Ilker Ozgur

The rate of operative success achieved with radioguided occult lesion localization and intraoperative ultrasonography in patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND To investigate the rate of operative success in excision of nonpalpable lymph nodes with metastatic disease achieved with radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) and intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS Twenty consecutive PTC patients with nonpalpable lymph nodes with metastatic disease localized in previously operated fields were randomized to receive ROLL (n = 11) or IOUS (n = 9). Nodes were excised along with adjacent soft tissue to accomplish a compartment-oriented dissection. The duration of operation, rate of postoperative complications, pre- and postoperative serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, and the findings of postoperative neck ultrasonography and postablation scan were recorded in all patients. Measures of operative success included a postoperative Tg level <50% of preoperative Tg level and no abnormal lesions on postoperative imaging. RESULTS Histopathologic examination confirmed the excision of all preoperatively identified metastatic nodes. Additional nodes also were excised (2.3 ± 3.3 per specimen in the ROLL group and 1.6 ± 1.8 per specimen in the IOUS group), 23% of which were metastatic. No postoperative complications occurred in either group. The duration of operation was similar in the 2 groups (P = .4). Postoperative imaging confirmed the clearance of suspicious nodes in all patients. The rate of operative success in ROLL and IOUS group were 100% and 89%, respectively. CONCLUSION In patients with recurrent PTC, a high rate of operative success in excision of nonpalpable metastatic lymph nodes was achieved by both ROLL and IOUS. We recommend compartment-oriented dissection; this approach may maximize the removal of metastatic nodes not identified by preoperative imaging.

Can Steroids plus Surgery Become a First-Line Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis?

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the clinical course of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) treated with low-dose oral corticosteroid therapy alone as opposed to treatment with low-dose corticosteroid therapy followed by surgery. Patients and Methods: 37 patients were treated with an approach that consisted of methylprednisolone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day followed by wide excision, and 23 patients were treated with an approach that consisted only of methylprednisolone. The treatment efficacy was compared between the two groups. Results: Clinical and radiological regression was reported in all patients with steroid therapy, and the regression rate had a median of 75% (25-100%). No recurrence was observed in patients who were treated with wide surgical excision after steroid therapy during the median follow-up period of 38 (22-78) months. The control group of 23 patients was treated only with steroid therapy, and 7 (30%) of these patients experienced recurrence in the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Steroid therapy was effective in the treatment of IGM by reducing the lesion size and extent. With regard to the current treatment options available for IGM, surgical excision after steroid therapy seems the better treatment option compared to steroid therapy without surgical excision. This treatment sequence reduces the rate of recurrence.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy and aberrant lymphatic drainage in recurrent breast cancer: Findings likely to change treatment decisions

It is not clear whether sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can be applied to patients with a second breast cancer or recurrence occurring at previously treated breast. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of SLNB procedure in patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Breast-Conserving Surgery Under Local Anesthesia in Elderly Patients with Severe Cardiorespiratory Comorbidities: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study

Introduction: We report the feasibility and safety of local anesthesia (LA) in patients having breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Methods: 37 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 4 having BCS under LA and 54 age-matched subjects with ASA score of 3-4 having BCS under general anesthesia (GA) were included. Patients were retrospectively evaluated for the follow-up duration, duration of surgery, postoperative satisfaction scores (1-10), complication and survival time for locoregional recurrence and overall survival rates. Results: The mean follow-up duration was 55.09 ± 13.49 months (range 38-104) in GA group, and 58.7 ± 15.5 months (range 20-99) in LA group. There was a significant difference in the duration of surgery (p < 0.001). In the LA group, 5 patients (13.5%) had minor complications including seroma, wound infection or hematoma, whereas 6 patients (11.1%) had minor complications in the GA group (p > 0.05). The re-excision rate due to positive tumor margins was 5.4% (2 patients) in the LA group and 5.5% in the GA group, respectively. The locoregional recurrence-free survival and overall survival rate was not different between 2 groups (p = 0.192, p = 0.93). Conclusion: BCS under LA seemed to be effective and safe in selected high-risk elderly patients.

The Value of Preoperative Volumetric Analysis by Computerized Tomography of Retrosternal Goiter to Predict the Need for an Extracervical Approach

