• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.144-151
• /
• 2008

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the decisive test in the pre-operative diagnostics of thyroid nodules. Here we share our institutional experience about thyroid aspiration and give suggestions for suspicious cytology results. Three hundred twenty-two cases in 270 patients (mean age 47.4 years, 243 women and 27 men) who underwent thyroidectomy were reviewed. Among the 322 cases, the FNA diagnosis of "positive for malignancy" was 87 cases (27.0%), "suggestive of malignancy" 30 cases (9.3%), "suspicious for malignancy" 61 cases (18.9%), "negative for malignancy" 102 cases (31.7%), and "unsatisfactory smear" 42 cases (13.0%). Eighty seven cases (100%) out of "positive for malignancy", 29 cases (96.7%) out of "suggestive of malignancy", and 39 cases (64.0%) out of "suspicious for malignancy" were papillary carcinoma (148 cases, 95.5%), or follicular carcinoma (2 cases, 1.3%), or metastatic carcinoma (1 case, 0.6%). Seventeen patients who had only negative or unsatisfactory cytology underwent thyroidectomy and nine cases (52.9%) were papillary carcinoma. We suggest that: the cytology diagnosis of "suggestive of malignancy" could be regarded as "positive for malignancy", the cytology diagnosis of "suspicious of malignancy" should be carefully correlated with clinico-radiologic manifestation, and even a negative or unsatisfactory smear should be carefully followed up.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.35-39
• /
• 1997

Background: Completion thyroidectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the remnant thyroid tissue following procedures less than total or near-total thyroidectomy. Although some authors advocate subtotal thyroidectomy with lower complication rates, total or completion thyroidectomy have been defended by others because of the improved survival and lower morbidity that is comparable with subtotal thyroidectomy. Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to review the necessity and safety of completion thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC). Materials & Methods: During the past 10 years(1986 to 1996) , authors have performed 211 total thyroidectomy. Ten of these patients were treated by completion thyroidectomy for DTC. Initial operation of 7 patients had been performed at St. Vincents Hospital and 3 patients at other hospital. The medical records of patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The completion thyroidectomy specimen contained residual tumor cells in 8 of the 8 patients with papillary carcinoma and none of the two patients with follicular carcinoma. Complications of completion thyroidectomy were transient hypoparathyroidism in two patients and transient unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in one patient. But permanent complications were not noticed. Conclusion: We recommend completion thyroidectomy as an efficient and safe method of surgical treatment with a low complication rate for DTC.

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

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1514-1521
• /
• 2009

To evaluate the feasibility of cathepsin-B levels in preoperatively screening patients with thyroid cancer, we assigned these patients to either the thyroid cancer group (n=32) or the nodular hyperplasia group (n=7). Five healthy volunteers served as controls (n=5). We quantified cathepsin-B expressions in cancerous lesions with follicular carcinoma and hyperplastic lesions with nodular hyperplasia, and compared the degrees to those of normal thyroid tissue, which was obtained from matched contralateral lobe. The activity of serum cathepsin B was significantly higher in patients with thyroid carcinoma ($284.87{\pm}79.32$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) and those with nodular hyperplasia ($255.45{\pm}95.68$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) than compared to normal control ($168.94{\pm}15.10$, ${\times}10^{-2}\;mU$) (p<0.05). Based on the results of immunoassay, the concentrations of cathepsin B in the thyroid cancer group ($15.50{\pm}7.86\;ng/ml$) and the nodular hyperplasia group ($17.64{\pm}7.49\;ng/ml$) were higher than those of the control group ($4.85{\pm}0.61\;ng/ml$). The degree of cathepsin-B mRNA expression was significantly higher in cancerous or hyperplastic lesions than normal thyroid tissues from matched contralateral lobe with follicular carcinoma or non-neoplastic thyroid disease. Our results indicate that the activity of serum cathepsin B is a useful indicator in screening patients with nodular hyperplasia or neoplastic thyroid disease and it may be involved in the abnormal proliferation of cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 1975

