Completion thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Completion thyroidectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the remnant thyroid tissue following procedures less than total or near-total thyroidectomy. The extent of surgical management for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is controversial. Although some authors advocate subtotal thyroidectomy with lower complication rates, total or near-total thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy have been defended by others because of the improved survival and lower morbidity that is comparable with subtotal thyroidectomy. In this study, the incidence of residual tumor and surgical complication rates in patients who underwent completion thyroidectomy were investigated. The medical records of 165 patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy for DTC were reviewed. Seventyseven (46.6%) of these patients were found to have residual tumor in the remaining thyroid tissue. Anaplastic transformation developed in two of these patients. Permanent bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in three patients, and permanent hypoparathyroidism was seen in one patient. We recommend completion thyroidectomy as an efficient and safe method of surgical treatment with a low complication rate for DTC.     

Evaluation of the surgical completeness after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To quantify the rate of patients without thyroid remnants, to identify predictive factors for the absence of residual thyroid tissue and to evaluate number, site, size and function of thyroid remnants after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). METHODS: Thousand one hundred and seventy-eight patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for DTC were evaluated; 343 patients with lymph node or distant metastases and 115 patients with detectable thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) were excluded. (131)I ablative treatment (RAI) without preliminary diagnostic (131)I whole body scans (DxWBS), and 24-h (131)I quantitative neck uptake (RAIU test) and thyroglobulin (Tg) off L-T4 evaluation were performed in the remaining 720 pts. In 252 patients a 99mTc-pertechnetate pre-operative thyroid scan (99mTc-scan) was used for comparison with (131)I neck scans after RAI to evaluate site of thyroid remnants. Only patients with thyroid remnants were evaluated for successful ablation 6-10 months after RAI. RESULTS: Post-treatment whole body scan (TxWBS) demonstrated lack of thyroid remnants in 50/720 patients and the best predictive factors for the absence of residual thyroid tissue were RAIU <1% and undetectable Tg off L-T4. Thyroid remnants were present in 670/720 patients. In 252 patients with (99m)Tc-scan, 617 sites of functioning thyroid tissue were found: 381 within and 236 outside the thyroid bed. Complete successful ablation was achieved in 610/670 patients with thyroid remnants. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that most patients (93.1%) have thyroid remnant after total thyroidectomy for DTC. Most thyroid remnants were contralateral to tumour site and were even observed outside thyroid bed. However, a real total thyroidectomy, demonstrated by negative TxWBS, RAIU <1% and undetectable Tg off L-T4, was achieved in 6.9% of patients.     

Total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer

There has been a long debate about the optimal surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer. It has focused on the extent of thyroidectomy, with recommendations ranging from thyroid lobectomy to total thyroidectomy. There is no randomized prospective trial addressing this issue; such a trial would be prohibitive, since differentiated thyroid cancer has a good prognosis and a long natural history. Instead, there is heavy reliance on retrospective analyses, as well as consensus expert opinion and experience. We review this evidence, along with recent recommendations from several professional associations. We believe that total or near-total thyroidectomy followed by (131)I ablation and thyroid hormone suppression are most appropriate for the majority of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, as retrospective analyses have shown that they reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, address the chance of multifocal intrathyroidal cancer, and facilitate use of surveillance scans and thyroglobulin monitoring for post-operative recurrence. This recommendation comes with the caveat that total thyroidectomy must be performed safely, since there is evidence that surgeon volume is associated with patient outcomes.     

残余甲状腺全切除术治疗甲癌的意义

目的：探讨残余甲状腺全切除术在甲状腺癌治疗中的作用。方法：分析我院１９９４年８月～１９９８年７月对已手术（术后１８月内）并经病理主宰为甲癌（乳突状癌１１例、滤泡状癌２例、髓样癌３例）的１６例患者行残余甲状腺全切除术的临床资料。结果：原来行包块切除及侧叶切除术的残癌率分别为７５％（６／８）及６０％（３／５）。多灶癌７例（４３．８％）。临床治愈率为８７．５％（１４／１６）。结论：残余甲状腺全切除术在甲     

