• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2017

Anaplastic transformation of differentiated thyroid cancer at distant metastatic sites is extremely rare and has a poor prognosis. It usually occurs in the thyroid gland or cervical lymph nodes. Here we report a case of anaplastic transformation arising at multiple distant metastatic sites including the lung, liver, adrenal gland, bone, and lymph nodes in a patient 3 years after total thyroidectomy for follicular thyroid cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.188-191
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• 2009

The presence of distant metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma decreases the 10-year survival rates of patients by 50%. This is a report of a 61-year-old female with follicular thyroid carcinoma who presented initially with low back pain. 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose whole-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) demonstrated a hypointensity lesion in the left thyroid gland with malignant uptake in L1 vertebra and magnetic resonance images revealed paravertebral and epidural extension of mass in L1 vertebra. After thyroidectomy, histopathological study showed a follicular carcinoma. We performed L1 total en bloc spondylectomy with expandable cage for long-term local control. The technical details of total en bloc spondylectomy in follicular carcinoma are described herein.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1995

Traditionally, wound drainage after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent airway obstruction due to accumulation of hematoma or seroma within the paratracheal dead space. Recently, however, the routine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has become a matter of controversy. To determine whether the rouine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery is warranted, a prospective study on the complications after various types of thyroid or parathyroid surgery without wound drains was conducted. Three hunded sixty-six consecutive patients underwent thyroid or parathyorid surgeries by one surgeon from January through December 1994 were included in this study. Of these, only 38 patients (10.4%) required the wound drains. Indications for drainage included the patients with a large dead space(n=9) or wet operative field at the conclusion of surgery(n=11), and patients with radical neck disection(n=18). In the remaining 328 patients(89.6%), the wounds were closed without drains after thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy(n=226), bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy(n=21), total or near-total thyroidectomy(n=62), isthmusectomy(n=9) and parathyroid surgery(n=l0). Histologic findings revealed benign tumors in 214(65.2%), carcinoma in 89(27.1%), Graves' disease in 15(4.7%), hyperparathyroidism in 7(2.1%) and parathyroid cyst in 3(0.9%). Among the 328 patients without drain used, wound related complications were seen in only 15 patients(4.6%); 12 patients with seroma and 3 patients with hematoma. All but one complications could be controlled by two or three aspirations, and the remaining one patient required re-exploration. There were no instances of laryngeal nerve palsy or wound infection. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 2.8 days with a range of 1 to 11 days. These results support the routine use of drains is not warranted in most thyroid or parathyroid surgeries.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 1995

The authors present 15 cases in which the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was established pathologically among 300 cases of Graves' disease diagnosed clinically at Chosun University Hospital, from January 1982 to December 1994. These cases were analyzed in order to establish guidelines for prophylactic node dissection as part of the initial management of thyroid cancer in patients with Graves' disease. The analysis revealed the following: 1) The average age of the 15 patients was 34.5 years and the male: female ratio was 1 : 4.0. 2) In 8 of the 15 cases(53.5 %) the occult thyroid carcinoma measured less than 1.5cm. 3) The degree of invasivensess manifested in these fifteen cases may be summarized as follows: In Group 1(6 cases) there was absence of microscopic capsular invasion and of lymphnode metastasis. In Group 11(4 cases) threre was microscopic capsular invasion but absence of lymphnode metastasis: In Group III(4 cases) there was either extrathyrodal soft tissue invasion or regional lymph node metastasis: and in Group IV(1 case) there was lymphnode invasion and distant metastasis. 4) Thirteen patients underwent either subtotal or near total thyroidectomy, and 2 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Seven patients underwent some type of neck dissection, as follows: anterior compartment dissection in one of the cases in Group I; functional neck dissection in two cases and jugular node dissection in one case in Group II; and anterior compartment dissection in one case and modified radical neck dissection in two cases in Group III. 5) The author propose the following guidelines for prophylactic initial node dissection when a unexpected coexisting thyroid carcinoma in encountered on the frozen section during the surgical management of Graves' disease; Group I cases do not require initial neck dissection in group II, anterior compartment dissection in sufficient. In Group III, either jugular node dissection or functional neck dissection should be performed, and followed by postoperative Ra$^{131}$I therapy, Group IV requires Ra$^{131}$I therapy with or without modified radical neck dissection depending in the patient's condition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1267-1272
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• 2012

Background and Objective: The optimal resection extent for clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The objective was to investigate risk factors associated with occult contralateral carcinoma, and put emphasis on the predictive value of preoperative BRAF mutation. Materials and Methods: 100 clinically unilateral PTMC patients all newly diagnosed, previously untreated were analyzed in a prospective cohort study. We assessed the T1799A BRAF mutation status in FNAB specimens obtained from all PTMC patients before undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) and central lymph node dissection (CLND) for PTMC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to reveal the incidence of contralateral occult cancer, difference of risk factors and predictive value, with respect to the following variables: preoperative BRAF mutation status, age, gender, tumor size, multifocality of primary tumor, capsular invasion, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Results: 20 of 100 patients (20%) had occult contralateral lobe carcinoma. On multi-variate analysis, preoperative BRAF mutation (p = 0.030, OR = 3.439) and multifocality of the primary tumor (p = 0.004, OR = 9.570) were independent predictive factors for occult contralateral PTMC presence. However, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinomas and age, gender, tumor size, capsular invasion, Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: Total thyroidectomy, including the contralateral lobe, should be considered for the treatment of unilateral PTMC if preoperative BRAF mutation is positive and/or if the observed lesion presents as a multifocal tumor in the unilateral lobe.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6443-6447
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• 2014