The following tumors occurring naturally in the dog were studied pathologically and discussed briefly. Tumors of the skin and subcutis: Fibroma, Lipoma, Epidermal cyst, Melanosarcoma, Sweat gland adenoma, Mastocytoma (2 cases), Mastosarcoma, and Sebaceous gland carcinoma. Tumors of the spleen and lymph node: Fibrosarcoma of the capsule of spleen, Leiomysarcoma of the spleen, and Lymphosarcoma of the lymph node (2 cases). Tumors of the lung: Bronchogenic carcinoma (3 cases), Adenocarcinoma type, Squamous carcinoma type, and Undifferentiated (round cell) carcinoma type respectively. Tumors of the alimentary tract and liver: Fibroma of the stomach, Hemangioma of the liver, Bile duct carcinoma, Liver cell carcinoma, and Myelogenous leukemia manifested in the liver. Tumor of the peritoneum: Fibrosarcoma. Tumors of the urogenital system: Fibroma of the uterus, Fibroma of the prepuce, Follicular cyst of the ovary, Transmissible venereal tumor of the vagina (6 cases), Carcinoma of the kidney, Adenoma of the prostate (2 cases), and Seminoma of the testis. Tumors of the mammary gland: Mixed tumor (2 cases), and Myoepithelioma. Tumor of the nervous system: Neurofibrosarcoma of the thigh.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.32-42
• /
• 1996

This study was desinged to evaluate the effect of radioactive iodine-131 therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated at the Presbyterian Medical Center, Chonju during the 20-year period from 1975 to 1994. The authors reviewed 246 patients who received radioactive iodine-131. An analysis of the therapeutic response and survival rates of the 246 patients has been carried out. The male to female ratio was 1 : 3.6. The peak incidence was in the 4th and 6th decades. The histologic findings in the 246 patients were papillary adenocarcinoma in 200 cases, follicular adenocarcinoma in 29 cases, mixed type in 14 cases, and others in 3 cases. Combined treatment modalities of 246 patients consisted of sugery and radioiodine in 222 cases, surgery with radioiodine and external irradiation in 11 cases, and surgery with radioiodine, external irradiation and chemotherapy in 5 cases. 42 of the 246 cases showed recurrence and the commonest type of combined treatment for recurrent case was surgery followed by radioiodine-131. The highest accumulated total dosage of radioiodine-131 was 480mCi in that case femoral metastasis was noticed. The most common locoregional metastatic site was ipsilateral cervical node, and neighbouring muscle, vessel, trachea, recurrent layngeal nerve, in order of frequency. The determinate 10-year survival rate was 91.8% in the group receiving surgery followed by radioiodine-13l and 71.4% in patients receiving surgery, radioiodine-13l with XRT. The determinate 10-year survival rate was better for patients under 40 years of age who received radioiodine as compared to patients over 40 year of age(85.7% vs. 33.3%). The most usual primary therapeutic dosage in the group of cervical lesion was 90$\sim$120mCi after surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2008

Although subacute granulomatous thyroiditis(SGT) is usually diagnosed clinically, papillary carcinoma or other thyroid conditions must be considered in the differential diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and fine-needle aspiration(FNA) cytologic findings seen in 10 SGT cases to decide what are the most reliable cytologic findings and the most helpful molecular tools for reaching a confident cytologic diagnosis. The most representative smear slides were retrieved to perform immunocytochemistry for cytokeratin 19(CK19) and Ret protein. Five papillary carcinomas(PTCs) were included as controls. The constant and typical cytologic findings of SGT were multinucleated giant cells(MGCs) (100%), epithelioid granulomas(90%), an inflammatory dirty background(90%) and plump transformed follicular cells(80%) without fire-flare cells, oncocytic cells or transformed lymphocytes. The immunoreactivities for CK19(37.5%) and Ret(10%) of the follicular cells of SGT were less than those(CK19 and Ret:100%) of PTC. CK19 immunoreactivity of the MGCs was seen in only one case of PTC. There was no significant difference between CK19 and Ret immunocytochemical staining for the MGCs of both SGT and PTC. The results of this study demonstrate that the cytological diagnosis of SGT can be improved by employing a combination of the typical and constant diagnostic cytological features and immunocytochemical results.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2001

