High prevalence of thyroid ultrasonographic abnormalities in primary aldosteronism

The study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid abnormalities detected by ultrasonography and, in particular, of multinodular nontoxic goiter in primary aldosteronism. We analyzed 80 consecutive of patients with primary hyperaldosteronism (40 with unilateral adenoma and 40 with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism) and 80 normotensive healthy controls, comparable for age, sex, iodine intake, and geographical area. Blood pressure, thyroid palpation, thyroid function, and ultrasonography were evaluated. The prevalence of ultrasonographic thyroid abnormalities was 60% in primary aldosteronism and 27% in controls (p<0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in prevalence of these abnormalities in unilateral adenoma and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism with respect to controls (p<0.05 and p<0.0001, respectively). The prevalence of multinodular nontoxic goiter in idiopathic hyperaldosteronism was higher than in controls (p<0.001) and, in particular, in female patients. From these data it seems to be worth considering the existence of primary hyperaldosteronism in patients with multinodular goiter and hypertension.     

中药泻火养阴散治疗初发毒性弥漫性甲状腺肿30例临床观察

目的：观察中药泻火养阴散治疗初发毒性弥漫性甲状腺肿(格雷夫斯病)的治疗效果。方法：60例患者随机分为两组,治疗组(30例)用中药泻火养阴散合他巴唑治疗,对照组(30例)单用他巴唑治疗,并对两组患者治疗前及治疗后2周、4周、12周的中医症候积分及甲状腺激素水平进行分析比较。结果：治疗组治疗后2周、4周、12周的症候积分及甲状腺激素水平较治疗前下降(P<0．05或P<0．01),并优于同期对照组(P<0．05)。结论：中药泻火养阴散合他巴唑治疗格雷夫斯病,能快速、有效地改善患者的临床症状及降低甲状腺激素水平,减少他巴唑用量。     

Fate of Human Thyroid Tissue Autotransplants

Purpose. We conducted this study to establish whether human thyroid tissue autografts can survive and function in the absence of their native blood supply in muscle. The benefits of this potential could be incorporated in routine surgery to reduce the incidence of post-operative hypothyroidism.Methods. Fifteen patients with benign thyroid disorders, seven of whom had Graves' disease and eight, multinodular goiter (MNG), underwent modified subtotal thyroidectomy and the autotransplantation of thyroid tissue in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. About 3–5g of thyroid tissue was cut and implanted into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Postoperative clinical assessment, thyroid function tests, and technetium scans of the neck were done to assess the function of remnant and transplanted thyroid tissue.Results. The transplanted tissue was functional in six of the eight patients with MNG and four of the seven with Graves' disease. All the patients with MNG and a functional transplant became euthyroid within 6 months postoperatively. Although the transplanted tissue was functional in four patients with Graves' disease, only one became euthyroid, while the other three required supplemental hormone therapy for postoperative hypothyroidism.Conclusions. These findings demonstrate the ability of autotransplanted thyroid tissue to survive, function, and grow in muscle.     

Powered instrumentation for transcervical removal of gigantic intrathoracic thyroid

BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that almost all intrathoracic goiters can be removed through the neck. For those rare gigantic goiters that cannot be removed transcervically, median sternotomy is usually recommended. During the last 11 years we used intracapsular volume reduction techniques to facilitate transcervical removal of extremely large intrathoracic goiters. Materials and Methods Of 149 patients with intrathoracic goiters, 11 patients had gigantic lesions that could not be removed transcervically. Instead of sternotomy, we used the arthroscopic or sinus microdebrider or a large-bore suction device for controlled intracapsular volume reduction. This was followed by complete removal of the gland through the neck. RESULTS: The thyroid gland was removed completely in all 11 patients. None of the patients had any evidence of intraoperative spillage of thyroid tissue. No major complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: We have found the use of the microdebrider and/or suction device for intracapsular volume reduction to be extremely helpful for transcervical removal of gigantic intrathoracic goiters.     

Ultrasonography: Its role in nodular thyroid disease

Objective The objective was to correlate the number, size and extent of the nodules as determined during the preoperative clinical examination of the thyroid gland, USG, intra-operative examination and histopathology. Also, FNAC (with or without USG guidance) and USG findings suggestive of malignancy were correlated with the final histopathology. Setting Tertiary referral centre Patients A retrospective chart review was done for 106 patients who underwent surgery for benign or malignant nodular thyroid disease in our center, between Jan 2004–Dec 2006. Results USG has 7 times higher predictive value than clinical examination in detecting number of nodules and determining size of nodules. USG guided FNAC has a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 90.0% in detecting malignancy in nodular thyroid disease. However for predicting malignancy in thryoid nodules, this study shows that USG has a sensitivity of 20.0% and specificity of 97.67%. Conclusion In patients with nodular thyroid disease, USG can accurately determine the number and the size of the nodules. It is extremely useful in guiding FNAC; However its role in predicting malignancy is doubtful. We therefore recommend that USG guided FNAC be carried out as a routine in the evaluation of thyroid nodules.     

