>3‐cm) metastatic. Lymph nodes were considered atypical if they met at least 1 of the following criteria: a long‐ to short‐axis diameter ratio of less than 2.0, absence of a normal echogenic hilum, and heterogeneous echogenicity of the cortex. These results were verified, on a level‐by‐level basis, with histopathologic findings. Results. Small atypical nodes were found on sonography in 63 cervical levels of 48 patients, of which 18 (28.6%) were proved to have metastatic nodes. The probability of metastasis was significantly higher with than without a large (>3‐cm) ipsilateral metastatic node (0.50 versus 0.20; P = .038) and marginally higher with than without an ipsilateral metastatic node (0.41 versus 0.16; P = .061) but not significantly associated with the T stage of the primary tumor (P = .238) or the presence of an ipsilateral tumor (P = .904). Conclusions. Metastasis was encountered in about 30% of small atypical cervical nodes on sonography in patients with SCC of the head and neck. Our results indicate that small atypical nodes must be interpreted with consideration of metastatic nodes in the ipsilateral neck.     

Sonographic and Cytopathologic Correlation of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Variants

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer and constitutes more than 70% of thyroid malignancies. Although TNM staging is the most widely used parameter for determination of therapeutic plans, recent studies have suggested that different histopathologic variants of PTC can also have different clinical courses and patient prognoses. Sonographic criteria for PTC are well established and include a taller‐than‐wide shape, an irregular margin, microcalcifications, and marked hypoechogenicity. The role of sonography has expanded to enable the characterization of PTC variants based on their sonographic features. Tall cell and diffuse sclerosing variants appear to have more aggressive clinical courses with unfavorable prognoses, whereas the more recently described cribriform‐morular and Warthin‐like variants have relatively indolent clinical courses. The prognoses of patients with follicular, solid, columnar cell, and oncocytic variants are still controversial and may be similar to the prognosis of conventional PTC. Understanding the sonographic characteristics of PTC variants with clinicopathologic correlation may be helpful for suggesting an appropriate treatment plan.     

Primary Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Thyroid: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the thyroid is an uncommon malignancy of the thyroid. Because it is rare, fewer than 20 cases have been reported in the literature, and the sonographic features of only 2 cases have been reported between the 1980s and 2014. Here we report 2 cases of primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the thyroid with an emphasis on the sonographic findings, and we review the published literature.