Background: To determine the predictive value of the baseline stimulated thyroglobulin (STg) level for ablation outcome in patients undergoing adjuvant remnant radioiodine ablation (RRA) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study accrued 64 patients (23 male and 41 female; mean age of $40{\pm}14$ years) who had total thyroidectomy followed by RRA for DTC from January 2012 till April 2014. Patients with positive anti-Tg antibodies and distant metastasis on post-ablative whole body iodine scans (TWBIS) were excluded. Baseline STg was used to predict successful ablation (follow-up STg <2 ng/ml, negative diagnostic WBIS and negative ultrasound neck) at 7-12 months follow-up. Results: Overall, successful ablation was noted in 37 (58%) patients while ablation failed in 27 (42%). Using the ROC curve, a cut-off level of baseline STg level of ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ was found to be most sensitive and specific for predicting successful ablation. Successful ablation was thus noted in 25/28 (89%) of patients with baseline STg ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ and 12/36 (33%) patients with baseline STg >14.5 ng/ml ((p value <0.05). Age >40 years, female gender, PTS >2 cm, papillary histopathology, positive cervical nodes and positive TWBIS were significant predictors of ablation failure. Conclusions: We conclude that in patients with total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation for DTC, the baseline STg level is a good predictor of successful ablation based on a stringent triple negative criteria (i.e. follow-up STg < 2 ng/ml, a negative DWBIS and a negative US neck).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.707-711
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• 2013

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a background of benign disease. Method: A total of 709 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma undergoing surgical resection were analyzed retrospectively. In 147 patients who underwent surgery for benign thyroid disease, incidental PTC (IPC group) were identified by intraoperative or postoperative pathological examination of surgical specimens but were not detected by preoperative imaging studies. In the other group, according to the pathological examination with or without co-existing benign thyroid disease, 253 cases were clarified as concomitant PTC and 309 cases were clarified as dominant PTC. Results: Incidental PTC was more common in women, about 85.7%, the mean age was $47.6{\pm}11.3$ years old. Average tumor diameter was $4.4{\pm}2.2$ mm, multiple lesions accounted for 12.9% (19/147), and the cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 6.1% (9/147). After radical resection 8 cases recurred, the median time of recurrence was about 12 months (0.5 to 162), there was no tumor-related death. The tumor-free survival rates were 97.3%, 95.9%, 91.5%, and 79.3% in 1, 5, 10 and 14 year respectively. Conclusion: Incidental PTC with a background of benign lesions is common, and the generally good prognosis can be attributed to tumor early detection and early treatment. On the intraoperative finding of incidental PTC, lobectomy (unilateral) or total thyroidectomy (bilateral) should be the first choice, but with a postoperative pathologic finding of incidental PTC, further treatment, such as completion thyroidectomy or immediate lymph dissection is not necessary. Central lymph node dissection is also not needed unless lymphadenectasis is present.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2000

Thyroid carcinoma is relatively rare in children. Eight cases of thyroid carcinoma were among 18 patients operated upon for thyroid tumors at Pediatric Surgery, Asan Medical Center in 11 years' period between 1989 and 2000. Five patients were boys and three were girls. The age distribution ranged from 10 to 14 years with a median age of 11.6 years. We studied clinical presentations, diagnostic workup, pathology, treatment, and follow-up (recurrence, mortality, and survival). All patients presented with anterior neck mass but one with multiple cervical lymph nodes enlargement. Familial history of thyroid cancer was seen in one case. All patients had a cold nodule by 1-131 thyroid scan. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy was performed in all patients. The right lobe was involved in four patients and the left lobe in two. Two had both lobes involvement. Pathologically, six cases were papillary carcinoma, one was follicular carcinoma, and one insular carcinoma. Four patients underwent unilateral lobectomy and isthmectomy. Total thyroidectomy was performed in three patients. The insular carcinoma case was preoperatively diagnosed as follicular neoplasm by FNA. After confirmation of the pathology by initial right thyroid lobectomy, total thyroidectomy was subsequently done. Cervical lymph node metastases were presented in three cases (37.5%), and lung metastasis in two cases (25%). Three patients received postoperative I-131 ablation. After a median follow-up of 53 months, all patients were alive without evidence of recurrence. In conclusion, thyroid carcinoma in children is frequently associated with lymph nodes involvement and distant metastasis, however, the prognosis is relatively good.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 1997

The papillary carcinoma is the most common malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland and the prognosis is better than anyother type of thyroid carcinoma. However, the thyroid is closed to the important organs such as esophagus, trachea and larynx, there are some possibilities to invade these organs. In case of advanced disease, not only surrounding structures but also mediastinum and cervical lymphatic chain can be involved or distant metastasis develops frequently. Therefore in these cases the prognosis is worse and the rate of inoperable case is more than those of non-metastatic group. Generally, the treatment modality for papillary thyroid carcinoma consists of surgery, postoperative thyroid hormone and radioiodine therapy. If the tumor invades surrounding structures, cervical lymph node or mediastinum, total thyroidectomy and wide excision of tumor invaded area including mediastinal dissection and neck dissection is necessary. Recently, the authors have experienced a case of locally invasive and recurred papillary thyroid carcinoma without treatment for 7 years. The patient was performed previously thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy 13 years ago. We had determinded surgical therapy for this patient and performed mass excision with overlying skin, completion total thyroidectomy, right type I modified radical neck dissection, left lateral neck dissection, thoracotomy with supramediastinal dissection, shaving of diffusely involved trachea and skin defect reconstruction with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. After operation 2 cycles of radioiodine therapy were taken. Now the patient is following up at the outpatient base and no evidence of disease state for postoperative 16 months. So we report on this case with a brief review of literature.