甲状腺机能亢进症患者血清β_2微球蛋白的测定

本文对40名正常人及60名甲状腺机能亢进症患者血清β_2微球蛋白进行了测定.结果表明:甲状腺机能亢进患者血清β_2微球蛋白水平明显高于正常人(P<0.001),其阳性率为70%.用抗甲状腺药物治疗后β_2微球蛋白水平以及阳性率下降,治疗组阳性率为7.5%.未治组与治疗组对比有显著的统计学意义(P<0.01).因此,血清β_2微球蛋白可以作为治疗弥漫性甲状腺肿并甲状腺机能亢进症的一个参考指标.     

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目的 探讨胸内甲状腺肿的诊断方法及手术方式。方法 收集1958－2000年间经病理证实为胸内甲状腺肿65例。结果 主要依靠临床症状、X线、同位素扫描、CT检查诊断。肿物下极在主动脉弓上缘水平以上者41例（63．1％），在此水平以下者24例（36．9％）。均行手术治疗，手术径路分为颈部领式切口41例（63．1％），低位领式切口加胸骨正中切开11例（17．0％），开胸18例（12．3％），颈胸联合切口3例（4．6％），胸骨正中切开2例（3．0％）。术后并发症发生率15．4％，其中喉返神经损伤发生率7．7％；死亡率为1．5％。结论 手术切除是胸内甲状腺肿的首选治疗方法，喉返神经务是术后主要并发症，应注意预防其发生。并依据肿物不同情况采取不同的手术径路，宜先行衣领式切口，估计操作困难，病变达主动脉弓下者，应行胸骨切开或开胸处理。     

Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare subtype of HL with unique clinicopathologic features. The hallmark histologic feature is the presence of malignant LP cells, unusual CD20⁺CD15^?CD30^? variants of Reed‐Sternberg cells, embedded within a nodular pattern of infiltrating lymphocytes. Compared with classical HL, NLPHL shows a slightly older median age at presentation (30–40 years), greater male predominance (3:1), less mediastinal involvement (<15%), and lower occurrence of classical HL risk factors. The differential diagnosis includes progressive transformation of germinal centers, lymphocyte‐rich classical HL, and T‐cell/histiocyte‐rich large B‐cell lymphoma, the latter of which may share a common biologic relationship. The vast majority of patients present with limited stage disease (70%–80%), the standard treatment for which is involved field radiotherapy at 30–36 Gy. Response rates to primary therapy exceed 90%, although relapses are common and may occur years after the initial diagnosis. Secondary malignancies, particularly non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, may also occur at a frequency similar to that of relapsed NLPHL. Patients with advanced stage disease may have lower response rates and overall survival times than those with limited stage disease. For relapsed disease, treatment options include the salvage therapies used in classical HL, and rituximab.     

Inhibitory effect of Kangjia Pill (抗甲丸) on thyrocyte proliferation in rat goiter model

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effects of Kangjia Pill(抗甲丸,KJP)on the cell proliferation in rat goiter model induced by methimazole(MMI).Methods:Fifty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:the normal group,MMI model group(MMI),low dose of KJP group(LKJP),and high dose of KJP(HKJP). Except the normal group(20 rats),the other groups(12 rats in each)were given 0.04%(w/v)MMI through the drinking water until the end of the experiment.One week later,the rats in the LKJP and HKJP group...     

Pulmonary and thymic lymphoid hyperplasia in primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Pulmonary and thymic lymphoid hyperplasia with characteristic clinicoradiological manifestations were seen in a 71-year-old woman who was diagnosed with primary Sjögren’s syndrome. A hazy opacity 12 mm in diameter and an anterior mediastinal nodule 20 mm in diameter were incidentally detected on computed tomography. Thoracoscopic biopsy revealed lymphoid hyperplasia in the lung accompanying thymic lymphoid hyperplasia. Immunohistochemically, the pulmonary lesion was considered to be nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH), not lymphoma. A previously undescribed finding in the NLH was the hazy opacity containing an air bronchiologram, not a solid nodule. This finding might suggest a common causal relation for NLH, thymic hyperplasia, and primary Sjögren’s syndrome.