nodules

摘要： BACKGROUND Several models are currently available for predicting the malignancy of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN),namely,the Pancreatic Surgery Consortium(PSC),the Japan Pancreas Society(JPS),the Johns Hopkins Hospital(JHH),and the Japan-Korea(JPN-KOR)models.However,a head-to-head comparison that shows which model is more accurate for this individualized prediction is lacking.AIM To perform a head-to-head comparison of the four models for predicting the malignancy of pancreatic IPMN.METHODS A total of 181 patients with IPMN who had undergone surgical resection were identified from a prospectively maintained database.The characteristics of IPMN in patients were recorded from endoscopic ultrasound imaging data and report archives.The performance of all four models was examined using Harrell’s concordance index(C-index),calibration plots,decision curve analyses,and diagnostic tests.RESULTS Of the 181 included patients,94 were categorized as having benign disease,and the remaining 87 were categorized as having malignant disease.The C-indexes were 0.842[95%confidence interval(CI):0.782-0.901],0.704(95%CI:0.626-0.782),0.754(95%CI:0.684-0.824),and 0.650(95%CI:0.483-0.817)for the PSC,JPS,JHH,and JPN-KOR models,respectively.Calibration plots showed that the PSC model had the least pronounced departure from ideal predictions.Of the remaining three models,the JPS and JHH models underestimated the probability of malignancy,while the JPN-KOR model overestimated the malignant potential of branch duct-IPMN.Decision curve analysis revealed that the PSC model resulted in a better clinical net benefit than the three other models.Diagnostic tests also showed a higher accuracy(0.801)for the PSC model.CONCLUSION The PSC model exhibited the best performance characteristics.Therefore,the PSC model should be considered the best tool for the individualized prediction of malignancy in patients with pancreatic IPMN.

摘要： Thyroid tumors include those that originate from follicular cells and those that arise from parafollicular cells (C cells). Differentiated thyroid cancer, which originates from follicular cells, includes papillary carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, oncocytic cell carcinoma (Hürthle), poorly differentiated carcinoma, and anaplastic carcinoma. The incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing significantly, with an estimated incidence in the United States of America of 53,990 cases by the year 2018. This neoplasm is listed as the most common endocrine tumor and represents approximately 3% of all malignant tumors in humans, with 75% of cases occurring in women, and two-thirds of cases occurring in people under 55 years. The increase in the prevalence/incidence of low-risk thyroid cancer over the last 10 to 20 years has required a re-appraisal of the standard one-size-fits-all approach to differentiated thyroid cancer. This adaptation to a more individualized management of the patient with thyroid cancer has led to a much more risk-adapted approach to the diagnosis, initial therapy, adjuvant therapy, and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. This paper with review the current understanding of the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and management of thyroid cancer centered on evidence-based and personalized medicine.

摘要： Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a simple predictor model to diagnose malignancy by using ultrasound features of thyroid nodules and the association with cytopathological diagnosis obtained by fine needle aspiration. Materials and Methods: The likelihood of malignancy from ultrasound features was assessed in thyroid nodules obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) according to cytopathological findings reported using Bethesda System. A score was developed depending on the presence of each ultrasound feature evaluated. Results: 429 nodules were assessed, 103 (24%) were malignant. The following ultrasound features were associated with malignancy, according to the logistic regression analysis and were assigned a score of 0, +1, +2 depending on the presence or absence of each one: hypoechogenicity, solid appearance, irregular margins, microcalcifications, absence of a halo, diameter of ≥10 mm and intranodular vascular flow. The area under the curve of the proposed model was 0.900, demonstrating its predictive capacity. 4 risk categories were stablished based on the score obtained. Malignant nodules scored higher than the benign nodules (7.24 ±1.87 vs. 3.74 ±1.83). Conclusions: The proposed predictive model demonstrated to be useful and easy to apply when stratifying thyroid nodule risk of malignancy using presented US features and applying the proposed risk categories to increase the accuracy at selecting nodules that need to be studied with FNA.

摘要： Background: Distinguishing tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from other causes of exudative effusion is often challenging. Delay in treatment initiation can occur while awaiting histo-microbiologic confirmation owing to the paucibacillary nature of the disease. Sago-like nodules are the most common visual finding on gross thoracoscopic appearance. The primary objective was to determine the diagnostic utility of the presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance in TPE to help justify early initiation of tuberculosis (TB) treatment based on their finding while awaiting final histo-microbiologic confirmation. Secondary objective was to study the correlation between the presence of sago-like nodules and the final histo-microbiologic findings in pleural biopsy specimens. Methods: This was a retrospective-descriptive study of all patients with exudative pleural effusion who underwent diagnostic medical thoracoscopy (MT) at Hamad General Hospital during an eight-year period (from January, 2008 to December, 2015). Results: The presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance of the pleural surface had a sensitivity of 58%, a specificity of 89% and a positive predictive value of 97% for TPE with a diagnostic accuracy of 62%. There is significant association between the presence of sago-like nodules and demonstration of granulomatous inflammation in pleural biopsy specimens (P = 0.000). There is no association between sago-like nodules and positive TB smear and culture in biopsy specimens. Conclusion: The presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance has a high specificity and positive predictive value for TPE and significantly correlates with the presence of granulomatous inflammation. Patients from TB prevalent areas with exudative pleural effusion and sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance may be commenced on TB chemotherapy while awaiting final histologic confirmation.

