Salvage surgery for a giant melanoma on the back

We report a case of a giant melanoma on the back with a very extreme Breslow thickness. On physical examination a large odorous and ulcerating tumour was seen adjacent to two large crusted lesions, probably in transit metastases. In the right and left axilla enlarged lymph nodes were palpated. The patient underwent salvage surgery consisting of a complete wide excision of the tumors on the back as well as axillary lymph node dissection on both sides. Histopathology showed a malignant melanoma with a Breslow thickness of 48 mm. Four of fifteen nodes in the right axilla and one of nine nodes in the left axilla, were positive for metastatic disease. Also various in transit and subcutaneous metastases were found in the wide excision specimen. The interest of our observation relies in the rarity of a melanoma with such an extreme Breslow thickness and the difficulty in performing adequate palliative therapy that offers quality of life by means of tumor control

Focal Thyroid Incidentalomas on F-18-FDG PET/CT:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Prevalence, Risk of Malignancy and Inconclusive Fine Needle Aspiration

BackgroundThe rising demand for 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) has led to an increase of thyroid incidentalomas. Current guidelines are restricted in giving options to tailor diagnostics and to suit the individual patient.ObjectivesWe aimed at exploring the extent of potential overdiagnostics by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the prevalence, the risk of malignancy (ROM) and the risk of inconclusive FNAC (ROIF) of focal thyroid incidentalomas (FTI) on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Data SourcesA literature search in MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science was performed to identify relevant studies.Study SelectionStudies providing information on the prevalence and/or ROM of FTI on 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with no prior history of thyroid disease were selected by two authors independently. Sixty-one studies met the inclusion criteria.Data AnalysisA random effects meta-analysis on prevalence, ROM and ROIF with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was performed. Heterogeneity and publication bias were tested. Risk of bias was assessed using the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS-2) tool.Data SynthesisFifty studies were suitable for prevalence analysis. In total, 12,943 FTI were identified in 640,616 patients. The pooled prevalence was 2.22% (95% CI = 1.90% - 2.54%, I2 = 99%). 5151 FTI had cyto- or histopathology results available. The pooled ROM was 30.8% (95% CI = 28.1% - 33.4%, I2 = 57%). 1308 (83%) of malignant nodules were papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The pooled ROIF was 20.8% (95% CI = 13.7% - 27.9%, I2 = 92%).LimitationsThe main limitations were the low to moderate methodological quality of the studies and the moderate to high heterogeneity of the results.ConclusionFTI are a common finding on 18F-FDG PET/CTs. Nodules are malignant in approximately one third of the cases, with the majority being PTC. Cytology results are non-diagnostic or indeterminate in one fifth of FNACs. These findings reveal the potential risk of overdiagnostics of FTI and emphasize that the workup of FTI should be performed within the context of the patient’s disease and that guidelines should adopt this patient tailored approach

Survival following surgical treatment for anorectal melanoma seems similar for local excision and extensive resection regardless of nodal involvement

Background: Anorectal melanoma is a rare malignancy with a dismal prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the survival per stage is influenced by the surgical approaches (local excision or extensive resection), to assess prognostic factors of survival, and to answer the question whether the practiced surgical approaches changed over time. Methods: Dutch cancer registry organizations (IKNL and PALGA) were queried for all patients with a diagnosis of anorectal melanoma (1989-2019). Patients with disseminated disease at diagnosis were excluded. Survival outcomes were compared for the two surgical approaches stratified by stage (clinical node negative (cN0) and clinical node positive (cN+)) and date of diagnosis. Results: A total of 103 patients were included in this study. In both cN0 and cN+ patients the surgical strategy did not significantly influence survival (cN0: 21.7% 5-year survival, median 25 months for local excision versus 13.7% 5-year survival, median 17 months for extensive resection (p = 0.228), cN+: 11.1% 5-year survival for local excision, median 17 months versus 8.7% 5-year survival, median 14 months for extensive resection (p = 0.741)). Stage and date of diagnosis showed to be prognostic factors of survival. The ratio between the two surgical approaches was unchanged over three decades. Conclusions: Extensive resection does not seem to improve survival in both cN0 and cN+ anorectal melanoma patients compared to local excision. However in the past three decades no shift towards local excision has been found. cN+ stage and an older date of diagnosis are predictors for worse survival

Secondary and Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism:A Narrative Review

End-stage renal disease is often complicated by the occurrence of secondary and eventually tertiary hyperparathyroidism, characterized by increased parathormone, calcium, and phosphate concentrations. Related symptoms include pruritus and osteodynia, concentration difficulties, and feelings of depression may be present. In the long-term, end-stage renal disease patients with hyperparathyroidism have an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Among treatment options are vitamin D supplements, phosphate binders, calcimimetics, and surgical parathyroidectomy. Determining the optimal treatment for the individual patient is challenging for nephrologists and endocrine surgeons. This review resumes the pathogenesis of hyperparathyroidism, clinical presentation, required diagnostic work-up, and discusses indications for the available treatment options for patients with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism

Parathyroidectomy for patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism in a changing landscape for the management of end-stage renal disease