甲状腺全切治疗分化型甲状腺癌的临床意义和并发症分析

目的：探讨甲状腺全切除术治疗分化型甲状腺癌的临床意义及相关风险.方法：对2007年1月至2011年6月我院行甲状腺全切术及甲状腺次全切或近全切患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,92例患者实施甲状腺全切手术为全切组;86例患者实施次全切或近全切术为双叶组,20例患者复发后二次手术行全切术为复发组,分析患者术后甲状旁腺功能和喉返神经损伤情况.结果：甲状腺全切组术后甲状旁腺功能减退发生率明显高于双叶组（P＜0.05）,而复发组则明显高于全切组（P＜0.05）;甲状腺全切组术后喉返神经损伤发生率则与另外两组无显著性差异（P＞0.05）.全切组中有腺体外侵犯组的甲状旁腺功能减退及喉返神经损伤发生率明显高于无腺体外侵犯组（P＜0.05）,而根治性颈清组并发症发生率与中央区颈清组无显著统计学差异（P＞0.05）.结论：甲状腺全切除术增加甲状旁腺功能减退发生率,而不增加喉返神经损伤的发生率;复发二次手术会增加甲状旁腺功能减退的发生,对喉返神经损伤的发生无显著影响;存在腺体外侵是增加并发症的危险因素,而是否行根治性颈清术不增加并发症的发生.因此在临床工作中应该有选择的施行甲状腺全切除手术.     

甲状腺全切除术治疗分化型甲状腺癌(附72例)

目的:探讨甲状腺全切除术治疗分化型甲状腺癌安全性的相关因素。方法:回顾性分析本院2002年1月至2010年1月期间72例甲状腺全切术治疗分化型甲状腺癌的病历资料,分析甲状旁腺功能减退和喉返神经损伤的发生情况。结果:甲状旁腺功能减退发生与再次手术、原发肿瘤腺体外侵犯、中央区淋巴结转移有关,与是否行颈清无关;喉返神经的损伤与上述因素无关。结论:影响甲状腺全切术治疗分化型甲状腺癌安全性的相关因素有:手术次数、原发肿瘤腺体外侵犯和中央区淋巴结转移。     

Total thyroidectomy: the treatment of choice in differentiated thyroid carcinoma?

A review of 46 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, diagnosed and treated in the St. Radboud Hospital from 1977 till 1984, is presented. The age of the patients ranged from 16 to 80 years. There were 39 women and 7 men. Thirty of 31 patients with papillary carcinoma and 13 of 15 patients with follicular carcinoma underwent total thyroidectomy. If less than total thyroidectomy had been performed, 13 (43%) patients with papillary cancer and 2 (15%) with follicular cancer would have had cancer left in the residual lobe. The complication rate was acceptable, two cases of permanent hypoparathyroidism, one recurrent nerve palsy. During a short follow-up period of 7 years maximum already 6 patients older than 60 years with papillary carcinoma had died, 5 of widespread cancer (16.6%) and one of an unrelated disease. Three patients developed local recurrences, on in the trachea and 2 outside the thyroid bed. One patient with follicular carcinoma, who had undergone a lobectomy, developed recurrent disease. These figures plus the increased risk of complications in a second neck exploration suggest that total thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy can be done without mortality and without significant morbidity.     

完全腔镜下甲状腺手术治疗分化型甲状腺癌的疗效及对相关因子的影响

目的探讨完全腔镜下甲状腺手术(TET)治疗分化型甲状腺癌的疗效及对C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、甲状腺球蛋白(Tg)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)水平的影响。方法将87例分化型甲状腺癌患者根据手术方式不同分为观察组(n=45)和对照组(n=42),观察组给予TET治疗,对照组给予传统开放手术,比较两组患者手术时间、术中出血量等围手术期指标,视觉模拟评分(VAS),美容满意度,并发症发生情况,同时检测手术前后CRP、TNF-α、Tg和VEGF水平。结果观察组患者手术时间明显长于对照组,术中出血量、术后引流量明显少于对照组,术后住院时间明显短于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。观察组患者术后24hVAS评分明显低于对照组患者,美容满意度明显高于对照组患者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。两组患者术后24hCRP和TNF-α水平均升高,VEGF和Tg水平均下降,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.05);观察组患者术后24hCRP、TNF-α、VEGF和Tg水平均明显低于对照组患者,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01)。结论TET在分化型甲状腺癌治疗中有较好的应用价值,具有出血量少,美容效果好,炎性反应轻,有效降低CRP、TNF-α、Tg、VEGF水平的优点。     

