ObjectiveTo explore optimal current intensity for neural monitoring of vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve during the thyroid and parathyroid surgery, so that we can judge function, location, identify, and protect the nerve more effectively and more quickly. MethodA total of 100 patients who underwent thyroid or parathyroid operations by the same surgeon in West China Hospital, meanwhile accepted intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), and 186 nerves at risk were enrolled in this study. According to the standardized process of nerve monitoring, we stimulated the vagus nerve with the current strength of 1-5 mA, and respectively stimulated laryngeal recurrent nerve with 1-3 mA indirectly and directly, and recorded the amplitude of electromyographic signal, and changes of heart rate and blood pressure during the process. The purpose was seeking the optimum current strength for each stage of IONM. ResultsIn 186 vagus nerves being tested, when monitoring the vagus nerve outside the carotid sheath, 109 vagus nerves (58.6%) sent out signals and got stable electromyography and warning tone with 1 mA, 164 (88.2%) vagus nerves had signals with 2 mA, 177 (95.2%) vagus nerves had signals with 3 mA, 182 (97.8%) vagus nerves had signals with 5 mA. Before and after the vagus nerve stimulation, heart rate and blood pressure of patients had no significant change. When directly monitoring the vagus nerve with 1 mA, V1 signals had no response in 2 vagus nerves (1.1%), V2 signals had no response in 9 vagus nerves (4.8%). But if the current intensity of stimulation was 2 mA or 3 mA, all patients got stable electromyographic signals. When searching for the laryngeal recurrent nerve, 92 (49.5%) got signals with 1 mA, 171 (91.9%) got signals with 2 mA, 184 (98.9%) got signals with 3 mA. When identifying laryngeal recurrent nerve and others, if the intensity of current was more than 2 mA, the current might conduct around and produce illusion. However, if the intensity of stimulation current was 1 mA, there's no electromyographic signal when we put the probe onto the tissue close to the laryngeal recurrent nerve. During identification of branches of laryngeal recurrent nerve with current strength of 1 mA, each electromyographic signal could be obtained. The chief branch into the throat produced the highest amplitude. The esophagus and trachea branch emg amplitude value was similar, equalling to 1/3-1/4 of the amplitude value in chief branch. ConclusionsWe suggest using current intensity of 5 mA on the surface of the carotid sheath to monitor the vagus nerve indirectly and obtain V1 signal, as an alternative to opening the carotid sheath. If fail, dissecting the carotid sheath, and using current intensity of 3 mA to monitor the vagus nerve directly; 3 mA is the optimal current intensity to search for the laryngeal recurrent nerve, and 1 mA is the optimal current intensity to identify the laryngeal recurrent nerve and its branches of esophagus and trachea, blood vessels, and so on.
ObjectiveTo study the expressions of BRAF gene in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) >1 cm in diameter, and the invasiveness of PTMC and PTC. MethodsThe data of 275 patients with PTC received surgical treatment and with BRAF gene mutation results in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2011 September to 2013 September were retrospectively analyzed. According to the size of tumors, the patients were divided into three groups, was the diameter <1 cm group, 1 cm< diameter≤2 cm group, and diameter >2 cm group,respectively. The ratio of BRAF gene mutation, and the degree of risk of extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis were compared. ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that tumor size was not related with the age, gender, and BRAF gene mutation rate (P>0.05), while the tumor size was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), and the ratio of BRAF gene mutation was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size was associated with extrathyroidal extension (P=0.009) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000). ConclusionsBRAF gene mutation can increase the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis risk of PTC, and it is no significantly correlated with tumor size of PTC. The invasiveness of PTC increases with the increased of tumor size, but the PTMC of BRAF gene mutation positive is still require positive treatment.
Objective To explore the change of constitution in thyroid diseases of West China Hospital between 2000 and 2012， in order to provide clinical evidence. Methods Clinical data， including gender， age， and pathological diagnosis of patients with thyroid disease who underwent primary thyroid surgery in our hospital from 2000 to 2012 were collected retrospectively and analyzed statistically. Results A total of 9 642 patients were enrolled， including 1 893 male patients and 7 749 female patients. The ratio of male to female patients was 1 to 4.09. In male patients， the proportion of thyroid carcinoma were significantly higher than those of female group （P=0.02）；in male patients younger than 45 group， the proportion of thyroid carcinoma were significantly higher than those of female group （P＜0.01）. There was no statistical difference on the proportion between male and female patients older than 45 group （P=0.90）. Proportion of thyroid carcinoma， especially proportion of papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC） increased in general. Proportion of Hashimoto thyroiditis （HT） increased in general too. HT with thyroid carcinoma accounted for an increasing proportion of all patients with HT. Proportion of nodular goiter （NG） increased at first and then declined. Proportion of thyroid adenoma （TA） decreased on the whole. Conclusions Proportion of thyroid carcinoma， especially proportion of PTC increase in recent years on the whole in patients underwent surgery. All these changes need to be given sufficient attention.
