Impact of total thyroidectomy on quality of life at 6 months: the prospective ThyrQoL multicentre trial

OBJECTIVE

This study is to determine the impact of complications after total thyroidectomy on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and to identify significant predictive factors of HR-QoL changes. HR-QoL is usually impaired in patients with thyroid diseases compared to the general population. Thyroidectomy is largely performed in the case of benign thyroid benign and can be associated with long-term complications (vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism).

DESIGN

The prospective ThyrQoL multicenter trial (NCT02167529) included 800 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant non-extensive disease in seven French referral hospitals between 2014 and 2016.

METHODS

HR-QoL was assessed using the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) self-questionnaire with a 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 months after surgery (P < 0.0001). Postoperative complications were associated with a non-significant impairment of HR-QoL. In multivariable analysis, Graves' disease was associated with a significant improvement of HR-QoL (OR = 2.39 [1.49; 3.84]) and thyroid malignant disease with an impairment of HR-QoL (OR = 1.44 [0.99; 2.08]) after thyroidectomy.

CONCLUSION

We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 months after total thyroid surgery for benign thyroid disease.

TERT promoter mutations identify a high-risk group in metastasis-free advanced thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

TERT promoter mutations are associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics in thyroid carcinomas and considered as a major indicator of poor outcomes. Nevertheless, most studies have pooled heterogeneous types of thyroid carcinomas and have been conducted retrospectively. We investigated the association between TERT promoter mutations and recurrence in a prospective series of 173 intermediate- to high-risk patients with thyroid cancer.

PATIENTS

Patients referred for radioiodine treatment after thyroidectomy for intermediate- to high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma were included in a prospective observational study and tested for TERT promoter, BRAF, and RAS mutations of their primary tumours. We analysed the relationship between TERT promoter mutations and outcomes.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TERT promoter mutations was 20.2% (35/173) in the total population. It was significantly higher in tumours harbouring aggressive histological features (poorly differentiated carcinoma, tall cell variant of papillary cancer or widely invasive follicular cancer) than in non-aggressive tumours: 32.7% (16/49) versus 15.3% (19/124; p = 0.020). TERT promoter mutations were also strongly associated with age ≥45 years (p = 0.005), pT4 stage (p = 0.015), metastatic disease (p = 0.014), and extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.002). TERT promoter mutations were associated with poor outcomes in the total population (p < 0.001) but not in the subgroup of non-metastatic patients (p = 0.051). However, they were associated with a worse outcome in patients both free of metastases and devoid of aggressive histological features. Neither BRAF nor RAS mutations were associated with event-free survival in non-metastatic patients.

CONCLUSION

Although their prognostic value does not seem to overcome that of histology, TERT promoter mutations may help to better define the prognosis of localized thyroid cancer patients without aggressive histology.

Health Care Institutions Volume Is Significantly Associated with Postoperative Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery

PURPOSE

The volume of bariatric surgery has significantly increased over the past decade with concomitant postoperative outcomes improvement. The goal of this nationwide study was to estimate the volume-outcome relationship in bariatric surgery at the hospital level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis of all patients who underwent bariatric surgery procedure in France from January 2011 to December 2014 was designed. Volume-outcome relationship was analyzed using generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

We identified 184,332 inpatient stays for bariatric surgical procedures performed in 606 hospitals. Health care institutions performing more than 200 bariatric cases per year were significantly associated with shorter average length of stay (p < 0.001) and less frequent need for intensive or critical care unit (p = 0.003) during the index stay in comparison with lower volume institutions. Reoperations rate increased from 3.1% [95% CI, 2.8-3.3] (n = 5627) at 1 month to 4.9% [4.6-5.2] at 3 months and 8.2% [7.8-8.7] at 6 months. The risk of reoperation after gastric bypass was 1.37 times less frequent in higher volume institutions (≥ 200 inpatient stays per year, p = 0.003), while it was 1.26 times more frequent after gastric banding in higher volume institutions (p = 0.057) and was unaltered regarding sleeve gastrectomy (p = 0.819).

CONCLUSION

This study showed for the first time in bariatric surgery that reoperation rate after gastric bypass or sleeve significantly increased at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Health care institutions performing more than 200 bariatric cases per year were significantly associated with improved postoperative outcomes and less frequent need for reoperation.

