• 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.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.95-102
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• 2022

This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in the success rate of removal of residual thyroid tissue in patients with the same cutoff serum thyroglobulin (Tg) value-measured 2 weeks after thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW)-for different radioactive iodine (RAI) activities. We identified 132 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who were treated with total thyroidectomy and RAI therapy to evaluate the efficacy of three radioactivities of I-131: 1,110, 3,700, and 5,550 MBq. Serum Tg testing was performed 1 week before RAI treatment and 2 weeks after THW (pre-Tg); the cutoff pre-Tg level was below 10 ng/mL. Stimulated Tg levels were measured on the day of I-131 administration (off-Tg). After 6 months of treatment, we compared the groups for complete ablation, defined as no uptake on a diagnostic I-131 scan, stimulated Tg level of <1.0 ng/mL, and Tg antibody level of <100 ng/mL. Ninety-five patients (72.0%) achieved complete ablation, with 57.1% (8/14), 78.2% (68/87), and 61.3% (19/31) in the 1,110 MBq, 3,700 MBq, and 5,550 MBq groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the complete ablation rates between the three groups. In the multivariate analysis, the off-Tg level was a significant predictor of complete ablation. RAI therapy with low radioactivity (1,110 MBq) seemed sufficient for ablation in patients with papillary thyroid cancer with a pre-Tg level below 10 ng/mL. The off-Tg level is a promising and useful predictor of complete ablation after initial RAI therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 1998

We report a 37 year-old-female patient with papillary thyroid cancer treated by surgery who demonstrated residual thyroid and bilateral breast uptake on a diagnostic I-131 whole body scan. She had an extrathyroidal extension needing I-131 ablative therapy. Her galactorrhea was investigated and treated with low doses of bromocriptine prior to I-131 therapy. Her galactorrhea was due to the decreased secretion of PIF induced by empty sella.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.151-158
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• 1995

Anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid gland account for no more than 10% of thyroid cancer, but it shows extremely poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to review the outcome of patients with anaplastic carcinoma over the span of 5 years and to determine the patterns of clinical presentation, age, sex and other possible prognostic variables. We analyzed 30 cases of anaplastic carcinoma retrospectively from 1991 to 1995. There were 14 men and 16 women. There age ranged 33 to 75 years with a mean of 61.0 years. Sixteen patients presented with transformationqr of well differentiated carcinoma to anaplastic carcinoma, 1 with rapid in-crease in the size of long standing goiter, 8 with rapidly growing neck mass and 4 with meta static disease. Twenty-eight patients(93.3%) showed cervical lymphnode metastasis at presentation and twenty three patients(76.6%) showed laryngotracheal invasion. Nine patients (30.3%) showed distant metastasis. Treatment modalities included surgical resection, external irradiation, radioactive iodine and systemic chemotherapy. At decision making of treatment plan, we considered completeness of initial surgery, uptake rate of whole body radioactive io-dine scan, locoregional progression and distant metastasis. The median survival was 6.8 months and three cases survived beyond 12 months.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 1984

The effeciency of combined application of isotope scan and ultrasonography of thyroid was assessed in 91 patients with thyroid nodule. Malignancy rates were 35.5%, 18.8%, & 0% in solid, complex & cystic nodule group, respectively. No statistically significant co-relationship was found between isotope scan finding & ultrasonographic finding. Malignant nodules were found only in cold solid nodule group & cold complex nodule group, and rate of malignant nodule was different between them(45.8% in cold solid nodule group & 20.7% in cold complex nodule group). Difference between the rate of cystic change in benign & malignant nodule observed in our study(59.2% vs. 35.3%) was thought to explain at least partly the statistically different rate of malignant nodule in cold solid nodule & cold complex nodule group. No difference in the boundary condition, echogenicity & distribution of internal echo existed between benign nodule group &malignant nodule group.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2000

Purpose: We compared the first postoperative diagnostic and post-therapy scans of patients who received therapeutic doses of I-131, to investigate the difference in clinical outcomes between patients with concordant findings of diagnostic and post-therapy scans and patients with discrepant (more lesions in post-therapy scan) findings. Materials and Methods: The first postoperative diagnostic and post-therapy radioiodine scans of one hundred forty three patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma were reviewed. Diagnostic scans were obtained following ingestion of 185 MBq of I-131 and post-therapy scans were obtained after therapeutic dose of $3.7{\sim}9.3$ GBq of I-131. Successful ablation was defined as no radioiodine uptake on diagnostic radioiodine scan and normal range of serum thyroglobulin level (<10 ng/ml) during serum TSH elevation. Results: Discrepant scan findings were noted in 25 (17.5%) patients. Twenty-two patients (15.4%) showed more lesions in post-therapy scan and 3 patients (2.1%) showed stunning effect. Nine (64.3%) of 14 patients with distant metastasis revealed metastatic lesion(s) only on post-therapy scan. Stunning effect was considered as sublethal damage in 1 patient and treatment by a diagnostic dose in 2 patients. Ablation was achieved in 52.4% (75/143) of all patients. Ablation rate and mean cumulative radioiodine dose were not different statistically between concordant and discrepant groups. Conclusion: There were 17.5% difference between diagnostic and post-therapy scan findings when using 185 MBq of I-131 as a diagnostic dose. However, 64.3% of distant metastases were revealed only on post-therapy scan. Ablation rate and mean cumulative radioiodine dose were not different statistically between concordant and discrepant groups. The stunning effect was considered as not only sublethal damage but also treatment by a small diagnostic dose of radioiodine.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.991-998
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• 2009