Background: A thyroidectomy can be performed via a cervical incision in most patients with retrosternal goiter. Aims: To investigate the correlation between the volume of the mediastinal portion of the thyroid gland and the need for an extra-cervical approach for retrosternal goiter. Study Design: Diagnostic accuracy study. Methods: The measurement of craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal component of the thyroid gland on computerised tomography images was performed in 47 patients with retrosternal goiter. Of these 47 patients, 8 (17%) required an extra-cervical approach and were classified as group 1, and 39 (83%) patients that required a cervical incision were classified as group 2. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value for the craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal thyroid mass, which significantly correlated with an extra-cervical approach for retrosternal goiter. Results: Reoperative surgery was significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (50% vs 13%; p=0.03). The craniocaudal length of the mediastinal thyroid gland was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (77±11 mm vs 31±21 mm, respectively; p=0.0001). The volume of the mediastinal component was significantly larger in group 1 compared to group 2 (264±106 cm3 vs 40±41 cm3, respectively; p=0.0001). The receiver operating characteristic curve of craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal component identified ≥66 mm and ≥162 cm3 as the cut-off values with the maximum accuracy, respectively. The craniocaudal length of the thyroid mass below the thoracic inlet ≥66 mm or a volume of the mediastinal portion ≥162 cm3 were significantly associated with an extra-cervical approach (p=0.0001). For predicting an extra-cervical approach, the sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the cut-off value for craniocaudal length was 87.5%, 64% and 97%, respectively. For predicting an extra-cervical approach, the sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the cut-off values for the mediastinal volume were 100%, 89% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: A thyroid volume of ≥162 cm3 extending below the thoracic inlet was a significant determining factor for an extra-cervical approach, with a negative predictive value for the extra-cervical approach of 100% for retrosternal goiter with smaller volumes. Further studies with an increased number of patients are needed to determine the value of volumetric analysis of retrosternal goiter to predict the need for an extra-cervical approach in retrosternal goiter.

Does the real-time ultrasound guidance provide safer venipuncture in implantable venous port implantation?:

Aim: To examine whether the real-time ultrasound-guided venipuncture for implantable venous port placement is safer than the traditional venipuncture. Methods: The study analyzed the results of 2153 venous ports placed consecutively from January 2009 to January 2016. A total of 922 patients in group 1 and 1231 patients in group 2 were admitted with venous port placed using the traditional landmark subclavian approach and real-time ultrasound-guided axillary approach, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics of patients, early (pneumothorax, pinch-off syndrome, arterial puncture, hematoma, and malposition arrhythmia) and late (deep vein thrombosis, obstruction, infection, erosion-dehiscence, and rotation of the port chamber) complications and the association of these complications with the implantation method were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients between the two groups. The overall and early complications in group 2 were significantly lower than those in group 1. Pinch-off syndrome only developed in group 1. Seven patients and two patients had pneumothorax in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Puncture number was significantly associated with the development of the overall complications. Conclusion: The ultrasound-guided axillary approach may be preferred as a method to reduce the risk of both early and late complications. Large, randomized, controlled prospective trials will be helpful in determining a safer implantable venous port implantation technique.

The impact of postoperative percent change of parathormone level from baseline value on the rate of hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy

Background: To investigate the impact of the percent change of postoperative parathormone (PoPTH) level from baseline value (∆PTH) on the rate of hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. Methods: Assays of serum PTH and calcium (Ca) were performed preoperatively and at 24 hours postoperatively in 222 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. Postoperative hypocalcemia was defined as serum calcium level corrected for albumin concentration (cCa) <8.5mg/dl. Patients with postoperative hypocalcemia were classified as group1 (n=100) and those with normal Ca levels as group 2 (n=122). The PoPTH levels and ∆PTH were compared between the two groups. ROC analysis was performed to determine the cut off values for PoPTH and ∆PTH. Results: The mean PoPTH level was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 (18.6±15.3 pg/ml vs 32.3±15.6 pg/ml, respectively; P<0.0001). PoPTH values were within normal range in 54% of the patients with hypocalcemia and 35% of those with symptomatic hypocalcemia. PoPT...

Effect of intraperitoneal cetuximab administration on colonic anastomosis and early postoperative adhesion formation in a rat model

OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal cetuximab administration on the healing of anastomosis and development of early adhesion formation in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four female rats were used. A colon segment was resected and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. The rats were randomized into three groups after the performance of colonic anastomosis and received 10 mL of intraperitoneal solution including study drugs after closure of abdominal cavity: normal saline was administered to the normal saline group (n=8), cetuximab (400 mg/m(2)) was administered to the postoperative 1 group (n=8) 1 day after surgery, and cetuximab (400 mg/m(2)) was administered to the peroperative group (n=8) during surgery. RESULTS The mean adhesion grade was 2.63±0.92, and 0.50±0.76 and 0.63±0.74 for control and test groups, respectively. Cetuximab reduced adhesion formation in test groups (p<0.05). When all groups were compared, it was found that vascular endothelial growth factor levels decreased significantly only in the abdomen (p<0.05). Hydroxyproline levels and anastomosis bursting pressure were examined, and a statistical difference was found between groups (hydroxyproline p<0.05, bursting pressure p<0.05). However, when postoperative 1 day group was compared with the control group, it was found that there was no difference between groups according to these parameters (p>0.05), but when peroperative group was compared with the control group a significant decrease was observed in both parameters. Histopathological healing score was also evaluated. No statistical difference between groups was found. CONCLUSION Twenty-four hours later from the operation, intraperitoneal cetuximab therapy may be a safe and feasible treatment for metastatic colorectal patients.