[DICER1 mutated, solid/trabecular thyroid papillary carcinoma in an 11-year-old child]

We report the case of an 11-year-old patient diagnosed with a solid variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer, representing 80-90% of all newly diagnosed thyroid cancers. Among the many variants described, solid/trabecular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare entity and account for 3% of thyroid cancers. It is more common in children and young adults, and it is seen in higher proportion in post radiation papillary thyroid carcinoma cases. Histologically, solid variant papillary carcinoma is characterized by a predominantly solid, trabecular or insular growth pattern, and the presence of cytological features typical of PTC. Its main differential diagnosis is poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. It has a less favorable prognosis than the classical papillary type, with a higher risk of distant metastasis, extrathyroidal extension and lympho-vascular invasion. It is associated with a slightly lower long-term survival in adult cases, but not in children. The management of solid variant PTC includes surgery, associated or not with postoperative radioiodine ablation, according to the aggressiveness criteria. Our patient had a DICER1 somatic mutation. Carriers of germline DICER1 mutations are predisposed to a rare cancer syndrome, the DICER1 syndrome, with a higher risk of numerous tumors and infrequently differentiated thyroid carcinomas.

Correction to: Does Surgery Without Lugol's Solution Pretreatment for Graves' Disease Increase Surgical Morbidity?

In the original article, Mathieu Bonal's last name was spelled incorrectly. It is correct as reflected here. The original article has also been updated.

Does intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent nerves have an impact on the postoperative palsy rate? Results of a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND

The impact of intraoperative neuromonitoring on recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy remains debated. Our aim was to evaluate the potential protective effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring on recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multicenter French national study. The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring was left at the surgeons' choice. Postoperative laryngoscopy was performed systematically at day 1 to 2 after operation and at 6 months in case of postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Univariate and multivariate analyses and propensity score (sensitivity analysis) were performed to compare recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rates between patients operated with or without intraoperative neuromonitoring.

RESULTS

Among 1,328 patients included (females 79.9%, median age 51.2 years, median body mass index 25.6 kg/m²), 807 (60.8%) underwent intraoperative neuromonitoring. Postoperative abnormal vocal cord mobility was diagnosed in 131 patients (9.92%), including 69 (8.6%) and 62 (12.1%) in the intraoperative neuromonitoring and nonintraoperative neuromonitoring groups, respectively. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was associated with a lesser rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in univariate analysis (odds ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval, 0.47; 0.98, P = .04) but not in multivariate analysis (oddsratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval, 0.47; 1.17, P = .19), or when using a propensity score (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval, 0.53; 1.07, P = .11). There was no difference in the rates of definitive recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (0.8% and 1.3% in intraoperative neuromonitoring and non-intraoperative neuromonitoring groups respectively, P = .39). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of intraoperative neuromonitoring for detecting abnormal postoperative vocal cord mobility were 29%, 98%, 61%, and 94%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring does not decrease postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate. Due to its high specificity, however, intraoperative neuromonitoring is useful to predict normal vocal cord mobility. From the CHU de Nantes,^a Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Nantes, France; CHU Lille, Université de Lille,^b Chirurgie Générale et Endocrinienne, Lille, France; CHU Nancy-Hôpital de Brabois,^c Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Biliaire, et Endocrinienne, Nancy, France; CHU Angers,^d Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Angers, France; CHU de Toulouse-Hôpital Larrey,^e Chirurgie Thoracique, Pôle Voies Respiratoires, Toulouse; CHU Saint-Etienne-Hôpital Nord,^f ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale et Plastique, Saint-Etienne, France; CHU de Limoges-Hôpital Dupuytren,^g Chirurgie Digestive, Générale et Endocrinienne, Limoges, France; CHU de Besançon-Hôpital Jean Minjoz,^h Chirurgie Digestive, Besançon, France; Centre Hospitalier du Mans,ⁱ Service ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Le Mans, France; Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud,^j Chirurgie Générale, Endocrinienne, Digestive et Thoracique, Pierre Bénite, France; AP-HM-Hôpital de La Conception,^k Chirurgie Générale, Marseille, France; CHU de Rennes-Hôpital Pontchaillou,^l Service ORL et Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Rennes, France; CHU de Caen,^m ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Caen, France; CHU d'Angers,ⁿ ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Angers, France; CHU de Nantes,^o Service ORL, Nantes, France; AP HP URCEco île-de-France,^p hôpital de l'Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France; DRCI, département Promotion,^q Nantes, France.

