Primary Burkitt lymphoma of the thyroid gland in a 28-year-old female

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Cancer rate of Bethesda category II thyroid nodules

Aim Thyroid nodules are very common and may be found in more than 50% of the population. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid nodules is a very useful diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and predictive value for diagnosis. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) uses six categories for thyroid cytology reporting (I-nondiagnostic, IIbenign, III-atypia of undetermined significance (AUS)/ follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), IV-follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (SFN), V-suspicious for malignancy, and VI-malignant. Our objective was to determine the malignancy rate in Bethesda II nodules. Methods From June 2010 to May 2020 a retrospective analysis was performed among 1166 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for benign thyroid diseases in our institution. Thyroid cytopathological slides and Ultrasound (US) reports were reviewed and classified according to the BSRTC. Data collected included age, gender, cytological features, and histological type of thyroid cancer. Results During the study period, 44.77% (522/1166) of patients with an FNA categorized as Bethesda II underwent thyroid surgery. Incidental malignancy was found in 1.53% (8/522) cases of Bethesda II. The most common malignant tumour type was papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusion The current study demonstrates that incidental thyroid carcinoma can be diagnosed after thyroidectomy even in patients with an FNA categorized as Bethesda II

Mid-term outcomes in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas: a 12-year single-institution experience

Aim To present the experience from collective data regarding patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas that have been operated in and followed up by the University General Hospital of Patras in Rion, Greece, between 2009 and 2020. Methods A retrospective analysis of adult patients treated at our hospital with a diagnosis of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma who underwent tumour resection. Results Data from 29 patients were analysed. The mean age at diagnosis was 56.1 years; 55.2% of patients were male (n=16). Liposarcomas (on histology) were identified in 19 (65.5%) patients, leiomyosarcoma six (20.7%), and other histologic subtypes in four (13.8%) patients. Tumours >5cm were presented in 27 (93.1%) patients. Negative margins were attained in 13 (44.8%) of all patients who underwent surgical resection. Five (17.2%) patients received neoadjuvant radiation, four (13.8%) postoperative radiation, and three (10.3%) patients received both chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery with the rest of the patients being treated with surgical excision alone. A 3-year follow-up was successful in 21 (72.4%) patients; five (23.8%) patients died. In total, 16 (55.2%) patients were found to have a local recurrence, with no significant difference in patients' age, gender, tumour size, histology, negative surgical margin (Ro) resection, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. There was a significant difference in the 3-year survival rate between patients having positive or negative surgical margins (p=0.027). Conclusion The higher 3-year survival rate in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas when achieving Ro resection warrant further investigation with a larger sample size across different institutions

Patient outcomes following surgical management of thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda category III (AUS/FLUS)

Introduction: The Bethesda classification system for reporting thyroid cytopathology is the standard for interpreting fine needle aspirate (FNA). Because of its heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting, atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), known as Bethesda category III, is the most controversial category. Thyroid nodules that fall within Bethesda categories III–IV have an overall risk of malignancy of between 15 and 40%. The aim of this study was to determine the malignancy rate in Bethesda III nodules. Material and methods: A retrospective study was performed for 1166 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for multinodular goitre (MNG) or solitary nodular goitre (SNG) in our institution between June 2010 and May 2020. Data retrieved included demographic characteristics of the patients, FNB cytology, thyroid function test results, type of thyroidectomy, and final histology results. Results: During the study period, 29.5% (344/1166) of patients with an FNA categorized as AUS/FLUS underwent thyroid surgery. Of these 344 patients, 190 were diagnosed with MNG and 154 with SNG. Incidental malignancy was found in 35 of 190 cases of MNG (18.42%) and 31 of 154 cases of SNG (20.13%). The most common malignant tumour type in either category was the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that patients with a FNA categorized as AUS/FLUS may have a higher risk of malignancy than traditionally believed. Reconsideration may be necessary to guidelines that recommend observation or repeat FNA in this category of patients

Risk of surgical site infections after colorectal surgery and the most frequent pathogens isolated: a prospective single-centre observational study

