Jianyong Lei

Association of the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios with lymph node metastasis and recurrence in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma

AbstractThe preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are known to be prognostic factors in several cancers. However, no previous investigation has been performed to evaluate the significance of the NLR and PLR in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).The aim of this study was to identify the ability of the preoperative NLR or PLR to predict lymph node metastasis and recurrence in patients with MTC. Data from all patients with MTC who had undergone surgery at our institution from May 2009 to May 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to identify optimal NLR and PLR cutoff points, and we assessed independent predictors of lymph node metastasis and recurrence using univariate and multivariate analyses.Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 70 patients were enrolled in this study. The ideal cutoff points for predicting lymph node involvement were 2.7 for the NLR and 105.3 for the PLR. The optimal cutoff points of the NLR and PLR for predicting recurrence were 2.8 and 129.8, respectively. Using the cutoff values, we found that PLR>105.3 (odds ratio [OR] 4.782, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–16.7) was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis and that PLR>129.8 (OR 3.838, 95% CI 1.1–13.5) was an independent predictor of recurrence.Our study suggests that the preoperative PLR, but not NLR, was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and recurrence in patients with MTC.

Comparison of the prognostic values of selected inflammation based scores in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma: A pilot study

The significance of inflammation based scores including the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and plasma fibrinogen remains unclear in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). We aimed to compare the prognostic value of these scores.

Surgical procedures for papillary thyroid carcinoma located in the thyroid isthmus: an intention-to-treat analysis.

Objective We sought to evaluate and compare the outcomes of different surgical protocols for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) located in the isthmus in a retrospective intention-to-treat analysis. Patients and methods The data of 3,068 patients who received thyroidectomy due to thyroid cancer in our center were reviewed. Of these, 103 patients had a dominant carcinoma located in the isthmus. Various baseline and tumor characteristics and surgical outcomes were evaluated and compared with respect to the different surgical protocols (85 cases with total thyroidectomy and 18 cases with less-than-total thyroidectomy). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify resected patients who developed recurrence with isthmic PTC. Results The postoperative complication rates were comparable between the two groups (17.6% versus 11.1%, P=0.500). Although the total thyroidectomy group showed a much higher rate (P=0.004) and number (P<0.001) of parathyroidectomies, long-term follow-up indicated that parathyroid autotransplantation did not significantly damage the function of the parathyroid (P>0.05). Tumor recurrence was observed in five patients, including two patients in the total thyroidectomy group and three patients in the less-than-total thyroidectomy group; the tumor recurrence rate in the total thyroidectomy group was significantly lower than that in the less-than-total thyroidectomy group (P=0.040). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated less-than-total thyroidectomy as a risk factor for tumor recurrence in PTC cases with tumors located at the isthmus (hazard ratio: 1.870, 95% confidence interval: 1.320–2.218, P<0.001). Conclusion Our findings indicate that total thyroidectomy is an appropriate initial surgical protocol for isthmic PTC due to the lower recurrence rate, comparable postoperative complication rate, and parathyroid function recovery.

Skip lateral lymph node metastasis leaping over the central neck compartment in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective This study was performed to investigate the frequency and pattern as well as the predictive factors of skip metastasis (lateral cervical lymph node metastasis without central lymph node metastasis) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods 450 PTC patients who received total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection(CND) combined with modified radical lateral neck dissection(LND) were divided into two groups: with or without skip metastases. The clinicopathological characteristics were statistically compared and analyzed, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect the risk factors of skip metastasis. Results The skip metastasis rate was 8.7% (39/450), and patients with skip metastases had fewer lateral lymph node metastases but were more likely to have single-level lateral metastasis, which are considered Level II(P<0.05). Skip metastasis was significantly associated with the primary tumor location in the upper portion (OR=18.495, 95% CI 6.612-51.731), a primary tumor size ≤10mm (OR=32.492, 95% CI 11.973-88.174) and Capsule invasion (OR=5.822, 95% CI 1.954-17.343) as demonstrated by our prospective study of 10 patients who received an injection of 0.1 ml carbon nanoparticles under ultrasonography in the upper portion of the lobe: 7(70%) had lateral compartment lymph node black staining without ipsilateral center compartment lymph node staining. However, skip metastasis did not affect the PTC patients’ long-term tumor-free survival rate (P=0.432). Conclusion Skip metastases can be common, and the primary tumor location in the upper portion, a primary tumor size ≤10 mm, and capsular invasion are closely linked to skip metastasis. The lateral compartment should be carefully evaluated.

A nomogram based on the characteristics of metastatic lymph nodes to predict papillary thyroid carcinoma recurrence

BACKGROUND The extent of metastatic lymph node (LN) invasion was not considered in the postoperative stratification of the recurrence risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines, and the recommended risk stratification cannot be applied to individuals. A nomogram based on these risk factors was developed based on the risk factors to predict individual recurrence risk. METHODS Data from 1788 PTC patients at the West China Hospital and 306 cases from the Shang Jin Nan Fu Hospital between August 2013 and July 2015 were included in this study. The 1788 cases were randomized into two groups-the training set (896 cases) and the testing set (896 cases)-and 306 cases were used as the external evaluation set. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the following independent prognostic factors associated with recurrence in the three independent sets and the combined set (p < 0.01): LN invasion in the capsule or organ, more than five metastatic LNs, and a largest metastatic LN diameter >3 cm. Importantly, PTC patients showed significantly different recurrence rates depending on the extent of LN invasion in the three sets and in the combined set (p < 0.001). The nomogram was developed based on the risk factors in the training set and was validated in the independent testing and validation sets. CONCLUSION The largest LN metastasis diameter, number of metastatic LNs, and the extent of extranodal invasion had significant prognostic value for predicting the risk of recurrence. Based on the characteristics of the thyroidal PTC lesion and metastatic LNs, the nomogram showed good prediction of recurrence in individual PTC patients.