Predicting thyroid nodule malignancy at several prevalence values with a combined Bethesda-molecular test

Investigation of thyroid nodules using fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) gives indeterminate results in up to 30% of samples using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). We present a combined Bethesda-molecular predictor of nodule malignancy to improve the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules. To detect a molecular signature of thyroid nodule malignancy, a molecular test was performed on FNACs from 128 thyroid nodules from prospectively included patients, collected in a tertiary center. The test relied on a transcriptomic array of 20 genes selected from a previous study. An optimal set of seven genes was identified using a logistic regression model. Comparison between the combined predictor (TBSRTC + molecular) and TBSRTC alone used the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Performance of the combined predictor was calculated according to various malignancy prevalence values and benefit-to-harm ratios (B/Hr) (favoring sensitivity or specificity). In our population (36% malignancy prevalence) and with a B/Hr of 1, the combined predictor achieved 95% specificity and 76% sensitivity. The AUC was 93.5%; higher than that of TBSRTC (P = 0.004). Among indeterminate nodules (30% malignancy prevalence), sensitivity and specificity were 52.2% and 96.2%, respectively, with a B/Hr of 1, or 95.7% and 64.2% with a B/Hr of 4 (favoring sensitivity), allowing avoidance of 64% of unnecessary surgeries at the cost of only one false-positive result. In conclusion, this predictor could improve the detection of thyroid nodule malignancy, taking into account malignancy prevalence and B/Hr, and reduce the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies.

Performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Characterization of Adrenal Masses in Noncancer Patients: A Prospective Study

CONTEXT

Few prospective studies have evaluated the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in the characterization of adrenal masses.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the malignancy diagnosis of adrenal masses in noncancer patients.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 87 patients (87 adrenal masses) referred to endocrine surgeons: 56 with mass diameter ≥40 mm and 31 with a diameter <40 mm and of indeterminate nature based on unenhanced and washout CT attenuation densities. Fourteen patients had hypercortisolism. Adrenal masses were characterized by 18F-FDG PET/CT. Histology was the gold standard for the diagnosis of malignancy. In the absence of pathological proof (n = 23), the nature of the lesion was based on the 12-month imaging follow-up.

RESULTS

Fifteen adrenal masses were classified as malignant (including 11 adrenocortical carcinomas) and 72 as benign. Compared with benign lesions, malignant lesions were larger in size (P = 0.003), had higher unenhanced densities (P = 0.002), lower relative washout values (P = 0.007), and higher 18F-FDG uptake parameters (P < 10-3). The optimal threshold value of (Tumor SUVmax:Liver SUVmax) the ratio for malignancy was >1.5 with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 86.7%, 86.1%, 56.5%, 96.9%, and 86.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that 18F-FDG PET/CT complements adrenal washout CT in the evaluation of adrenal masses and should be recommended in the evaluation of large and/or indeterminate adrenal masses.

Does Molecular Genotype Provide Useful Information in the Management of Radioiodine Refractory Thyroid Cancers? Results of a Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Whether mutation status should be used to guide therapy is an important issue in many cancers. We correlated mutation profile in radioiodine-refractory (RAIR) metastatic thyroid cancers (TCs) with patient outcome and response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and discussed the results with other published data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Outcome in 82 consecutive patients with metastatic RAIR thyroid carcinoma prospectively tested for BRAF, RAS and PI3KCA mutations was retrospectively analyzed, including 55 patients treated with multikinase inhibitors.

RESULTS

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) were the most frequent histological subtype (54.9 %), followed by poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma [PDTC] (30.5 %) and follicular thyroid carcinoma [FTC] (14.6 %). A genetic mutation was identified in 23 patients (28 %) and BRAF was the most frequently mutated gene (23 %). Median progression-free survival (PFS) on first-line TKI treatment was 14.6 months (95% CI 9.9-18.4). BRAF mutation positively influenced median PFS, both in the entire TKI-treated cohort (median PFS 34.7 months versus 11.6 months; hazard ratio [HR] 0.29; 95% CI 0.09-0.98; p = 0.03) and in the TKI-treated PTC cohort (n = 22) [log-rank p = 0.086; HR 2.95; 95 % CI 0.81-10.70). However, in TKI-treated patients, PDTC histologic subtype was the only independent prognostic factor for PFS identified in the multivariate analysis (HR 2.36; 95% CI 1.01-5.54; p = 0.048).