摘要： Background: Low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening reduces lung cancer mortality but costs are prohibitive for most healthcare budgets due to high false positive rates. An adjunctive test able to distinguish malignant from benign pulmonary nodules would be hugely beneficial. EarlyCDT-Lung measures serum autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens and has found clinical acceptance to aid early detection of lung cancer for high risk patients. However performance was optimized for screening. The construction of a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve would enable optimization of performance for alternative settings, including nodule malignancy. Methods: A Monte-Carlo search method was used to construct a ROC curve using a case-control cohort, enabling high and low specificity versions of EarlyCDT-Lung to be determined. These were used for a theoretical evaluation of a nodule cohort, and positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated under the assumption of independence of risk source. Patients or their nodules are typically classified into three risk groups: low (0% - 10%), intermediate (10% - 65%) and high (>65%) risk of malignancy. The predicted shift in risk group by application of the high and low specificity versions, along with the current commercial EarlyCDT-Lung, was then estimated. Results: The ROC curve, with an area under the curve of 0.743, was constructed. The high specificity (98%), low specificity (49%) and current commercial (91% specificity) versions of EarlyCDT-Lung re-classified 27%, 23% and 26% of intermediate nodules, respectively, to either a higher (10%, 8% and 10%) or lower (17%, 15% and 16%) risk group. Conclusion: A ROC curve was constructed to allow performance prediction of EarlyCDT-Lung at different specificities in the indeterminate nodule setting. This enabled risk re-classification of intermediate risk nodules, and could therefore facilitate alternative more appropriate intervention. We have shown how a multivariate biomarker test can add to the interpretation of pulmonary nodules and therefore aid patient management.

摘要： AIM To stratify the malignancy risks in thyroid nodules in a tertiary care referral center using the Bethesda system. METHODS From January, 2012 to December, 2014, a retrospective analysis was performed among 1188 patients(15-90 years) who had 1433 thyroid nodules and fine-needle aspiration at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Saudi Arabia. All thyroid cyto-pathological slides and ultra sound reports were reviewed and classified according to the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. Age, gender, cytological features and histological types of the thyroid cancer were collected from patients' medical chart and cytopathology reports. RESULTS There were 124 total cases of malignancy on resection, giving an overall surgical yield malignancy of 33.6%.Majority of the thyroid cancer nodules(n = 57, 46%) in Bethesda VI category followed by Bethesda IV(n = 25, 20.2%). Almost 40% of the cancer nodules in 31-45 age group in both sex. Papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) was the most common form of thyroid cancer among the study population(111, 89.6%) followed by 8.9% of follicular thyroid carcinoma(FTC), 0.8% of medullary carcinoma and 0.8% of anaplastic carcinoma. Among the Bethesda IV category 68% thyroid nodules were PTC and 32% FTC. CONCLUSION The malignancy values reported in our research were constant and comparable with the results of other published data with respect to the risk of malignancy. Patients with follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm and suspicious of malignancy categories, total thyroidectomy is indicted because of the substantial risk of malignancy.

摘要： In recent years, widespread use of mobile phones has led to a public debate about possible harmful effects on human health. A lot of researchers studied the possible effect of radiofrequency energy (RFE) emitted from cell phones on the human body. Up to our knowledge no one studied the effect of these waves on the thyroid gland by Ultrasonography (US). Our aim was to investigate the possible effects of EMR arising from cell phones on the thyroid gland using US. A prospective study was done on 180 participants, 110 females and 70 males, ranging in age from 15 to 65. A constructed questionnaire was distributed among them before performing US of the neck. Demographic data along with US findings were collected and statistically analyzed. A total of 46.7% of our participants had abnormal findings of the thyroid gland more in non smart phone users and more in females. The commonest abnormality was multinodular goiter (54%). Expanded researches are still needed to answer the question about the hazards of RFE on human health. All efforts should be made to encourage users of cellular phone to follow mobile device recommendations of manufacturers and avoid its possible hazards as possible.

摘要： Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis(XGC) is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis characterized by xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the gallbladder. Intramural accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages and acute and chronic inflammatory cells is the hallmark of the disease. The xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the gallbladder can be very severe and can spill over to the neighbouring structures like liver, bowel and stomach resulting in dense adhesions, perforation, abscess formation, fistulous communication with adjacent bowel. Striking gallbladder wall thickening and dense local adhesions can be easily mistaken for carcinoma of the gallbladder, both intraoperatively as well as on preoperative imaging. Besides, cases of concomitant gallbladder carcinoma complicating XGC have also been reported in literature. So, we have done a review of the imaging features of XGC in order to better understand the entity as well as to increase the diagnostic yield of the disease summarizing the characteristic imaging findings and associations of XGC. Among other findings, presence of intramural hypodense nodules is considered diagnostic of this entity. However, in some cases, an imaging diagnosis of XGC is virtually impossible. Fine needle aspiration cytology might be handy in such patients. A preoperative counselling should include possibility of differential diagnosis of gallbladder cancer in not so characteristic cases.

摘要： Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common autoimmune disease. Ocular manifestations of this autoimmune disease vary and are mainly keratoconjunctivitis sicca, episcleritis, scleritis and keratitis. Their appearance, as well as their severity are related to RA chronicity and resistance to therapy. The treatment consists of corticosteroids, NSAIDs and cytotoxic drugs, depending on the type of ocular manifestations and the patient’s response to treatment.