Objective To report our experience in using The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology(TBSRTC), and to investigate the diagnostic value of the system based on the cytologic-histologic result. Methods Pathological data of 2 257 thyroid nodules classified by TBSRTC which were obtained from the Department of Pathology of West China Hospital between Jan.2010 to Dec.2012 were collected and analyzed, to investigate the diagnostic evaluation indicators, such as the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the system based on the cytologic-histologic result. Results Of the 2 257 thyroid nodules, 442 (19.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅠ, 1 184(52.4%) were diagnosed as categoryⅡ, 216(9.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅢ, 38(1.7%) were diagnosed as categoryⅣ, 172(7.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅤ, 205(9.1%) were diagnosed as categoryⅥ. Using TBSRTC categoryⅡas the boundary point of diagnosing benign and malignant diseases, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 93.7%(236/252), 86.6%(323/373), and 89.4%(559/625)respectively, while categoryⅢwas excluded from analysis. When including categoryⅢinto analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 94.3%(267/283), 74.9%(323/431), and 82.6%(590/714)respectively. Conclusion The validity of TBSRTC was high at our institution. TBSRTC has proven to be an accurate and reliable approach for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
ObjectiveTo investigate diagnosis, gene detection, and treatment principle of medullary thyroid carcinoma.Method The relevant literatures and guidelines about diagnosis and treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma were summarized and analyzed retrospectively. Resultsmedullary thyroid carcinoma was given priority to surgical treatment. hereditary medullary cancer could be prophylactic thyroidectomy by the RET gene test results. advanced progressive medullary thyroid carcinoma, could be treated by palliative surgery, external radiotherapy, or systemic treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor. ConclusionsPrognosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma is worse, and occurrence of early metastasis is easy. so the first operation should be thoroughgoing. and the operation timing of prophylactic total thyroidectomy for hereditary medullary cancer could be determined by the results of RET gene detection to achieving early cure.
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether strategic parathyroid autotransplantation can decrease the incidence of hypoparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsData were retrospectively collected from the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, who had undergone unilateral or bilateral central lymph node re-dissection in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2009 and October 2015. The patients were divided into transplantation group and non-transplantation group according to the history of strategic parathyroid autotransplantation in the primary surgery. Data concerning patient demographics (age, sex, comorbidities, the leval of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone, previous surgical manners and complications before reoperation), surgical manners of reoperation, and postoperative factors (laboratory examination and postoperative complications) were collected. ResultsA total of 74 patients, 35 in the transplantation group and 39 in the non-transplantation group, were included in the study. Significantly higher levels of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone were observed in the transplantation group than in the non-transplantation group on one day after surgery (P < 0.05). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury newly occurred in 2 patients in the transplantation group and 5 patients in the non-transplantation group, respectively (5.7% vs. 12.8%, P > 0.05). Transient hypoparathyroidism was documented in 4 patients in the transplantation group and in 12 patients in the non-transplantation group. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was documented in 1 patient in the transplantation group and in 4 patients in the non-transplantation group. The incidence of hypoparathyroidism was significantly lower in the transplantation group compared with the non-transplantation group (5 vs. 16, P < 0.05). The mean number of central lymph node identified pathologically was significantly more in the transplantation group (2.1±1.3 vs. 1.4±0.7, P < 0.05). ConclusionStrategic parathyroid autotransplantation can effectively decrease the incidence of hyperparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, which greatly improves the surgical safety and thoroughness.
Objective The present study is to compare the quality of life and anxiety of patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma who received different managements to guide clinical therapy and nursing. Methods Thiswas a cohort study. Patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma were divided into observation group (puncture confirmed only) and surgery group (confirmed and surgery) according to their wishes, and patients’ survival quality and state of anxiety were compared by using Short-Form 36 Health Survey Scale (SF-36) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) between the 2 groups during the follow up period. Results There was no significant difference in physical component summary (PCS) score between the 2 groups and different observation time points (P>0.05). The mental component summary (MCS) scores and SF-36 scores of the observation group and the surgery group were different (P<0.05), and the MCS scores and SF-36 scores were different at different time points (P<0.05). The HAMA scores of patients in the observation group and the surgery group were different (P<0.001), and the change of HAMA scores in the observation group and the surgery group were different (P=0.004), but the HAMA scores at different time points were similar (P=0.152). Conclusion Surgery can effectively reduce the anxiety and improve the MCS score and quality of life.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safty of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and parathyroid if Pseudomonas aeruginosa injection (PAI) is used after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection (CND).MethodsFrom Mar. 2016 to Oct. 2017, we recruited 113 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) who accepted total thyroidectomy and CND. During operation, 1 mL of PAI was applied in 58 patients (local spray group) and 55 not (control group). The hoarseness, hypoparathyroidism, chylous fistula, drainage volume, hospital stay, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe two groups embraced few difference in age, gender, BMI, tumor site, the diameter of tumor and the number of metastatic and the harvested lymph nodes (P>0.05). There were nobody who has suffered in hoarseness and permanent hypoparathyroidism in both groups at any time after operation. There was no significant differences of complication between the two groups. The drainage volume at 24 h after operation in the local spraying group was more than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.023). There were 2 patients had chylous fistula after surgery in the control group but none in the local spray group. The total volumes of drainage, incidence of fever and incision infection, the mean stay in the hospital, and the postoperative pain score had no statistic significance in the both groups.ConclusionAfter total thyroidectomy and CND, local spraying of PAI in the wound cavity is safe and will not damage the recurrent laryngeal nerve.