• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1983

In an attempt to evaluate the diagnostic singnificance of the serum thyroglobulin (TG) in various thyroid disease states, authors measured serum TG by radioimmunoassay technique in 20 cases of normal subject, 22 cases of hyperthyroidism, 12 cases of diffuse nontoxic goiter (DNG) and 96 cases of nodular nontoxic goiter(NNG). The results were as follows: 1. In 20 cases of normal subjects, serum TG level was $20.41{\pm}5.5ng/ml(M{\pm}S.D.)$. There was no significant difference between males ans females. 2. In 22 cases of hyperthyroidism, serum TG level was $60.23{\pm}34.56ng/ml$ and the range was from 22 to 175 ng/ml, which were significantly high levels comparing with normal controls (p<0.01). 3. In 12 cases of euthyroidism with DNG, serum TG was $37.28{\pm}27.36ng/ml$ and the range was from 14 to 89 ng/ml. In 96 cases of euthyroidism with NNG, serum TG was $70.43{\pm}78.18ng/ml$ and the range was from 12.8 to 440 ng/ml. Both groups showed significantly increased levels of TG than normal control (p<0.01). 4. 57 cases of NNG patients were analysed pathologically by operation or needle biopsy and the TG level of each disease group is as follows. Thyroid carcinoma (16 cases); $72.2{\pm}81.71ng/ml$, adenomatous goiter without cystic degeneration (15 cases); $74.86{\pm}45.64ng/ml(M{\pm}S.D.)$ and adenomatous goiter with cystic degeneration(23 cases); $73.56{\pm}64.78ng/ml(M{\pm}S.D.)$. There was no significant difference between each group. Also the TG levels of thyroiditis (5 cases) was $19.6{\pm}8.96ng/ml(M{\pm}S.D.)$. 5. There were no significant correlations between serum thyroid hormones and serum TG in each thyroid functional states.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 1978

Clinical features of 147 patients with biopsy-proven thyroid carcinomas were investigated from January, 1972 to April, 1978 at the Seoul National University Hospital with the following results. 1) The incidence of thyroid carcinomas according to their histopathological classification revealed 76.2% of papillary carcinoma, 19.0% of follicular carcinoma, and 3 cases of occult sclerozing carcinoma, 1 case of giant cell carcinoma and 1 case of metastatic melanoma. 2) The ratio of male to femle patients was 1:8.3 and showed no difference between papillary and follicular carcinomas. 3) The age distribution showed the peak incidence in the fourth decade (29.3%) followed by the fifth and sixth decades. 4) The average duration of illness from the onset of symptoms was about 5 years while it was 4.4 years and 7.6 years in the papillary and follicular carcinomas respectively. 5) The diameter of the thyroid masses was smaller than 5 cm in 53.6% of the patients, from 5 cm to 10 cm in 40.0% and larger than 10 cm in 6.4%. 6) In 36.4% of the patients with thyroid carcinomas the thyroid masses were fixed to adjacent tissues. 7) Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes was noted in 40.0% of the total cases, and in 45.2% and 17.6% of the papillary and follicular carcinomas respectively, while the lung and bone metastases were found in 10.0% and 4.4% in each type respectively. 8) 88.9% of the patients showed cold areas in the thyroid scans using $^{131}I$. 9) Typical psammoma bodies were observed in 21.3% of the cases in the microscopic examination of the pathological specimens. 10) The initial diagnosis of thyroid malignancy could be made before histological confirmation in 64.5% of the patients. 11) The clinical staging slightly modified from Schulz method revealed 43.6% of the patients in stage I, 26.4% in stage II, 20.9% in stags III and 9.1 % in stage IV. 12) The association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis was noted in 4 cases, with nodular goiter in 3 cases, and with follicular adenoma in 1 case.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 1975