腔镜辅助手术与开放手术治疗cN0期甲状腺乳头状癌的对比

  目的  比较胸骨切迹入路腔镜辅助下甲状腺手术（minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy,MIVAT）与传统开放手术（open thyroid surgery,OTS）治疗临床淋巴结阴性（clinically node-negative,cN0）甲状腺乳头状癌（papillary thyroid carcinoma,PTC）的彻底性、安全性以及术后美容效果的差异。  方法  收集2012年1月至2017年12月间复旦大学附属肿瘤医院行胸骨切迹入路MIVAT的80例cN0期PTC患者,并根据1:2比例使用随机数法抽取160例同期行OTS的PTC患者。患者手术方式为腺叶切除/全甲切除术+预防性中央区淋巴结清扫术。采用χ2检验、Kaplan-Meier生存分析与Log-rank检验对比两种手术方式的差异。  结果  MIVAT组的平均手术时间长于OTS组（P=0.003）,但住院时间明显缩短（P < 0.001）。手术疗效方面,MIVAT组与OTS组患者的术后复发率、淋巴结清扫数目以及淋巴结转移数目的差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。手术安全性方面,两种术式术后发生喉返神经损伤、术后血肿和感染等并发症的发生率相近（均P>0.05）。两组患者术后的改良版温哥华瘢痕量表（Vancouver scar scale,VSS）评分亦无显著性差异（P=0.288）,但MIVAT组相比OTS组可以显著缩短颈部瘢痕长度（P < 0.001）。  结论  对于cN0期PTC而言,MIVAT在手术的疗效、安全性上与OTS无明显区别,尽管MIVAT的改良VSS瘢痕评分与OTS类似,但胸骨切迹入路MIVAT可以显著减少颈部切口长度,具有一定的美容效果,同时由于切口位置更低,容易遮盖,美容效果更好。因此,经胸骨切迹入路MI?VAT可在临床实践中进一步推广。      

中间分化型甲状腺癌

随着对甲状腺癌认识的深入,出现了几种特殊变异类型,其侵袭性位于分化型和未分化型甲状腺癌之间,叫中间分化型甲状腺癌,分为甲状腺高细胞型变异(TCV),柱状细胞型变异(CCV),弥漫性硬化性变异(DSV),岛状细胞癌(IC)和Hürthle细胞癌.本文对其临床,病理特征,治疗和预后进行综述,以提高对这些特殊的变异的认识.     

A prospective clinical trial to assess the efficacy of radioiodine ablation as an alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer undergoing sub-total thyroidectomy

We conducted a prospective clinical trial to evaluate whether radioiodine ablation can be an effective alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients undergoing sub-total thyroidectomy and if yes, the optimum activity of ¹³¹I and frequency of ablation. A total of 85 patients (F-63; M-22) with mean age of 37.9±12.3 years were recruited in this study. The pre-ablation mean 24 hour radioiodine neck uptake, effective half-life, residual thyroid tissue weight and TSH values were 13.9±8.5%, 4.5±0.9 days, 9.6±3.6 g and 11.7±6.4 µIU/ml, respectively. Thyroid tissue was completely ablated in 50 patients (58.8%, 95% CI:50-68%) after mean 1^st administered activity of 32.3±10.7 mCi of ¹³¹I and the cumulative ablation rate was 91.8% after two doses of ¹³¹I. During mean follow-up duration of 49 months no local/distant recurrence has been observed so far in this cohort. It appears that radioiodine ablation may be an attractive alternative to completion thyroidectomy and an activity as low as 35 mCi may achieve reasonable ablation.     

Locally aggressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Local infiltration of adjacent anatomic structures and soft tissues of the neck from well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a relatively infrequent occurrence. We report our experience with 21 such cases seen in our department over the past 20 years. All patients were treated by total thyroidectomy and total or partial excision of the infiltrated adjacent structures. Papillary carcinoma was the most frequent type of primary tumor seen. Following the definitive surgery, all patients were scanned with radioactive iodine (131I). In case of isotope entrapment, a curative dose 131I was given. All patients in our series were required to receive thyroid hormone replacement. Four patients died as a result of their disease. Uncontrolled local disease and distant metastases were present at the time of death. Three patients died of unrelated causes. Two-thirds of the patients are still alive (from 1 to 19 years after the treatment).     