Predictive factors and prognosis for recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is one of the main predictors of poor prognosis. The present study investigated the risk factors for RLN invasion in PTC patients. Methods A total of 3,236 patients who received thyroidectomy due to PTC in Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University were reviewed. Demographics and clinical factors, imaging examination (ultrasonography) characteristics, surgical details, postoperative pathological details, recurrence, and postoperative complications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to study the risk factors of RLN invasion, Kaplan–Meier method was performed to compare the outcomes of tumor recurrence. Results Patients with RLN invasion had a higher recurrence rate than those in the control group (p<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that age greater than 45 years (p<0.001), a largest tumor size bigger than 10 mm (p<0.001), clinical lymph node metastasis (cN1) (p<0.001), posterior focus (p<0.001), extrathyroidal extension (p<0.001), esophageal extension (p<0.001), tracheal extension (p<0.001), and preoperative vocal cord paralysis (p<0.001) were independent predictors for RLN invasion. Conclusion PTC patients with RLN invasion have a negative prognosis and a higher recurrence rate. Meticulous operation and careful follow-up of patients with the above factors is recommended.

Health-related quality-of-life assessment in surgical patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: A single-center analysis from Mainland China

Abstract Even with a favorable prognosis, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients remains unclear and conflicting. Thus, in the present study, we compared the HRQoL of PTC patients with that of the general population (GP). The study was performed in our thyroid and parathyroid surgery department, and 186 PTC patients who had undergone thyroidectomy were included. The exclusion criteria were an age < 18 years, no follow-up, and the presence of other malignant neoplasms. The control group included 186 volunteers who were matched by age, gender, and socioeconomic status. The survivor and control groups were asked to complete the Chinese version of the SF-36 questionnaire. The 186 volunteers from the GP were well matched to PTC patients with respect to the baseline demographic characteristics. PTC patients showed significantly lower scores than those of the control group in 7 domains of the HRQoL: role-physical (RP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF), role-emotional (RE), and mental health (MH). PTC was a risk factor for a low Physical Component Summary (PCS) score and a low Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (all P values were less than .05). Significant reductions in the scores of all 8 domains were observed at 1 month after the operation, and obvious recovery was noted at 6 months according to the PCS and MCS scores (all P values were less than .05). However, even 2 years after surgery, few domain scores had recovered to levels found in the GP, including the PCS and MCS scores (all P values were less than .05). Due to the decreased preoperative and postoperative HRQoL scores, much attention should be given to and more long-term observation should be performed for PTC patients, even those who have undergone surgery.

CUNR scoring system for the prediction of lateral lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective Our present study aimed to evaluate and compare the number and rate of central lymph node metastases (LNMs) for the prediction of lateral LNM (LLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to develop a scoring system. Results Capsule invasion, tumor location in the upper portion of the thyroid, an ipsilateral central compartment LNM number ≥3, and an ipsilateral central compartment LNM rate of ≥56% were identified as significant independent predictors of ipsilateral lateral LNM in PTC. The predictive ability of an ipsilateral central compartment LNM rate ≥56% (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.802) was better than that of an ipsilateral central compartment LNM number ≥3 (AUC = 0.755). The ROC curves identified the best index point (CUNR) to distinguish the presence or absence of ipsilateral LLNM as 11, which has a high sensitivity (0.860) and a low false-negative rate (0.100, 1-Specificity). These findings were supported by the validation cohort. Conclusions Patients with a CUNR index point equal to or greater than 11 and ipsilateral lateral lymph node dissection should be considered for a diagnosis of LLNM. Patients and Methods A total of 1,281 PTC patients were included and divided into two groups: those with a presence of LLNM (n = 222) and those with an absence of LLNM (n = 1059). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect the risk factors for LLNM, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to detect the best cutoff values of these predictors. Additionally, a scoring system for the odds ratio (OR) of independent factors was developed and validated in an independent cohort of PTC patients (n = 560).

Cell block is a valuable adjunct to conventional smear for thyroid fine-needle aspiration: 2395 cases with histological correlation

Conventional smears (CS) of samples obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA) have proven useful in thyroid nodules evaluation, but the additional contribution of cell block (CB) has only been investigated in a limited fashion. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether the auxiliary application of CB adds to the diagnostic accuracy of the CS by a College of American Pathologists‐accredited hospital laboratory.

A favorable tumor size to define papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: an analysis of 1176 consecutive cases

Background The optimal treatment strategy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has remained controversial. The purpose of this study was to provide a new reference value for PTMC to aid the selection of optimal management for minute lesions. Patients and methods A pool of 1176 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were ultimately enrolled in this study. The correlation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumor size and lymph node metastasis was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve studies were conducted to identify the reference value by determining the optimal cut-off point of size related to lymph node metastasis. To validate our results, all selected patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off point and some of the prognostic factors were compared. Results A moderate significant correlation was found between the tumor size and the average number of lymph node metastases (r=0.502, P<0.01) and the percentage of lymph node metastasis (r=0.625, P<0.01). The optimal cut-off reference value was 8.5 mm according to the receiver operating characteristic curves. Significant differences were observed for PTC prognostic factors, for example, extrathyroidal extension, multifocality, pathologic (p) N+ stage, occult metastasis in clinical (c) N− stage, radioactive iodine ablation, and recurrence between the two groups. Conclusion Due to more aggressive behavior and poorer prognosis in larger tumor size (>8.5 mm), a tumor size ≤8.5 mm in diameter may be favorable to discriminate PTMC from PTC and aid the selection of optimal management.