Purpose : Thyroid hormone is essential for development of the brain in early life. Thyroid dysfunction is more common in the first 2-4 postnatal weeks of life in premature infants than in term infants. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and clinical course of thyroid dysfunction in prematurity. Methods : Premature infants admitted to and given neonatal screenings at Dankook University Hospital between April 1999 and March 2008 were included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed medical records and categorized subjects into six groups: normal, hypothyroidism, hyperthyrotropinemia, hypothyroxinemia, delayed onset of hypothyroidism, and delayed onset of hyperthyrotropinemia. Results : Among 599 subjects, 136 (23%) had initially abnormal thyroid function test (TFT); transient hypothyroxinemia was the most frequent condition (118, 20%). In addition, 8 (17%) of 46 subjects with initially normal TFT levels showed delayed onset of hyperthyrotropinemia with or without low free thyroxine ($fT_4$). Thyroxine was prescribed for 10 patients (1.7%) due to low $fT_4$ levels but was discontinued in 9 patients during follow-up. Thyroid scan confirmed ectopic thyroid in one patient. Conclusion : Thyroid dysfunction was frequently seen in premature infants, but most of the conditions were transient. In addition, some infants showed delayed TSH elevation on routine follow-up. Therefore, a recheck of the thyroid function of premature infants at 3-4 weeks is recommended, even if normal thyroid function is initially seen, especially in prematurity of less than 33 weeks of gestational age or birth weight of less than 2,500 grams.

• 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.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.105-116
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• 2011

In this study, we present the measurements of effective dose from CT of head & neck region. A series of dose measurements in anthropomorphic Rando phantom was conducted using a radio photoluminescent glass rod dosimeter to evaluate effective doses of organs of head and neck region from the patient. The experiments were performed with respect to four anatomic regions of head & neck: optic nerve, pons, cerebellum, and thyroid gland. The head & neck CT protocol was used in the single scan (Brain, 3D Facial, Temporal, Brain Angiography and 3D Cervical Spine) and the multiple scan (Brain+Brain Angiography, Brain+3D Facial, Brain+Temporal, Brain+3D Cervical spine, Brain+3D Facial+Temporal, Brain+3D Cervical Spine+Brain Angiography). The largest effective dose was measured at optic nerve in Brain CT and Brain Angiography. The largest effective dose was delivered to the thyroid grand in 3D faical CT and 3D cervical spine, and to the pons in Temporal CT. In multiple scans, the higher effective dose was measured in the thyroid grand in Brain+3D Facial, Brain+3D Cervical Spine, Brain+3D Facial+Temporal and Brain+3D Cervical Spine+Brain Angiography. In addition, the largest effective dose was delivered to the cerebellum in Brain CT+Brain Angiography CT and higher effective dose was delivered to the pons in Brain+Temporal CT. The results indicate that in multiple scan of Brain+3D Cervical Spine+Brain Angiography, effective dose was 2.52 mSv. This is significantly higher dose than the limitation of annual effective dose of 1 mSv. The effective dose to the optic nerve was 0.31 mSv in Brain CT, which shows a possibility of surpassing the limitation of 1 mSv by furthre examination. Therefore, special efforts should be made in clinical practice to reduce dose to the patients.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.301-306
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• 2008

Purpose: Recently, a number of patients needed total thyroidectomy and high dose radioiodine therapy (HD-RAI) get increased more. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether pathological staging (PS) and serum thyroglobulin (sTG) level could replace the diagnostic I-123 scan for the determination of therapeutic dose of HD-RAI in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: Fifty eight patients (M:F=13;45, age $44.5{\pm}11.5\;yrs$) who underwent total thyroidectomy and central or regional lymph node dissection due to differentiated thyroid cancer were enrolled. Diagnostic scan of I-123 and sTG assay were also performed on off state of thyroid hormone. The therapeutic doses of I-131 (TD) were determined by the extent of uptakes on diagnostic I-123 scan as a gold standard. PS was graded by the criteria recommended in 6th edition of AJCC cancer staging manual except consideration of age. For comparison of the determination of therapeutic doses, PS and sTG were compared with the results of I-123 scan. Results: All patients were underwent HD-RAI. Among them, five patients (8.6%) were treated with 100 mCi of I-131, fourty three (74.1%) with 150 mCi, six (10.3%) with 180 mCi, three (5.2%) with 200 mCi, and one (1.7%) with 250 mCi, respectively. On the assessment of PS, average TDs were $154{\pm}25\;mCi$ in stage I (n=9), $175{\pm}50\;mCi$ in stage II (n=4), $149{\pm}21\;mCi$ in stage III (n=38), and $161{\pm}20\;mCi$ in stage IV (n=7). The statistical significance was not shown between PS and TD (p=0.169). Among fifty two patients who had available sTG, 25 patients (48.1%) having below 2 ng/mL of sTG were treated with $149{\pm}26\;mCi$ of I-131, 9 patients (17.3%) having $2{\leq}\;sTG\;<5\;ng/mL$ with $156{\pm}17\;mCi$, 5 patients (9.6%) having $5{\leq}\;sTG\;<10\;ng/mL$ with $156{\pm}13\;mCi$, 7 patients (13.5%) having $10{\leq}sTG\;<50\;ng/mL$ with $147{\pm}24\;mCi$, and 6 patients (11.5%) having above 50 ng/mL with $175{\pm}42\;mCi$. The statistical significance between sTG level and TD (p=0.252) was not shown. Conclusion: In conclusion, PS and sTG could not replace the determination of TD using I-123 scan for first HD-RAI in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.