Diagnostic imaging of differentiated thyroid carcinoma

The role of diagnostic imaging in differentiated thyroid carcinoma is analyzed. 99mTc-pertechnetate 123I and 131I scintigraphy allows the evaluation of nodules with their differentiation in cold (hypofunctioning) and hot (functionally autonomous) nodules; thyroid carcinomas are cold nodules even if most of them are benign. On sonography thyroid nodules are well visualized with the definition of their site, number, size (not very useful parameters for the diagnosis of malignancy), echoic structure, and vascularization on color Doppler. The sonographic findings suggestive of differentiated thyroid carcinoma are: solid and hypoechoic structure, irregular ill-defined margins, absent or discontinuous peripheral ring, microcalcification, intranodular vascularization, local lymphadenopathies. These findings are characteristic but not pathognomonic, mostly for papillary carcinoma, while in the frequently isoechoic follicular carcinoma microcalcification and lymph node metastases are rare. Only the finding, although rather infrequent, of the dissemination to adjacent structures (muscles and vessels) is a definite indication for malignancy of a thyroid nodule. Color Doppler sonography plays a major role in the postoperative staging and follow-up, in combination with thyroglobulin determination and 131I whole body scintigraphy and it allows the detection of local and/or laterocervical lymph node recurrence. The most typical sonographic findings of metastatic lymphadenopathy are the roundish shape (length/anteroposterior diameter ratio-L/A < 1.5), not visible or displaced nodal hilum, thickened cortical layer with echoic structure similar to that of thyroid parenchyma, at times with microcalcification, cortical vascularization and dismantled angioarchitecture. CT and MRI are occasionally more useful to evaluate the substernal or retrosternal extension of voluminous thyroid masses and to identify local or distant metastases.     

Construction and validation of nomograms to reduce completion thyroidectomy by predicting lymph node metastasis in low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma

ContextMore than 5 central lymph nodes metastases (CLNM) or lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) indicates a higher risk of recurrence in low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and may lead to completion thyroidectomy (CTx) in patients initially undergoing lobectomy.ObjectiveTo screen potentially high-risk patients from low-risk patients by using preoperative and intraoperative clinicopathological features to predict lymph node status.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 8301 PTC patients in Wuhan Union Hospital database (2009–2021) was performed according to the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) and 2021 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, respectively. Logistic regression and best subsets regression were used to identify risk factors. Nomograms were established and externally validated using the Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in China cohort.ResultsMore than 5 CLNM or LLNM was detected in 1648 (19.9%) patients. Two predictive models containing age, gender, maximum tumor size, free thyroxine (FT4) and palpable node (all p < 0.05) were established. The nomogram based on NCCN criteria showed better discriminative power and consistency with a specificity of 0.706 and a sensitivity of 0.725, and external validation indicated that 76% of potentially high-risk patients could achieve preoperative conversion of surgical strategy.ConclusionsModels based on large cohorts with good predictive performance were constructed and validated. Preoperative low-risk (T1-2N0M0) patients with age younger than 40 years, male gender, large tumor size, low FT4 and palpable nodes may be at high risk of LLNM or more than 5 CLNM, and they should receive more aggressive initial therapy to reduce CTx.     

Pulmonary metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Study of 58 cases with implications for the primary tumor treatment

Fifty-eight cases of pulmonary metastases (PM) from 831 cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) were studied. PM were found in about 10% of follicular and 5% of papillary tumors. 131I uptake was found in 55% of the cases, irrespective of histology. Twenty-one patients were treated by 131I only and 12 were cured. Micronodular metastases, 92% papillary, with 86% positive 131I uptake and 77% 8-year survival rate, are the most favorable forms. In others the influence of PM size/age, uptake, delay of appearance, presence of cervical or mediastinal lymph nodes is discussed. Occurrence of late PM according to treatment of the primary tumor was 1.3% thyroidectomy + 131I; 3% thyroidectomy; 5% partial thyroidectomy + 131I; 11% partial thyroidectomy only. Thus prevention in DTC of severe PM (28% 8-year survival rate) can best be achieved by complete thyroidectomy + 131I ablation dose.     

Radioiodine therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Radioiodine therapy has been successfully applied for over 50 years in the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Careful patient preparation and selection of the optimal dose of radioiodine to be administered are two factors of major importance in the course of management. Main indications for 131I therapy are the ablation of residual thyroid tissue after thyroidectomy, the treatment of locoregional recurrence and distant metastases which involve almost exclusively the lung and bones. A controversial aspect is that of patients with high serum TG levels but negative whole body 131I scintigraphy for whom there is no general agreement. Other controversial aspects involve ablation therapy as the selection of patients to be treated and the control of its efficacy. The cost and possible adverse side-effects of 131I therapy require a careful analysis of prognostic factors in each patient candidate for the treatment.