• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 1999

Objectives: The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) family has been increasingly recognized as an important component in the control of normal cell proliferation and the pathogenesis of cancer. To confirm the usefulness of epidermal growth factor receptor as a tumor marker, we initiated this study. Materials and Methods: EGFR was measured by immunohistochemical staining using EGFR antibody. It was performed on section from paraffin blocks of 65 thyroid tissue including 33 paillary carcinoma, 11 follicular carcinoma, 11 nodular hyperplasia, 5 follicular adenoma and 5 normal thyroid tissue. We evaluated morphologic characteristic of various thyroid neoplasms, and the relationship between EGFR and other prognostic factors in papillary thyroid carcinomas. Results: The expression of EGFR was commonly found in neoplasms of thyroid, with trend for stronger staining in the more malignant tumor(p=0.000). Also the expression of EGFR in papillary thyroid cancer related to tumor characters including tumor size(p=0.042), extent(p=0.024) and prognostic features including AMES scores(p=0.019). The strong EGFR staining in papillary carcinoma was significantly associated with tumor recurrence(p=0.003). Conclusions: EGFR may have a role in the regulation of normal and neoplastic thyroid cell growth. EGFR status may help predict the clinical course of patients with malignant thyroid neoplasms. However, the study of more cases will be needed for significance of the information about the EGFR as an independent prognostic factor.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2006

Purpose : It has been generally accepted that lobectomy is a standard surgical procedure in treatment of benign thyroid nodules. However lobectomy may cause postoperative hypothyroidism. Most of surgeons believe that nodulectomy has its limitation in treatment of thyroid nodules due to recurrence of nodules and presence of cancer. The current study attempts to determine whether nodulectomy is justified in aspects of preservation of thyroid function, risk of recurrence and complications. Methods: Data was collected retrospectively on 74 patients undergoing thyroidectomy(single nodulectomy, n=43;bilateral nodulectomies, n=9;lobectomy with nodulectomy, n=22) for benign thyroid nodules from 1999 to 2004. All patients were evaluated for complication, postoperative thyroid function, and recurrence of benign nodule and cancer were followed by regular ultrasonographic examination for 2-6 years. Results : The pathologic results of 74 patients were nodular hyperplasia(55 patients), Hashimoto's thyroiditis(8 patients), follicular adenoma(7 patients) and papillary carcinoma(4 patients). Average operation time was 30 minutes from skin incision to specimen out. In postoperative follow-up of 70 patients, six cases(8.5%) became mild hypothyroid, and ultrasonographically detected micronodule was also six cases(8.5%). There were no other complications. Conclusion : Thyroid nodulectomy appears to have advantages of relatively few complication and simple procedure with no access to laryngeal nerves. Therefore, it may be one of treatment options in selected cases of benign thyroid nodules.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2005

Objectives: Various techniques of endoscopic thyroidectomy have been developed in thyroid resection since 1998 in the aspect of excellent cosmetic viewpoint. Of them, we evaluated our experiences and advantages of gasless axillary approach technique for resection of dominant thyroid nodules. Material and Methods: Twenty-nine cases of thyroid nodules were operated by the technique of gasless axillary approach during one year from December 2003 to December 2004. Twenty four patients underwent total lobectomy and five patients were partial lobectomy. Results: The operation time of first case took 300 minutes, however it became gradually shortened with case experiences down to 100-120 minutes. Pathologically, nodular hyperplasia was twenty cases, follicular adenoma five cases, papillary carcinoma three patients, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis one patient. There was no case of conversion to open thyroidectomy. Three cases of postoperative hoarseness were recovered spontaneously in 3 months. Hospital stay was four days for most patients. The cosmetic result was excellent without visible scar in anterior neck and chest. Conclusion: Endoscopic thyroidectomy via gasless axillary approach shows excellent result in cosmetic view point with hidden incision scar at axilla, and shorter hospitalization. However a question of longer operation time for dissection of the long plane over pectoral muscle is still remained.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2008

Objectives：The incidence of micropapillary thyroid carcinoma(MPC) which is very good prognosis is increasing due to ultrasonography and accurate fine neede aspiration cytology. MPC defined papillary thyroid carcinoma below 1cm. According to the size, histophaothogic feature is different, lymph node metastasis and capsular invasion occur occasionally. So, we consider different treatment according to the size of MPC. Matrials and Methods：We reviewed and analyzed the record of 216 MPC patients operated at department of general surgery Busan Paik Hospital since 1995 January to 2005 Desember retrospectively. Result：The sex ratio was 1：9.29(male；21, female；195). Total thyroidectomy 20cases(9.3%), subtotal thyroidectomy 141cases(65%), lobectomy 52cases(24%), completion operation 3cases(1.4%) were done. Combined diseases were follicular carcinoma 4cases, follicular adenoma 11cases, thyroiditis 46cases, nodular hyperplasia 44cases. Lymph node metastasis 56cases and capsular invasion 56cases were presented. Group A(<5mm) was 53cases, group B(5-10mm) was 163cases. Group B showed higher lymph node metastasis and capsular invasion(P<0.05). Multiple carcinoma Showed higher capsular invasion than single carcinoma (P<0.05). Complications were post operative bleeding 1case, husky voice 1case, hypocalcemia 1case. Conclusion：We can consider more extensive operation in 5-10mm of MPC patients.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.600-604
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• 2018

Background and Objectives This study aimed to identify a reliable preoperative predictive factor for the development of thyroid cancer in patients with atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) identified by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Subjects and Method This was a retrospective cohort study. Two hundred and ninety-nine patients diagnosed with AUS by preoperative FNAB who underwent curative thyroid surgery at our institution between September 2005 and February 2014 were analyzed. Clinical, radiological and molecular features were investigated as preoperative predictors for postoperative permanent malignant pathology. Results The final pathologic results revealed 36 benign tumors including nodular hyperplasia, follicular adenoma, adenomatous goiter, nontoxic goiter, and lymphocytic thyroiditis, as well as 263 malignant tumors including 1 follicular carcinoma and 1 invasive follicular carcinoma; the rest were papillary thyroid carcinomas. The malignancy rate was 87.9%. The following were identified as risk factors for malignancy by univariate analysis: $BRAF^{V600E}$ gene mutation, specific ultrasonographic findings including smaller nodule size, low echogenicity of the nodule, and irregular or spiculated margin (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that only $BRAF^{V600E}$ mutation was a statistically significant risk factor for malignancy (p<0.05). When $BRAF^{V600E}$ mutation was positive, 98.5% of enrolled patients developed malignant tumors. In addition, the diagnostic rate of malignancy in these cases was approximately 16-fold higher than BRAF-negative cases. Conclusion Patients with AUS thyroid nodules should undergo $BRAF^{V600E}$ gene mutation analysis to improve diagnostic accuracy and if the mutation is confirmed, surgery is recommended due to the high risk of malignancy.