In an attempt to establish the diagnostic value of serum triiodothyronine and to correlate it with pathophysiologic mechanisms of thyroid hormones in various thyroid disorders, the author measured the serum triiodothyronine levels by means of radioimmunoassay and compared them with other thyroid function tests. This study was carried out in 152 cases with various thyroid functions; 28 cases as control, 51 cases of hyperthyroidism, 50 cases of euthyroidism and 23 cases of hypothyroidism. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The serum $T_3$ level in normal control group ranged between $131{\pm}34ng/dl$. 2. The serum $T_3$ levels ranged between $306{\pm}97ng/dl$ in hyperthyroidism $138{\pm}32ng/dl$ in euthyroidism and $60{\pm}27ng/dl$ in hypothyroidism. The significant differences between these groups were noted in this study. 3. In 5(9.9%) out of 51 cases with hyperthyoidism and 9(39.1%) of 23 cases with hypothyroidism, the serum $T_3$ were measured to be in normal range. Accordingly, the diagnostic value of the measurement of serum $T_3$ with hyperthyroidism was justifiable, but with hypothyroidism, it was less creditable than that of serum thyrotropin. 4. There was little significant difference between the diagnostic value of serum thyroxine and triiodthyronine levels in various thyroid disorders. However, $T_4/T_3$ ratio was decreased in patients with untreated hyperthyroidism because of more elevation of $T_3\;than\;T_4$. Consequently, the serum $T_3$ was more sensitive than $T_3$ in some thyroid disorders. 5. The serum $T_3$ level was much more sensitive and showed prompt shift in its level during the course of treatment on the patient with various thyroid disorders. And the measurement of serum $T_3$ was a good index for the evaluation of the thyroid function. From these results obtained, the measurement of serum $T_3$ by means of radioimmunoassay is a good way to understand the status of thyroid function with various thyroid disorders and evaluate the effects of the treatment given on these patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1986

Clinical features of 406 patients with histologically verified thyroid carcinomas were investigated from May, 1978 to April, 1985 at the Seoul National University Hospital with the following results. 1) The incidence of thyroid cancer according to their histological classification was 79.8% of papillary carcinoma, 14.5% of follicular carcinoma, 1.5% of medullary carcinoma, 2.2% of anaplastic carcinoma, 2 cases of squamous carcinoma and 3 cases of lymphoma. 2) The age distribution showed the peak incidence in the fourth decade (25.1%), followed by the fifth and the third decade. 3) The ratio of male to female patients was 1 : 6.1. The ratio is 1 : 5.9 in papillary carcinoma and 1 : 8.8 in follicular carcinoma. 4) The mean age was 40.2 year in papillary carcinoma, 37.4 year in follicular carcinoma. 36.5 year in medullary carcinoma, 60.3 year in anaplastic carcinoma, 62.0 year in squamous carcinoma, 59.7 year in lymphoma. 5) The diameter of the thyroid masses was smaller than 1.5cm in 19.9% of the patients, from 1.5cm to 5cm in 50.5%, from 5cm to 10cm in 25.4% and larger than 10cm in 25.4%. 6) Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes at diagnosis was noted in 44.2% of total patients, and distant metastasis was 5%, and local infiltration was 44.2%. 7) The clinical staging was revealed 42.1% of the patients in stage I, 9.1% in stage II, 35.7% in stage III, 5.2% in stage IV, and 7.9% in undetermined stage.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 1990

The development of histomorphometric and histodynamic investigations has permitted the description of a specific and complex osteopathy in hyperthyroidism. The increased bone turnover rate in hyperthyroid patients may be accompanied by a considerable bone loss. These features are associated with both inclosed osteoclastic bone resorption and increased osteoblastric bone formation, with an accelerated calcification rate. Conventional biochemical markers of bone metabolism, i.e. serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline and calcium are normal in most patients with hyperthyroidism. However, the correlation between serum BGP and serum concentration of thyroid hormon suggests that serum BGP may be a sensitive marker of increased bone formation due to the hypersecretion of thyroid hormones. Any increase in bone turnover, whether focal or diffuse, will result in an increase in $^{99m}Tc-methylenediphosphonate$ uptake (MDP). The measurement of this uptake in hyperthyroid patients by bone provides a sensitive and objective means of quantifying skeletal metabolism. Using a standard shadow-shield whole-body monitor and radioimmunoassay kit, we have measured whole-body retention of $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ up to 24hr and concentration of serum Osteocalcin in 20 patients with hyperthyroidism and in 42 normals. The results were as follows; 1) The average of serum Osteocalcin level in 42 patients with normals was $9.90{\pm}4.87(ng/ml)$ and in 20 patients with hyperthyroidism was $19.54{\pm}5.7(ng/ml)$. Both the averages of serum Osteocalcin and 24hr $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ uptakes in hyperthyroid patients were higher than those in normals. 2) $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ uptakes in skeletal system increased in proportion to normal ageing after 40 yrs old in 42 patients with normals. The average of $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ uptakes in hyperthyroid patients were higher than those in normals without related ageing. 3) A significant relationships between the $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ uptakes and serum Osteocalcin level were peformed (r=0.55, $y=17.58+6.7\times$). From the above results we concluded that the measurement of serum Osteocalcin and 24hr $^{99m}Tc-MDP$ uptakes can be used for evaluation of bone turnover as a specific marker in hyperthyroid patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.213-220
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• 2005