CONCLUSION

Patients with BRAF-mutant PTC had a significantly longer PFS than BRAF wild-type when treated with TKIs. However, due to the small number of BRAF-mutant patients, further investigations are required, especially to understand the potential positive effect of BRAF mutations in RAIR TC patients while having a negative prognostic impact in RAI-sensitive PTC patients.

Diffuse Sclerosing Variant of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Is Associated With Aggressive Histopathological Features and a Poor Outcome: Results of a Large Multicentric Study

CONTEXT

Diffuse sclerosing variant (DSV) is a rare and aggressive subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of DSV patients and compare these findings with all other PTCs and high-risk PTCs.

DESIGN AND SETTING

The data of patients who underwent surgery for DSV and PTC between 2003 and 2014 in seven surgical departments specialized in endocrine surgery were reviewed.

PATIENTS

Fifty-six DSV patients were included (mean age 32.6 ± 12.5 y; 46 [82%] female) and were compared with 2945 non-DSV PTCs and 48 high-risk PTCs.

RESULTS

Forty-six DSV patients (82%) were pT3, 43 (77%) had an extrathyroidal extension, and 54 (96%) had lymph node metastasis, including 48 patients with involvement in the lateral compartment (86%). During the follow-up period of 4.3 ±2.3 years, 19 patients (34%) had a recurrence, including 18 patients with an ipsilateral lateral compartment recurrence. The only prognostic factor for recurrence in the multivariate analysis was extranodal extension (odds ratio 3.4 [1.1; 10.8]). The 7-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 63%. The RFS was significantly worse in patients with DSV than in other PTC patients (hazard risk 8.5 [5.2; 13.9], P < .0001) and were similar to the RFS of high-risk PTCs (hazard risk 1.1 [0.6; 2.2], P = .5).

CONCLUSION

DSV patients share the same recurrence rate as high-risk PTC patients. Despite aggressive surgical approaches, the recurrence rate within the first 5 years requires a careful ongoing surveillance, similar to the follow-up of high-risk PTC patients.

Interest of systematic screening of pheochromocytoma in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

OBJECTIVE

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) may occur in 0.1-5.7% of patients presenting with a neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Current recommendations are to explore only symptomatic patients. The objective of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and the interest of a systematic PHEO screening in this population.

DESIGN

A prospective study in a French tertiary center including consecutive NF1 patients older than 18 years.

METHODS

A systematic screening combining abdominal imaging and urinary fractionated metanephrines was proposed. In case of positivity of one or both exams, (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy or [(18)F]-fluoro-dihydroxyphenylalanine PET imaging was performed. The diagnosis of secreting PHEO was retained in case of elevated urinary metanephrines associated with positive scintigraphy and non-secreting PHEO when urinary metanephrines were normal with a positive scintigraphy.

RESULTS

Between January 2014 and August 2015, 234 patients were included and 156 patients (66.7%) completed both exams. In these 156 patients, 12 PHEOs were diagnosed, representing a prevalence of 7.7%. Of these, six PHEOs were secreting, with only two symptomatic patients. The tumor size of these PHEOs were bigger than that of non-secreting PHEO (25.2 ± 6.6 vs 14 ± 6.9 mm, P = 0.0165). One lesion was bilateral. Mean metanephrine and normetanephrine levels were 3.2 ± 2.6N and 2.8 ± 1N respectively. Three patients underwent surgery. The six patients with non-secreting PHEO were asymptomatic. One of them had bilateral lesion and one underwent surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

PHEO in NF1, whether or not secreting, are mostly asymptomatic. The current strategy to explore only symptomatic patients leads to an underestimation of prevalence with the risks inherent to the existence of an unrecognized PHEO.

Cluster randomized trial to evaluate the impact of team training on surgical outcomes

Background

The application of safety principles from the aviation industry to the operating room has offered hope in reducing surgical complications. This study aimed to assess the impact on major surgical complications of adding an aviation-based team training programme after checklist implementation.

Methods

A prospective parallel-group cluster trial was undertaken between September 2011 and March 2013. Operating room teams from 31 hospitals were assigned randomly to participate in a team training programme focused on major concepts of crew resource management and checklist utilization. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of any major adverse event, including death, during the hospital stay within the first 30 days after surgery. Using a difference-in-difference approach, the ratio of the odds ratios (ROR) was estimated to compare changes in surgical outcomes between intervention and control hospitals.