Aim To identify risk factors for developing surgical site infections (SSIs) based on a prospective study of patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Methods Between November 2019 and January 2021, 133 patients underwent elective operation for colorectal cancer in our institution. The following variables were recorded for each patient: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA class), duration of surgery, wound classification, skin preparation regimens, surgical approach, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, chronic steroid use), and pathogens responsible for surgical site infection. Univariate analysis was performed using χ2 tests for categorical variables. Results A total of 65 males and 68 females were enrolled. Postoperative SSI was diagnosed in 29 (21.8%) cases. Fifty five patients were >70 years old, and SSIs were significantly more frequent in this group (p=0.033). There were 92 patients with BMI <30kg/m2 and 87 with ASA class ≤2; SSIs occurred significantly less frequently in these patients (p=0.021 and p=0.028, respectively). Open surgery was performed in 113 patients; 35 (out of 113; 31%) wound infections were classified as contaminated or dirty, and SSI occurred more often in these two groups (p=0.048 and p=0.037, respectively). Nineteen patients had diabetes and 36 used steroids continuously; SSI was significantly more frequent in these patients (p=0.021 and p=0.049, respectively). Conclusion Following colorectal cancer procedures SSIs were significantly more common among patients over 70 years old, BMI≥30kg/m2 , ASA score>2, with diabetes and chronic steroid use, undergoing open, dirty or contaminated surgery. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were the two most common pathogens isolated

Mammary tuberculosis mimicking breast cancer: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The incidence of tuberculosis is rising worldwide and rare manifestations of the past are seen more often nowadays. Mammary tuberculosis is a rare clinical entity, often mimicking breast cancer or abscesses of benign or malignant origin. Clinical awareness is necessary during diagnostic work-up for establishing the correct diagnosis and treatment.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a case of breast tuberculosis diagnosed in a 73 year old woman at our institution. The patient presented with a palpable mass of the right breast with clinical, laboratory and mammographic findings indicative of breast carcinoma. The patient underwent lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Frozen section of the tumor and the sentinel node revealed "granulomatous inflammation", while gross examination confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculous mastitis. The patient received anti-tuberculosis therapy for six months with no side effects or any further complications.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Breast tuberculosis is an obscure disease often mistaken for carcinoma or pyogenic abscess of the breast, especially if well-defined clinical features are absent. A high index of suspicion is required because the disease can usually be treated conservatively with current antituberculous modalities while surgical intervention is reserved for rare cases only.</p

Multi-modality curative treatment of salivary gland cancer liver metastases with drug-eluting bead chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, and surgical resection: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Liver metastases are rare in salivary gland tumors and have been reported only once to be the first manifestation of the disease. They are usually treated with surgical resection of the primary tumor and systemic chemotherapy. Drug-eluting bead chemoembolization has an evolving role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as in the treatment of metastatic disease of the liver. Nevertheless, it has never been used in a patient with salivary gland liver metastases.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a case of a 51-year-old Caucasian Greek woman who presented to our hospital with liver metastases as the first manifestation of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left submandibular gland. The liver lesions were deemed inoperable because of their size and multi-focality and proved resistant to systemic chemotherapy. She was curatively treated with a combination of doxorubicin eluting bead (DC Beads) chemoembolization, intra-operative and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, and radiofrequency-assisted surgical resection. The patient remained disease-free one year after the surgical resection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, this complex case is an example of inoperable liver metastatic disease from the salivary glands that was refractory to systemic chemotherapy but was curatively treated with a combination of locoregional therapies and surgery. A multi-disciplinary approach and the adoption of modern radiological techniques produced good results after conventional therapies failed and there were no other available treatment modalities.</p

IL-22BP controls the progression of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer

BackgroundThe immune system plays a pivotal role in cancer progression. Interleukin 22 binding protein (IL-22BP), a natural antagonist of the cytokine interleukin 22 (IL-22) has been shown to control the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of IL-22BP in the process of metastasis formation remains unknown.MethodsWe used two different murine in vivo metastasis models using the MC38 and LLC cancer cell lines and studied lung and liver metastasis formation after intracaecal or intrasplenic injection of cancer cells. Furthermore, IL22BP expression was measured in a clinical cohort of CRC patients and correlated with metastatic tumor stages.ResultsOur data indicate that low levels of IL-22BP are associated with advanced (metastatic) tumor stages in colorectal cancer. Using two different murine in vivo models we show that IL-22BP indeed controls the progression of liver but not lung metastasis in mice.ConclusionsWe here demonstrate a crucial role of IL-22BP in controlling metastasis progression. Thus, IL-22 might represent a future therapeutic target against the progression of metastatic CRC

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)