Vladan Zivaljevic

Ten Years' Experience in Subtotal Parathyroidectomy of Hemodialysis Patients

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) is a frequent complication of long-term dialysis patients, and surgical parathyroidectomy remains necessary in patients resistant to medical therapy. The present paper reports single center results in subtotal parathyroidectomy, presenting diagnostic procedure, indications for parathyroidectomy, and postoperative course of metabolic and endocrine disorders. Forty-seven patients (25 males and 22 females), aged 25–60 years, regularly hemodialyzed between 3–23 years, have undergone parathyroidectomy at our Clinical Center during the last 10 years. The patients had plasma iPTH levels 8–45 times higher than the top normal limit, high values of alkaline phosphatase, calcemia on the upper normal level, and hyperphosphatemia. Radiographic changes characteristic for SHP were seen in all patients before parathyroidectomy, and the most common were subperiosteal resorptions (100%), bone cysts and periosteal neostosis (66%), and extraskeletal calcifications (98%). Enlarged parathyroid glands were seen by ultrasound in 62% of patients. All patients manifested pruritus and bone pain, 89% of them had myopathy, while other symptoms and signs were present in lower proportions. After parathyroidectomy, pruritus and myopathy reduced significantly, while pain in bones and joints remained. One patient had brown tumor at the maxillary bone that regressed gradually after parathyroidectomy. Significant decreases of phosphate and calcium levels were recorded in all but two patients on the very first postoperative day. Regular peroral and parenteral supplementations of calcium and vitamin D metabolites were used, but calcemia was not normalized until the end of the third week of the postoperative period. Serum alkaline phosphatase showed an increase after the surgery, thereupon a sudden and then slower decrease up to 1 year from the surgery. Plasma iPTH levels, checked on the 21st postoperative day, were close to the lower normal limit in all but two (4.3%) patients with persistent SHP, who required reoperation. In conclusion, subtotal parathyroidectomy was proved as a successful and safe treatment for patients with SHP resistant to medical therapy, and treatment was followed by improvement of clinical symptoms and metabolic disorders.

Case-control study of anaplastic thyroid cancer: goiter patients as controls.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very serious disease with bad prognosis and unknown ethiology. The aim of the study was to test some hypotheses about other factors in addition to goiter related to anaplastic thyroid cancer occurrence. A case–control study was performed during the period 1993–2005. The case group comprised 126 patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic thyroid cancer. The control group comprised 252 patients who had for the first time goiter operation, and had no malignancy of thyroid gland. Cases and controls were individually matched by age, sex and place of residence (urban/rural).According to conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis, anaplastic thyroid cancer was significantly related to lower education (odds ratio=1.85, 95% confidence interval=1.21–2.82), other malignant tumors in personal history (odds ratio=4.37, 95% confidence interval=1.11–17.31), blood group B (odds ratio=3.69, 95% confidence interval=1.10–12.49), menarche at ≥15 years of age (odds ratio=2.63, 95% confidence interval=1.15–5.88), and first full-term pregnancy before 19 years of age (odds ratio=2.96, 95% confidence interval=1.26–6.96). On the basis of the results obtained, risk factors for anaplastic thyroid cancer are similar to risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancers.

Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Children and Young Adults: - A Single Institution Experience

Abstract Background : Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an extremely rare disorder in children and young adults. In the literature, only small case series or case reports can be found. The aim of this study was to show our experience in the management of PHPT patients under the age of 20. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of PHPT patients who underwent surgery in our institution. From 2004 to 2010, 522 patients underwent surgery (74, male; 478, female). Of these, 7 patients were under the age of 19 (4 [5%], male, 3 [0.6%], female). The following was analyzed demographic characteristics, length of the disease, clinical presentation, and preoperative and postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium levels. Ultrasonography, scintigraphy, and computerized tomography were performed for preoperative localization, and the types of operations and histopathological findings were assessed. Results : The average age of the patients was 15.7 years. Average duration of disease was 4.8 months. Only 2 patients (28%) were asymptomatic. The mean serum calcium level was 3.06 mmol/l, and the mean PTH level was 620.6 pg/ml. Both parameters showed significant reduction after surgery. One patient was positive for multiple endocrine neoplasia type I syndrome, while the other patients were sporadic. Five parathyroidectomies (72%), 1 double parathyroidectomy (14%), and 1 subtotal parathyroidectomy (14%) were performed. Conclusion : PHPT in children and young adults is rare. It occurs more frequently in young adults than in children, with slight predominance in males. Most of the patients are symptomatic at diagnosis. Surgery is a successful method of treatment.