Background: The landscape of patients with end-stage renal disease is changing with the increasing availability of kidney transplantation. In the near future, a less aggressive approach to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism might be beneficial. We report outcomes of parathyroidectomy for end-stage renal disease-related hyperparathyroidism comparing the outcomes of limited, subtotal, and total parathyroidectomy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Patients were divided into 3 parathyroidectomy subgroups: limited ( Results: In total, 195 patients were included for analysis of whom 13.8% underwent limited parathyroidectomy, 46.7% subtotal parathyroidectomy, and 39.5% total parathyroidectomy. Preoperative parathyroid hormone levels (pg/mL) were 471 (210-868), 1,087 (627-1,795), and 1,070 (475-1,632) for the limited, subtotal, and total parathyroidectomy groups, respectively (P < .001). A decrease in serum parathyroid hormone was seen in all groups; however, postoperative levels remained greater in the limited parathyroidectomy group compared to the subtotal and total parathyroidectomy groups (P < .001). Serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels decreased in all groups to within the reference range. In the limited parathyroidectomy group, persistent disease and recurrence occurred more frequently (P = .02 and P = .07, respectively). Conclusion: Subtotal parathyroidectomy is the optimal strategy in an era with an increasing availability of kidney transplantation and improved regimens of dialysis. In this changing practice, the approach to parathyroid surgery, however, might shift to a less aggressive and patient-tailored approach. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

S-100B as an extra selection tool for FDG PET/CT scanning in follow-up of AJCC stage III melanoma patients

Background and Objectives This current study assessed the value of S-100B measurement to guide fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning for detecting recurrent disease in stage III melanoma patients. Methods This study included 100 stage III melanoma patients in follow-up after curative lymph node dissection. Follow-up visits included physical examination and S-100B monitoring. FDG PET/CT scanning was indicated by clinical symptoms and/or elevated S-100B. Results Of 100 patients, 13 (13%) had elevated S-100B without clinical symptoms, of whom 7 (54%) showed disease evidence upon FDG PET/CT scanning. Twenty-six patients (26%) had clinical symptoms with normal S-100B and FDG PET/CT revealed metastasis in 20 (77%). Three patients had clinical symptoms and elevated S-100B, and FDG PET/CT revealed metastasis in all three (100%). Overall, FDG PET/CT scanning revealed metastasis in 30 of the 42 patients (71.4%). For seven recurrences, elevated S-100B prompted early detection of asymptomatic disease; 10% of all asymptomatic patients in follow-up, 23% of all patients with recurrent disease. Conclusion S-100B cannot exclude recurrent disease during follow-up of stage III melanoma. However, adding S-100B measurement to standard clinical assessment can guide FDG PET/CT scanning for detecting recurrent melanoma

A proposed bare-tether experiment on board a sounding rocket

A mission on board a sounding rocket to carry out two bare-tether experiments is proposed: a test of orbital-motion-limited (OML) collection and the proof-of-flight of a technique to determine the (neutral) density vertical profile in the critical E-layer. Since full bias from the motional field will be small (~ 20V), corresponding to a tape 1 km long and V rocket <8 km/s, a power source with a range of supply voltages of few kV would be used. First, the negative terminal of the supply would be connected to the tape, and the positive terminal to a round, conductive boom of length 10 - 20 m; electrons collected by the boom cross the supply into the tape, where they leak out at the rate of ion impact plus secondary emission. Determination of the density profile from measurements of auroral emissions observed from the rocket, as secondaries racing down the magnetic field reach an E-layer footprint, are discussed. Next the positive terminal of the voltage supply is connected to the tape, and the negative terminal to a Hollow Cathode (HC); electrons now collected by the tape cross the supply, and are ejected at the HC. The opposite connections, with current collection operated by tape and boom, and operating on electrons and ions, and through partial switching in the supply, allow testing OML collection in almost all respects it depends on

A retrospective analysis of the diagnostic performance of 11C-choline PET/CT for detection of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands after prior negative or discordant imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: Identifying the correct location of a parathyroid adenoma in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is crucial as it can guide surgical treatment. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of 11C-choline PET/CT in patients with pHPT as a next in-line scan after primary negative or discordant first-line imaging. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study. All patients with pHPT that were scanned utilizing 11C-choline PET/CT, after prior negative or discordant imaging, between 2015 and 2019 and who subsequently underwent parathyroid surgery were included. The results of the 11C-choline PET/CT were evaluated lesion-based, with surgical exploration and histopathological examination as the gold standard. RESULTS: In total, 36 patients were included of which three patients were known to have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) syndrome. In these 36 patients, 40 lesions were identified on 11C-choline PET/CT and 37 parathyroid lesions were surgically removed. In 34/36 (94%) patients a focused parathyroidectomy was performed, in one patient a cervical exploration due to an ectopically identified adenoma, and in one patient a bilateral exploration was performed because of a double adenoma. Overall, per-lesion sensitivity of 11C-choline PET/CT was 97%, the positive predictive value was 95% and the accuracy was 94% for all parathyroid lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pHPT and prior negative or discordant first-line imaging results, pathological parathyroid glands can be localized by 11C-choline PET/CT with high sensitivity and accuracy