Objective To investigate the expression of c-met in tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to compare it with other types of thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid tissue. Methods The expressions of c-met in 60 cases of thyroid specimens were tested by immunohistochemical staining. Results The levels of expressed c-met in tall cell variant specimens were significantly higher than those in other types of papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid tissue. c-met expressions were significantly different in the following pairs of types: tall cell variant vs common papillary carcinoma of thyroid (P=0.000 1), tall cell variant vs follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (P=0.000 1), and tall cell variant vs benign thyroid tissue (P=0.000 1). In addition, for all types of papillary carcinomas evaluated, c-met expression was significantly higher in specimens with extracapsular spread (P=0.010 0) and skeletal muscle invasion (P=0.020 0). Conclusion The high expression of c-met is a significant marker for tall cell variant papillary carcinoma of thyroid and its invasive behavior. This finding may explain the unusually aggressive behavior of this tumor and suggest a role for c-met in the early identification of patients with tall cell variant thyroid carcinoma.
Objective The aim of this study is to review the association between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Method The relevant literatures about lncRNA associated with PTC were retrospectively analyzed and summarized. Results The expression levels of noncoding RNA associated with MAP kinase pathway and growth arrest (NAMA), PTC susceptibility candidate 3 (PTCSC3), BRAF activated non-coding RNA (BANCR), maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), NONHSAT037832, and GAS8-AS1 in PTC tissues were significantly lower than those in non-thyroid carcinoma tissues. The expression levels of ENST00000537266, ENST00000426615, XLOC051122, XLOC006074, HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL), and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in PTC tissues were upregulated in PTC tissues, comparing with the non-thyroid carcinoma tissues. These lncRNAs were possibly involved in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of PTC. Conclusion LncRNAs may provide new insights into the molecular mechanism and gene-targeted therapy of PTC and become new molecular marker for the diagnosis of PTC.
Objective To summarize the research progress on diagnostic criteria of lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and the indication and scope of lateral cervical lymph node dissection (LCLND). Method By searching PubMed and CNKI databases, the related guidelines and literature about the diagnosis and treatment of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in MTC in recent years were obtained and reviewed. Results The metastatic rate of lateral cervical lymph nodes in MTC patients was high. The indication of LCLND was both consensus and controversy. The LCLND of MTC was also controversial, and the focus of controversy mainly focused on the survival rate, recurrence rate, distant metastasis and postoperative complications of patients receiving prophylactic LCLND. Different imaging methods had their own advantages and disadvantages in diagnosing lymph node metastasis of MTC. Nuclear medicine was effective but expensive. Fine needle puncture was also an effective method for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of MTC. At present, calcitonin level, tumor size and lymph node metastasis were still important indicators for evaluating MTC for prophylactic LCLND, but the application of related indications had not been unified. Many scholars recommended comprehensive consideration of various indicators to evaluate whether MTC carried out preventive LCLND. Conclusions The LCLND of MTC needs to be further explored and standardized on the basis of the existing consensus. The focus of prophylactic LCLND should be to improve the survival rate of patients while reducing complications as much as possible.
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 investigate the expression level and methylation level of micro RNA-34b（miR-34b） gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）， and to analyze the relationship between methylation and clinicopathological characters of PTC. Methods PTC tissues and tumor adjacent tissues were collected from 25 patients with PTC who underwent operation in Huai’an First People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Sep. 2008 to Oct. 2010. Expression of miR-34b gene and level of methylation in gene promoter were detected by real time PCR and methylation-specific PCR in the 2 kinds of tissues， respectively. Results The expression value of miR-34b mRNA in PTC tissues was 0.85±0.05， which was significantly lower than those of tumor adjacent tissues （1.62±0.09）， P=0.030. There were methylation in 18 （72%，18/25） PTC tissues， and 10 （40%，10/25） in tumor adjacent tissues， and the ratio of methylation was higher in PTC tissues （P=0.021）. In PTC tissues， methylation was not related to age， gender， tumor size， TNM stage， and invasion of the capsule （P＞0.05）， but was related to lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）. Ratio of methylation in patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than those of patients with no lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Methylation of miR-34b gene promoter is one of the reasons for inactivation of PTC， and it may be related to the development and metastasis of PTC， which needs to be further investigated.