Background and Objectives: Nitric oxide (NO) is generated in mammalian tissue by the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline. This reaction is catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO is an important bioactive agent and a signalling molecule that mediates a variety of biologic actions such as vasodilation, neurotransmission, host defense, and iron metabolism but increased NO production may also contribute to the pathogenesis of a various of disorders, including cancer. Before now, the role of NO in thyroid gland is still investigated and it was supposed that NO mediate the angiogenesis in tumor growth. Others journal and works identified the expression of iNOS that involve by neutrophil and eNOS that involve in part in the vascular remodeling and to understand the role of NO in human thyroid gland. But authors revealed only eNOS in thyroid neoplasm. iNOS was identifed by inflammation in fault. Materials and Methods: Western blot analysis was performed, using a polyclonal antibody against eNOS (Rabbit polyclonal IgG). Using the same antibody, the distribution of eNOS was examined in 15 formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples by immunohistochemistry. By NADPH consumption rate, NOS activity was estimated at nodular hyperplasia. Results: Western blot analysis exhibited that eNOS was significantly elevated in thyroid papillary carcinoma, compared to that in nodular hyperplasia and normal tissue. Immunohistochemistry showed that the immunoreacitivity was present more significantly in thyroid follicular epithelial cell layer than vascular endothelial cell. NOS activity increased in nodular hyperplasia. Conclusions: Thyroid papillary cancer without neutrophil invasion expressed only eNOS. The endothelial localization of eNOS may play an important role in pathogenensis of human thyroid nodular hyperplasia and the follicular localization of thyroid papillary carcinomas.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.64-68
• /
• 2000

Objectives: With the recent advances and increasing use of imaging techniques in examination of the neck, the incidence of incidentally discovered thyroid carcinoma has been increasing. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of incidental thyroid carcinomas and to find optimal therapeutic strategies for these lesions. Materials & Methods: From Jan. 1988 to Aug. 1998, 1,053 patients were operated on for thyroid cancer, of whom 127(12.1%) had incidentally discovered thyroid cancers which were identified during routine health checkups(n=40), diagnostic procedures for unrelated medical conditions(n=39) and mass screening for thyroid cancer(n=48). The preoperative diagnosis was obtained by ultrasound-guided FNAB and the extent of surgery was determined based on frozen section examinations, as well as prognostic factors and gross findings at the time of surgery. Results: There were 6 men and 121 women with a mean age of 45.9 years. Histopathological diagnosis included papillary carcinomas(n=1l9), follicular carcinomas(n=6), poorly differentiated carcinoma(n=l) and medullary carcinoma(n=1). Thirty patients(23.6%) had multifocallesions. The mean diameter of the tumors was 1.1 cm(0.2-3.4 cm). Capsular invasions were found in 53 patients(41.7%) and nodal metastases in 41(32.3%). The surgical procedures used were: 90 less-than total thyroidectomies and 37 total thyroidectomies with central neck node dissection. Lateral neck dissection was added in 5 patients. According to TNM staging, 79 patients(63.2%) were at stage I, 15(12.0%) at stage II, 31(24.8%) at stage III and 0(0.0%) at stage IV. By AMES scoring system, 102 patients(81.6%) were in the low-risk group and 23(18.4%) in the high-risk group. And by MACIS scoring system, 103(86.6%) of 119 papillary thyroid cancer patients were less than 6. Conclusions: The clinicopathological characteristics of incidentally discovered thyroid carcinomas are similar to ordinary thyroid carcinomas. The treatment of choice should be individualized based on the particular clinical situation encountered, as in ordinary thyroid carcinomas.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.82-90
• /
• 1992

A pathologic review was made of 1547 cases of thyroid nodule during the 20 years from 1970 to 1989 at the department of Head and Neck surgery of Presbyterian Medical Center in Chonju. 1547 cases were analysed in regard to cancer incidence of thyroid nodule, correlation of preoperative diagnosis with pathology and of frozen section diagnosis with final pathology, surgical procedures employed in managing thyroid itself, location of metastatic nodes, further definite procedure in cnacer cases, effectiveness of prophylactic neck dissection with lymph node pathology. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The cancer incidence of thyroid nodule was 21.7%. 2) The incidence of thyroid cnacer in total neoplasms increased from 1.6% to 2.9%. 3) The thyroid cancer was prevalent in female(5.9:1) and in fifth, fourth and sixth decade of life. 4) The incidence of solitary cold nodule in thyroid cancer was 72.7% (210/289). S) The incidence of thyroid cancer in solitary cold nodule was 28.7% (210/782). 6) The false negative of frozen section (1240 cases) was 19.8%. 7) Histologically, well differentiated carcinoma comprises about 94% of all cases and papillary carcinoma was 78.5% of all cases 8) The most frequent lymphatic metastasis was pre- & paratrachel nodes(63.3%), followed by Level III(50%) and Level II(47.7%). 9) 47.7% among 130 cases of papillary adenocarcinoma and 12.5% among 16 cases of follicular adenocarcinoma, each group treated with prophylactic neck dissection, were confirmed to be occult cervical node metastasis.