• 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.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.152-159
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Sodium-iodine symporter (NIS) is a marker for the degree of differentiation in thyroid cancer. The genetic factors or microenvironment surrounding tumors can affect transcription of NIS. In this study, we investigated the NIS mRNA expression according to mutational status and coexistent lymphocytic thyroiditis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Materials and Methods: The RNA expression levels of NIS in the samples from database of The Caner Genome Atlas (TCGA; n=494) and our institute (n=125) were analyzed. Results: The PTCs with the $BRAF^{V600E}$ mutation and the coexistence of $BRAF^{V600E}$ and TERT promoter mutations showed significantly lower expression of NIS (p<0.001, respectively), and those with BRAF-like molecular subtype also had reduced expression of NIS (p<0.001). NIS expression showed a positive correlation with thyroid differentiation score (r=0.593, p<0.001) and negative correlations with expressions of genes involved in ERK signaling (r=-0.164, p<0.001) and GLUT-1 gene (r=-0.204, p<0.001). The PTCs with lymphocytic thyroiditis showed significantly higher NIS expression (p=0.013), regardless of mutational status. Conclusion: The NIS expression was reduced by the $BRAF^{V600E}$ mutation and MAPK/ERK pathway activation, but restored by the presence of lymphocytic thyroiditis.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.611-614
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• 2018

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma exhibits immunohistochemically similar features to lymphoepithelioma and commonly occurs in the skin, salivary gland, breast, lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, urinary tract, prostate, vulva and vagina. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma from the thyroid gland is extremely rare. We recently experienced a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of thyroid gland in a 28-year-old female, who presented a thyroid nodule that was suspicious of papillary carcinoma. We report this unusual case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of thyroid gland with a brief review of literature.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-35
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• 2013

Thyroglossal duct cyst(TGDC) is the most common midline congenital neck mass in children. However, carcinoma arising from TGDC is very rare and most of them are found in adults. In this report, we describe a 9-year-old child presenting with TGDC, which finally turned out to be papillary thyroid carcinoma. He underwent Sistrunk operation only. We review the literature and highlight the important points of the treatment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.221-225
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• 2001

Carotid body tumor is a rare benign tumor arising from the paraganglionic tissue of neural crest. Surgical management remains the prefered treatment. Large carotid body tumors frequently encircle the internal carotid and external carotid arteries, and extensive bleeding often complicates the resection, increasing the risk of carotid artery rupture and damage to major cranial nerves. Recent improvements in surgical techniques and selective embolization have lessened the risks of surgical excision, decreased blood loss, and diminished the time required for resection. The review of literatures revealed a few cases of the carotid body tumor with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. We report a case of the huge carotid body tumor with papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, which was removed by 4 times of preoperative embolization and transcervical approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.855-860
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between different sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) on high-frequency ultrasound and cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM). Materials and Methods: We enrolled 548 patients who underwent initial surgery for PTC between May 2011 and December 2012 in our hospital at diagnosis. The sonographic features of 513 PTC nodules in 513 eligible patients, who had single PTC nodules in their thyroid glands, were retrospectively investigated. All patients with a suspect malignant nodule (d<0.5cm) among multiple nodules were initially diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to ascertain if the suspect nodule was PTC. The final diagnosis of all the thyroid nodules and existence of CLNM were based on postoperative pathology. Patients were divided into two groups: a positive group with CLNM (224 nodules) and a negative group without CLNM (289 nodules). The following factors were investigated: gender, age, echogenicity, echotexture, size, shape, location, margin, contour, calcification morphology, distance between the nodule and pre- or post-border of the thyroid capsule, vascularity and the differences between the two groups. Results: Correlation analysis showed that shorter distances between the nodule and pre- or postborder of thyroid capsule resulted in greater risk of CLNM (Spearman correlation coefficient=-0.22, p<0.0001). The significant factors in multivariate analysis were age<45yrs, larger size (d>1cm), "wider than tall" shape, extrathyroid extension and mixed flow (internal and peripheral) (p<0.05, OR=0.406, 2.093, 0.461, 1.610, 1.322). Conclusions: Significant sonographic features of PTC nodules in preoperative high-frequency ultrasound are crucial for predicting CLNM.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Hypermethylation of the tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A and activating mutation of BRAF gene have been recently reported in thyroid cancers. To investigate the role of these two epigenetic and genetic alterations in thyroid tumor progression, methylation of RASSF1A and BRAF mutation were examined in thyroid tumors. Materials and Methods: During 2007 to 2017, 69 papillary carcinomas, 18 nodular hyperplasia, 3 follicular carcinomas, and 13 follicular adenomas were selected. The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) technique was used in detecting RASSF1A methylation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-stranded conformation polymorphism and sequencing were used for BRAF gene mutation study. Results: The hypermethylation of the RASSF1A gene was found in 84.6%, 100% and 57.9% of follicular adenomas, follicular carcinomas, and papillary carcinomas, respectively. Nodular hyperplasia showed a hypermethylation in 33.3%. The BRAF mutation at V600E was found in 60.7% of papillary carcinoma and 27.0% of nodular hyperplasia, but none of follicular neoplasms. The BRAF mutation was correlated with the lymph node metastasis and MACIS clinical stage. There is an inverse correlation between RASSF1A methylation and BRAF mutation in thyroid lesions. Conclusion: Epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A through aberrant methylation is considered to be an early step in thyroid tumorigenesis, and the BRAF mutation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of papillary carcinoma, providing a genetic marker.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.108-113
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• 2013