Objective To explore the manifestations and features of multi-slice spiral CT （MSCT） in the diagnosisof papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）. Methods Preoperative MSCT data of 35 cases of PTC proved by operation and pathology in our hospital form May. to Jun. in 2013 were observed retrospectively， to analyze the manifestations and characteristics of MSCT for it. Results Of 35 patients with PTC， MSCT totally showed 48 lesions， 68.6% （24/35） of patients with single lesion， 31.4% （11/35） of patients with 2-3 lesions， and 62.9% （22/35） of patients with lymph node metastasis. Of the 48 lesions， 29.2% （14/48） of lesions located in the left lobe， 70.8% （34/48） of lesions located in the right lobe；the lesions’ maximum diameter were 0.4-5.8cm， with the average maximum diameter of 1.3cm. There were 39.6% （19/48） of lesions with uneven density， 25.0% （12/48） of lesions with irregular shape， 47.9% （23/48） of lesions with blurred edges， 18.8% （9/48） of lesions had papillary enhanced tumor nodules， 10.4% （5/48） of lesions had peritumoral incomplete enhanced ring sign， 22.9% （11/48） of lesions invaded surrounding tissue or organs. There were 35.4% （17/48） of lesions had calcification， in which 76.4% （13/17） of lesions were fine granular calcification， 11.8% （2/17） of lesions were mixed calcification， and 11.8% （2/17） of lesions were coarse calcification. Conclusion MSCT manifestations of PTC have certain characteristics， which can provide imaging basis for clinical treatment options.
We report a 50-year-old man with mediastinal tumor. The patient received the thoracoscopic resection for mediastinal tumor with the operative time of 1 h and intraoperative blood loss of 10 mL. The final diagnosis after surgical excision was an ectopic papillary thyroid carcinoma. The patient recovered well without surgery-related complications, and was discharged on the 2nd day after the operation. No recurrence was found during the follow-up. We also reviewed relevant literature to explore the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of ectopic thyroid carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo analysis the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). MethodsA retrospective study was made in consecutive patients with PHPT who performed operation and had integral data between January 2004 to December 2012 in West China Hospital. ResultsThe 136 cases were composed of 52 cases (38.23%) bone types, 17 cases (12.50%) nephrocalcinosis, 7 cases (5.15%) skeletal and renal involvements, 24 cases (17.65%) asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, and 36 cases (26.47%) combined with other clinical symptoms. The preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were (106.20±88.88) pmol/L (6.91-390 pmol/L) and serum calcium were (3.12±0.66) mmol/L (2.15-5.77 mmol/L). The coincidence rate between the examinations preoperation and pathology:B type ultrasound was 75.00%, 99Tcm-MIBI scan was 85.29%, ultrasound and 99Tcm-MIBI combined with computerized tomography (CT) scan was 86.76%. Pathology presentation:129 patients (94.85%) were benign lesions, 7 cases (5.15%) were parathyroid carcinoma. Of the 129 patients, 114 cases (95.80%) were single parathyroid adenoma, 5 cases (4.20%) were multiple parathyroid adenoma or combined parathyroid hyperplasia, 10 cases (7.75%) were parathyroid hyperplasia. Of the patients, the PTH level decreased to below normal upper limit within 3 days after surgery in 124 cases (91.18%). One hundred and twenty-four cases (91.18%) were followed-up. The follow-up time was 6-112 months, a median follow-up time was 49 months. Twelve patients (8.82%) were lost to follow-up, 2 patients (1.47%) with carcinoma recurrence, the rest patients without recurrence and metastasis. Three patients (2.20%) with parathyroid carcinoma died. Of the 3 patients, 2 died of systemic metastasis of parathyroid carcinoma in 18 and 23 months after surgery, 1 died of cardiovascular accident in 19 months after surgery. ConclusionSurgical excision of the lesion parathyroid tissue is the most effective treatment for PHPT.
ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
Objective To investigate the value of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibition therapy in postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Methods One hundred and six patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total or near-total thyroidectomy were divided into two groups: TSH inhibition therapy group and thyroid hormone replacement therapy group. The non-recurrence and (or) non-metastasis rate in two groups was analyzed retrospectively by Wilcoxon statistical analysis. Results The non-recurrence and (or) non-metastasis rate of 3-， 5- and 10-year in TSH inhibition therapy group were 98.31%， 92.41% and 75.45% respectively， and were higher than those (93.57%， 84.18% and 52.06% respectively) in thyroid hormone replacement therapy group （P=0.046 5）. Conclusion TSH inhibition therapy after total or near-total thyroidectomy may be an essential treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.