Objective : Thyroid diseases are one of the most common endocrine disorders. However, the first chosen-treatments including anti-thyroidal and hormone-supplement therapy in western medicines, sometimes have failed to improve abnormal thyroid hormone secretions and clinical symptoms. Therefore, there has been a growing expectation for Oriental Medicine to take the role of alternative therapy. However, there has been little analysis of clinical characteristics. In this study, clinical characteristics of thyroidal disease patients who visited Kyung-Hee oriental hospital from January to July 2004 were analyzed. Methods : A total 86 patients diagnosed as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or thyroid nodule were selected. Clinical history, including sex, age, symptoms, disease duration and methods of previous therapy and thyroidal test, such as thyroid function test (TFT), thyroid scan and other thyroid examinations. Results : In distribution of onset age and sex, the patients who have visited oriental hospital with thyroidal diseases showed similar characteristics with typical patients. In clinical symptom, the most frequent clinical sign was fatigue in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, which differs from the classical characteristics of those diseases. Most patients complained the unresolved symptoms, some of which are attributable to abnormal thyroid hormone secretions, in spite of western therapy with anti-thyroidal and hormone supplement agents. Conclusions : In oriental therapy, it will be necessary to consider the unique clinical features of thyroidal diseases different from classical patterns, and this study suggests that oriental therapy is a good alternative method for patients whose first treatment with western agents failed. Furthermore, more public information to these patients about oriental medicine would be helpful to increase cure rates, and give various choices to patients with thyroid diseases.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.187-199
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• 1997

Thyroid carcinoma ranks low in incidence and as a cause of death when compared to carcinomas arising in the other site. With adequate surgical treatment, the prognosis of operable thyroid carcinoma is good. However, the extent of surgical resection in treatment of thyroid cancer remains still controversy. The aim of this study was to assess the results of thyroid cancer patients treated surgically and to analyze the prognostic factors affecting survival and to improve the survival rate. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of a total of 278 thyroid cancer patients treated surgically at Inje University Paik Hospital from 1980 to 1995 and followed for 1 to 16 years. There were man in 47 and woman in 231 patients with age range of 14 to 79 years(mean 42 years). Histopathologic findings were papillary carcinoma in 233, follicular carcinoma in 33, mixed carcinoma in 7, medullary carcinoma in 2, and undifferentiated carcinoma in 3 patients, respectively. Operative procedures were unilateral lobectomy in 111, subtotal thyroidectomy in 100, and total thyroidectomy in 67 patients. Central node dissection was performed in 92, modified neck disseciton in 62, radical neck dissection in 28, and no node dissection in 96 patients. Thyroid hormone was administered for the period of 3 to 5 years to suppress endogenous TSH production. Overall 5-year survival rate according to Kaplan-Meier method was 91.1%. Independently, significant factors affecting the prognosis were age at diagnosis, tumor size, pathologic type, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, angioinvasion, extrathyroidal extension, and 'risk' group category. but, the prognosis were not influenced by sex and capsular invasion. Patients at low risk or with small size carcinomas had long survival over 5 years with only lobectomy. Lymph node dissection was carried out with a limited type in no jugular metastasis, radical neck dissection was performed only therapeutically in proved jugular node metastasis. Fifteen patients were dead of tumor recurrence after surviving for three months to two and half years, and the cause of death was local recurrence in nine, bone metastasis in four and lung metastasis in two patients. In conclusion, more extensive surgery including total thyroidecotmy and systematic compartment-oriented dissection of the lymph node metastases in patient at high-risk group will results in better survival and lower recurrence rate.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 1997

Background: Thyroid cancer is a relatively rare neoplasm and its incidence varies geographically and ethnically around the world. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, but it has a wide spectrum of biologic behavior, histologic appearance, and management. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyse and evaluate all aspects of the clinical consideration in thyroid cancer. Method: Between 1986 and 1995, a retrospective analysis of 77 thyrod cancer patients admitted at the Department of Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University was made to assess clinical entities. Result: By the pathological classification, the papillary carcinoma was the most common type(83.1%). Male to female ratio was 1 : 5.4 and most prevalent age group was noted from fourth decade to fifth decade(46.8%). The most common duration of illness between the appearance of the symptoms and the treatment was below 6 months(44.2%), and the most common symptom was the palpable mass at the anterior portion of the neck(96.1%). Most cases of the thyroid cancer were appeared as cold nodule in the $^{99m}$Tc-thyroid scan(95.7%). In the site of tumor location, the right and left lobe was distributed similarly. In the extent of tumor, incidence of intrathyroidal location was 41.6%, and that of the metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes was 44.2% and that of the direct capsular invasion was 27.3%, and incidence of both involved case was 13%. Surgical procedures were total thyroidectomy alone in 27 cases(35.1%) or with modified neck dissection in 6 cases(7.8%), or with radical neck dissection in 2 cases (2.6%), near total thyroidectomy alone in 22 cases(28.6%), ipsilateral lobectomy with isthmectomy alone in 12 cases(15.6%) or with modified neck dissection in 1 case(1.3%), and biopsy only in 7 cases(9.1%). The most common postoperative complications were transient hypoparathyroidism(5.2%) and transient unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis(5.2%). Conclusion: The major problem of management of thyroid cancer include a wide spectrum of clinical behaviour of this tumor entity, the lack of reliable prognostic factors and lack of an objective assessment of the various treatment modalities. But because of showing the favorable prognosis for most thyroid cancer, appropriate and aggressive management should be recommended.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 1998