The study compared the cytological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in liquid-based preparations (LBPs) and conventional Pap (CP) smears from fine needle aspiration (FNA), and assessed the feasibility of LBP using the Cell Scan $1500^{TM}$ processor on thyroid FNA samples. Thyroid FNA samples were obtained from 883 consecutive patients. Each sample was divided into two and used for LBPs and CP smears. All were screened independently in a double-blind manner. From the 883 cases, 95 cases were diagnosed as PTC in one or both types of preparation (10.8%). PTC was diagnosed via CP smears in 83 cases (87.4%) and via LBPs in 70 cases (73.7%). However, there were differences in categorization between the paired preparations: Twelve (12) PTCs were misinterpreted in CP smears and 25 PTCs in LBPs. There was a significant discrepancy in the rate of detection of the diagnostic features, with LBPs having a lower detection rate. One (1) case (1.2%) of CP smears and 16 cases (22.9%) of LBPs were categorized as unsatisfactory/nondiagnostic in a total of the 95 PTCs. To conclude, the detection rate of the diagnostic features of PTC is lower in Cell Scan 1500TM samples than in CP smears. However, there are some cases in which a diagnosis of PTC is made in LBPs, but not in CP smears. Therefore, definitive cancer diagnosis in thyroid FNA preparations is likely to result from agreement between direct smears and Cell Scan 1500TM preparations.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2002

Background and Objectives: Recently the tenn 'papillary microcarcinoma' has been proposed to designate carcinoma of 10 mm or less in diameter. In some cases, cervical lymph node metastasis preceding the occurrence of the primary tumor may be the first and sole manifestation of the disease. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical features of cervical metastasis in papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid glands. Materials and Methods: 9 cases with papillary microcarcinoma with neck metastasis were analyzed retrospectively. 5 cases are men and 4 are women. All patients complained of painless, movable neck mass. The symptom had been present from 1 month to 36 months. We reviewed clinical history, imaging studies, the results of fine needle aspiration, the surgical method, the pathologic results. Results: In 9 cases, no abnormalities of the thyroid gland were shown by imaging studies and thyroid scan. 3 cases were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology. the others were not. Total thyroidectomy and neck dissection were performed in 9 cases and then pathology reports showed 2 case of multiple, 2 case of contralateral single and 5 cases of unilateral single thyroid microcarcinoma. They have no recurrence during follow-up period. Conclusions: Cervical metastasis from papillary microcarcinoma is variable clinical manifestation. The diagnosis of cervical metastasis from papillary microcarcinoma should be considered in patient with neck mass. We recommend total thyroidectomy with neck dissection and postoperative radioactive iodine ablation therapy in neck metastasis from papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.