Case-control study of anaplastic thyroid cancer

Aims and background The aim of the present study was to test some hypothetical risk factors for anaplastic thyroid cancer. Study design A case-control study comprised 110 patients with histologically or cytologically verified anaplastic thyroid cancer and 110 hospital controls individually matched with cases by sex, age, place of residence and time of hospitalization. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Results According to the conditional logistic regression analysis, the following factors were significantly and independently related to anaplastic thyroid cancer: history of goiter or thyroid nodules (odds ratio, OR, 37.55; 95% confidence interval, CI, 4.86–290.11), history of residence in endemic goiter area (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.05–6.22), history of previous malignant non-thyroid tumor (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 1.04–29.25), diabetes mellitus (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 1.29–12.81) and low educational level (OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.17–5.06). Conclusions The results are in line with the current knowledge on factors related to thyroid cancer, except for the association between thyroid cancer and diabetes mellitus, which as far as we know has not yet been reported.

Risk factors for well-differentiated thyroid cancer in men

AIMS AND BACKGROUND Thyroid cancers are relatively rare tumors that appear more frequently in women than in men. Accordingly, most studies focus on studying risk factors for thyroid cancer in women and consequently on various hormonal or reproductive factors that are specific for women. The aim of our study was to examine risk factors for developing well-differentiated thyroid cancer in men. Heretofore, we did not encounter in the literature a study that was solely focused on studying risk factors for well-differentiated thyroid cancer in men. METHODS A case-control study was performed from 2005 to 2010. The case group included 204 consecutive well-differentiated thyroid cancers in male patients (180 papillary and 24 follicular including Hürthle cell). The control group comprised the same number of cases. Patients were individually matched by gender, age and place of residence. Statistical analysis included conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods. RESULTS According to univariate logistic regression, well-differentiated thyroid cancer in men was significantly related to smoking status, duration of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, history of goiter or thyroid nodules, history of non-thyroid cancer, diabetes mellitus, radiotherapy of the head and neck, and history of malignant tumors. According to multivariate logistic regression, it was independently related to smoking status (OR = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19-0.69), history of goiter or thyroid nodules (OR = 9.19; 95% CI, 1.25-64.58), and a history of malignant tumors (OR = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.19-7.33). CONCLUSIONS Risk factors for well-differentiated thyroid cancer in men were goiter or thyroid nodules and family history of malignant tumors. Cigarette smoking was negatively associated with the disease.

Malignant tumors in families of thyroid cancer patients

A case-control study comprised 177 patients with various types of thyroid cancer and the same number of hospital controls individually matched by age, sex and place of residence. Malignant tumors were more frequent among first and second degree relatives of cases as compared to controls. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.43 (1.33-4.44) and 5.33 (1.77-16.01) respectively. The most frequent were cancers of uterus and stomach with odds ratio of 6.00 (1.61-22.36) and 9.00 (1.64-49.35). Thyroid cancer was present only in first-degree relatives of two cases and none of controls.

Survival and prognostic factors of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Abstract Background : Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is relatively rare and represents one of the most aggressive tumours with poor prognosis, despite therapy. The aim of the study was to analyse demographic and clinical characteristics of ATC patients, and to identify survival rates and prognostic factors. Methods : In a retrospective study (1995–2005) ATC was found in 150 patients treated at our institution. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test. Potential prognostic factors affecting survival were compared by Cox univariate and multivariate analyses. Results : Mean survival time was 56 weeks; median survival time was 16 weeks and 1 and 5-year survival were 17% and 8%. More than 10% died during the first month and 50% died up to the fourth month. Multivariate analysis showed that age, goitre and surgery were independent prognostic factors of survival in all ATC patients. Among operated patients, the extent of tumour resection, distant metastasis and multicentricity were independent prognostic risk factors of survival. Postoperative radiotherapy was a protective factor. Conclusions : There is still no successful treatment of ATC that can guarantee long term survival. Younger patients with pre-existing goitre, who undergo complete resection of unilocular early stage ATC without distant metastasis and with postoperative external radiotherapy, stand a better chance of long-term survival.