Results

Some 22 779 patients were enrolled, including 5934 before and 16 845 after team training implementation. The risk of major adverse events fell from 8·8 to 5·5 per cent in 16 intervention hospitals (adjusted odds ratio 0·57, 95 per cent c.i. 0·48 to 0·68; P &lt; 0·001) and from 7·9 to 5·4 per cent in 15 control hospitals (odds ratio 0·64, 0·50 to 0·81; P &lt; 0·001), resulting in the absence of difference between arms (ROR 0·90, 95 per cent c.i. 0·67 to 1·21; P = 0·474). Outcome trends revealed significant improvements among ten institutions, equally distributed across intervention and control hospitals.

Conclusion

Surgical outcomes improved substantially, with no difference between trial arms. Successful implementation of an aviation-based team training programme appears to require modification and adaptation of its principles in the context of the the surgical milieu. Registration number: NCT01384474 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Increased Mortality for Elective Surgery during Summer Vacation: A Longitudinal Analysis of Nationwide Data

Surgical safety during vacation periods may be influenced by the interplay of several factors, including workers' leave, hospital activity, climate, and the variety of patient cases. This study aimed to highlight an annually recurring peak of surgical mortality during summer in France and explore its main predictors. We selected all elective of open surgical procedures performed in French hospitals between 2007 and 2012. Surgical mortality variation was analyzed over time in relation to workers leaving on vacation, the volume of procedures performed by hospitals, and temperature changes. We ran a multilevel logistic regression for exploring the determinants of surgical mortality, taking into account the clustering of patients within hospitals and adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics. A total of 609 French hospitals had 8,926,120 discharges related to open elective surgery. During 6 years, we found a recurring mortality peak of 1.15% (95% CI 1.09–1.20) in August compared with 0.81% (0.79–0.82, p<.001) in other months. The incidence of worker vacation was 43.0% (38.9–47.2) in August compared with 7.3% (4.6–10.1, p<.001) in other months. Hospital activity decreased substantially in August (78,126 inpatient stays, 75,298–80,954) in relation to other months (128,142, 125,697–130,586, p<.001). After adjusting for all covariates, we found an "August effect" reflecting a higher risk to patients undergoing operations at this time (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.12–1.19, p<.001). The main study limitation was the absence of data linkage between surgical staffing and mortality at the hospital level. The observed, recurring mortality peak in August raises questions about how to maintain hospital activity and optimal staffing through better regulation of human activities.

[Not Available]

Evaluation and research of quality factors in surgery necessitates the consideration of 3 types of indicators: indicators of structures, indicators of processes and indicators of outcomes. We used these 3 types of indicators to assess the quality of thyroid surgery and to evaluate quality indicators. These studies allowed us to demonstrate the importance of a permanent monitoring of the outcomes of the thyroid surgery and the presence of human and organizational factors in the mechanisms of the surgical complications. This type of evaluation and research in quality of health care should be extended to all the surgical subspecialties.

Role of preoperative basal calcitonin levels in the timing of prophylactic thyroidectomy in patients with germline RET mutations

BACKGROUND

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) published recommendations for the timing of prophylactic surgery for medullary thyroid carcinoma based on the specific mutation, patient age, family history, and serum calcitonin levels. The aim of this study was to assess the role of preoperative basal calcitonin (prebCt) levels in predicting the presence of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid in patients with RET mutations.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study in two endocrine surgery departments. Between 1986 and 2012, a total of 32 patients with RET mutations underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy. The patients were stratified into four ATA risk levels: A, B, C, and D.

RESULTS

All of the patients were biologically cured. Microcarcinoma was observed in the final pathology report for four of the 20 patients with normal prebCt (25 %) and for nine of the 12 patients with elevated prebCt (75 %). In the level A group, four patients with normal prebCt and one patient with elevated prebCt presented with microcarcinoma. In the level C group, one patient with normal prebCt and six of the seven patients with elevated prebCt (86 %) presented with microcarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

PrebCt can predict the presence of microcarcinoma according to surgical pathological analysis. Patients with microcarcinoma can be biochemically and clinically cured using prophylactic thyroidectomy.