The clinical and pathological features of 35 cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer were studied. These tumors occurred in 12 men and 23 women ranging in age from 19 to 83 years(mean age; 61.7 years). A rapidly enlarging thyroid mass was the most common presentation. The duration of the presence of mass varied from 20 days to 12 months with an average of 2.7 months. Systemic metastasis at the time of initial examination was found in 14 patients(40.0%) and the lung was the most common site of involvement. The overall rate of distant metastasis was about 65.7%. The tumors were subdivided morphologically into giant cell type of 10 cases, spindle cell type of 7 cases, epidermoid cell type of 1 cases, and mixed giant cell and spindle cell type of 5 cases. The mean survival period of 6 among 35 patients who had biopsy alone was 1.4 months. The 22 patients underwent the incomplete combined treatment modalities (palliative surgery with or without chemotherpy or radiation therapy) survived for a mean period of 3.0 months, among them, 7 patients who had surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed mean survival period of 3.7 months. The mean survival of 7 patients who had complete combined treatment modality(curative surgery combined with chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiation therapy) was 6.6 months, only one patient survived for 21 months and one patient has been alive for 1 month after operation, and the others survived for a mean period of 4.8 months. So far, as of July 31, 1998, 34 patients among 35 were died(one has been survived for 1 month) despite the various treatment modalities, and the main cause of death were failure of local control and systemic metastasis. None of the various treatment modalities gave consistently favourable results. However, a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy seemed to have a slight positive effect on survival. Furthermore, the aggressive treatment modalities will be indicated only in the early diagnosed and minimal cases.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.206-212
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• 1997

H$\"{u}$rthle cell neoplasm of the thyroid gland is an uncommon, but potentially malignant lesion. However, in many instances, the malignant potential of the H$\"{u}$rthle cell neoplasm is very difficult to judge histologically. For this reason, the biologic behavior of this tumor and its optimal treatment have come under considerable debate in recent years. In order to review the clinicopathologic features of the H$\"{u}$rthle cell neoplasm and to determine its optimal treatment modalities, we studied 26 patients with path logical proof of H$\"{u}$rthle cell tumor from January 1987 to September 1997. We also performed an immunohistochemical study using the monoclonal antibodies against antigen CD34 for the angiogenic activity of this tumor and evaluated the differences of microvessel density(MVD) between benign and malignant tumors. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 71 years with a mean of 44.2 years. There were 6 males and 20 females(M : F= 1 : 3.3). The accuracies of fine needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section were very low; 6.3% and 34.8%, respectively. There were 20 benign tumors and 6 malignant tumors(23.1%). All the malignant tumors were microinvasive(intermediate) type which had minimal capsular invasion and most of them(5 cases) were diagnosed postoperatively. Any specific clinicopathologic differences were not seen between benign and intermediate groups. Most of the cases had conservative surgeries(15 ipsilateral lobectomy-isthmusectomy, 7 subtotal thyroidectomy) while total thyroidectomy was performed in 4 cases. Of the cases with malignant tumor, 2 had ipsilateral lobectomy-isthmusectomy, 3 had subtotal thyroidectomy and the remaining 1 had total thyroidectomy. Mean size of the tumors was 3.0 cm(0.1- 8.5 cm) in the greatest diameter and multiple tumors were seen in 6 cases(23.1 %). During the follow-up period, only one recurrence(3.8%) of benign tumor occurred but distant metastasis or cause-specific death was seen in the benign or intermediate groups. Mean MVDs of the benign(n=13) and intermediate(n=6) groups were $121.7{\pm}35.3$ and $114.3{\pm}31.7$, respectively and there was no statistical significance between them. In conclusion, because of the low accuracies of fine needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section for the H$\"{u}$rthle cell neoplasm, the extent of surgery could be individualized based on permanent pathologic examination; Conservative surgery would be adequate for patients with benign or intermediate H$\"{u}$rthle cell neoplasm and total or near-total thyroidectomy for those with definite malignancy.