Retrospective evaluation of the incidental finding of 403 papillary thyroid microcarcinomas in 2466 patients undergoing thyroid surgery for presumed benign thyroid disease

BackgroundThe aim of our study was to investigate the incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in patients operated for benign thyroid diseases (BTD) and its relation to age, sex, extent of surgery and type of BTD.MethodsRetrospective study of 2466 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for BTD from 2008 to 2013. To determine independent predictors for PTMC we used three separate multivariate logistic regression models (MLR).ResultsThere were 2128 (86.3%) females and 338 (13.7%) males. PTMC was diagnosed in 345 (16.2%) females and 58 (17.2%) males. Age ranged from 14 to 85 years (mean 54 years). Sex and age were not related to the incidence of PTMC. The overall incidence of PTMC was 16.3%. The highest incidence was in Hashimoto thyroiditis (22.7%, χ2 = 10.80, p < 0.001); and in patients with total/near-total thyroidectomy (17.7%, χ2 = 7.05, p < 0.008). The lowest incidence (6.6%, χ2 = 9.96, p < 0.001) was in a solitary hyperfunctional thyroid nodule (SHTN). According to MLR, Hashimoto thyroiditis (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.15-2.05, p < 0.003) and SHTN (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.87, p < 0.019) are independent predictors. Since the extent of surgery was an independent predictor (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.10-1.92, p = 0.009) for all BTD, and sex and age were not; when the MLR model was adjusted for them, Graves disease (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.99, p < 0.041) also proved to be an independent predictor.ConclusionsSex and age are not statistically related to the incidence of PTMC in BTD. The incidence of PTMC is higher in Hashimoto thyroiditis and patients with total/near-total thyroidectomy; and lower in patients with a SHTN and Graves disease.

Risk factors for intraoperative hypotension during thyroid surgery

Background Hypotension is a common adverse effect of IV anaesthetics, especially during the induction of anaesthesia. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for intraoperative hypotension (IOH) in thyroid surgery, as well as to determine whether and to what extent IOH affects the occurrence of postoperative hypotension. Material/Methods The study included 1252 euthyroid patients, ASA 2 and ASA 3 status (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification), who had thyroid surgery between 2007 and 2011. IOH was defined as a decrease in systolic blood pressure of >20% of baseline values. We studied the influence of demographic characteristics (sex, age, body mass index-BMI), comorbidity, type and duration of surgery, and anaesthesia on the occurrence of IOH. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine predictors of occurrence of IOH. Results IOH was registered in 6.5% of patients. The most common operation was thyroidectomy. Patients with IOH were younger, had lower BMI, and significantly less often had hypertension as a coexisting disease. The multivariate regression model identified BMI and the absence of hypertension as a coexisting disease, and as independent predictors of occurrence of IOH. Significantly more patients with IOH had postoperative hypotension (9.9% vs. 2.4%, p=0.000). Conclusions IOH is common, even during operations of short duration and with minimal bleeding. It is necessary to pay special attention to these patients, given that many of these patients remained hypotensive during the postoperative period.

Perioperative risk factors, morbidity, and outcome of 145 patients during phaeochromocytoma resection.

Abstract Background : Phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma resection carries a high perioperative risk. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for and frequency of perioperative morbidity and mortality during resection of these tumours. Methods : Computerized surgical, medical, and histopathology records, as well as anaesthesia cards for 145 patients undergoing surgery for phaeochromocytoma resection between 1995 and 2009 were analysed retrospectively. Preoperative notes, adverse intraoperative events, and postoperative complications occurring in the 30 days following surgery were recorded. Preoperative phenoxybensamine and propranolol dose, age, sex, ASA score, catecholamine urinary level and profile, tumour weight, duration of surgery, and malignancy and presence of bilateral tumours were investigated to determine their contribution to major intraoperative haemodynamic events. Univariate comparisons were carried out using the student t-test. The Mann-Whitney test was also used to allow for deviation from normality. Logistic regression with backward removal of insignificant variables was used for multivariate analysis. Spearman test was used for correlation analysis. Results : The only statistically significant factor that increased the probability of intraoperative haemodynamic variability was the duration of surgery (p = 0.025). The most common intraoperative event was transient hypertension, occurring in 59 (40.7%) patients. Sustained hypertension was registered in only 10 (6.9%) patients. No mortality, myocardial infarction, or cerebrovascular incidents were recorded. Conclusions : We found that the severity of perioperative haemodynamic changes significantly correlated with the duration of surgery. Our patients had low perioperative morbidity and no mortality.