(18)F-FDG uptake at initial staging of the adrenocortical cancers: a diagnostic tool but not of prognostic value

BACKGROUND

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer for which little level evidence exists to guide management. (18)F-FDG PET ((18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography) is an increasingly used diagnostic tool in patients with suspicious or indeterminate adrenal tumors. In some other solid tumors, (18)F-FDG PET may offer prognostic information that can guide optimal patient treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether preoperative (18)F-FDG PET based on SUVs assessments has a prognostic value in ACC patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed in patients who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of ACC. Inclusion criteria were an unequivocal diagnosis of ACC; all data from primary diagnosis available; (18)F-FDG PET/CT performed prior to surgery or other treatment of the primary tumor; a minimum of 6-months follow-up for surviving patients. All (18)F-FDG PET/CT procedures were reinterpreted in a blind fashion.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients (23 without metastasis [M0], 14 with metastasis [M1]) fulfilled the study criteria. Median uptake values were tumor standardized uptake values (SUV)(max) = 11 (range: 3-56) and a tumor/liver SUV(max) ratio = 4.2 (range: 1.3-15). Median follow-up was 20 months. Although classic risk factors (tumoral stage, Weiss score) were associated with poor outcome, there was no correlation between primary tumor FDG uptake with overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) in M0 patients and with overall survival in M1 patients. (18)F-FDG uptake correlated inconsistently with sinister histological features, such as atypical mitoses or necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

At initial staging, primary tumor FDG uptake in ACC patients does not correlate with OS and DFS at 2 years. Patient prognosis and treatment strategy should not be based on uptake values.

Partial small bowel resection with sleeve gastrectomy increases adiponectin levels and improves glucose homeostasis in obese rodents with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of small bowel resection with and without sleeve gastrectomy on glucose homeostasis in an obese rodent model of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Zucker diabetic fatty rats were randomized into three surgical groups: Sham, small bowel resection, and small bowel resection with sleeve gastrectomy (BRSG). Weight and fasting glucose levels were measured at randomization and monitored after surgery. Oral glucose tolerance testing was performed at baseline and 45 days after surgery to assess glucose homeostasis and peptide changes.

RESULTS

At baseline, all animals exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and showed no difference in weight or fasting (area under the curve) AUC(glucose). At sacrifice, Sham animals weighed more than BRSG animals (p = 0.047). At day 45, the Sham group experienced a significant increase in AUC(glucose) compared to baseline (p = 0.02), whereas there was no difference in AUC(glucose) in either surgical group at any time point: BR (p = 0.58) and BRSG (p = 0.56). Single-factor ANOVA showed a significant difference in AUC(glucose) of p = 0.004 between groups postoperatively: Sham (50,745 ± 11,170) versus BR (23,865 ± 432.6) (p = 0.01); Sham versus BRSG (28,710 ± 3188.8) (p = 0.02). There was no difference in plasma insulin, GLP-1, or adiponectin levels before surgery, although 45 days following surgery adiponectin levels where higher in the BRSG group (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Partial small bowel resection improved glucose tolerance independent of weight. The combination of small bowel resection and sleeve gastrectomy leads to an increase in adiponectin levels, which may contribute to improved glucose homeostasis.

Development of a charting method to monitor the individual performance of surgeons at the beginning of their career

BACKGROUND

Efforts to provide a valid picture of surgeons' individual performance evolution should frame their outcomes in relation to what is expected depending on their experience. We derived the learning curve of young thyroidectomy surgeons as a baseline to enable the accurate assessment of their individual outcomes and avoid erroneous conclusions that may derive from more traditional approaches.

METHODS

Operative time and postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy of 2006 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy performed by 19 young surgeons in five academic hospitals were monitored from April 2008 to December 2009. The database was randomly divided into training and testing datasets. The training data served to determine the expected performance curve of surgeons during their career and factors influencing outcome variation using generalized estimating equations (GEEs). To simulate prospective monitoring of individual surgeon outcomes, the testing data were plotted on funnel plots and cumulative sum charts (CUSUM). Performance charting methods were utilized to present outcomes adjusted both for patient case-mix and surgeon experience.

RESULTS

Generation of performance curves demonstrated a gradual reduction in operative time from 139 (95% CI, 137 to 141) to 75 (71 to 80) minutes, and from 15.7% (15.1% to 16.3%) to 3.3% (3.0% to 3.6%) regarding the nerve palsy rate. Charts interpretation revealed that a very young surgeon had better outcomes than expected, whereas a more experienced surgeon appeared to be a poor performer given the number of years that he had already spent in practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Not considering the initial learning curve of surgeons exposes them to biased measurement and to misinterpretation in assessing their individual performance for thyroidectomy. The performance chart represents a valuable tool to monitor the outcome of surgeons with the expectation to provide safe and efficient care to patients.