Post-operative neck ultrasound and risk stratification in differentiated thyroid cancer patients with initial lymph node involvement.

Objective: Cervical ultrasound (US) scan is a key tool for detecting metastatic lymph nodes (N1) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). N1-PTC patients are stratified as intermediate-risk and high-risk (HR) patients, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and European Thyroid Association (ETA) respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the value of post-operative cervical US (POCUS) in local persistent disease (PD) diagnosis and in the reassessment of risk stratification in N1-PTC patients.

Scoring system for predicting recurrences in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

Context: Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PMC) defined as tumors ≤10 mm in diameter (including pT1a and pT3 according to the latest pTNM classification) have good prognosis, although recurrence is possible. Clinicians are interested in using a scoring system for predicting recurrences.

Objective: To identify the prognostic factors for recurrence in patients with PMC and to develop a scoring system based on lymph node involvement, multifocality, and sex.

Ultrasound, elastography, and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in Riedel's thyroiditis: report of two cases.

Background: Riedel's thyroiditis (RT) is a rare disease characterized by a chronic inflammatory lesion of the thyroid gland with invasion by a dense fibrosis. Publications of the imaging features of RT are scarce. To our knowledge, ultrasound elastography (USE) findings have not been previously reported.

An estimate of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France.

Objective: To perform a quantitative estimate of the proportion of cancers attributable to occupational exposures in France in 2000.

Methods: Exposure data for established carcinogens were obtained from a 1994 survey and other sources. Relative risks for 23 exposure-cancer combinations were derived from meta-analyses and pooled analyses.

Micrometastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient: a case report and discussion.

Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have an increased risk of malignancies such as Kaposi's sarcoma, primary central nervous system lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cervical cancer, but the relative risk of other malignancies such as papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is not well documented. The report describes the case of a 52-year-old HIV-infected Haitian male who presented with PTC. A post (131)I therapy whole body scan (WBS) showed abnormal uptake in several areas indicating the presence of a number of micro-metastases.

[History of imaging: cases under study].

Techniques of body scanning and imaging each give a partial picture of the cases under study, with technical limitations connected to translation parameters, scanning frequency, etc. 3D imaging can analyze foetuses, "dedicated" imaging can detect focus of inflammation(?). Will today's techniques such as scintiscanning or scanning become obsolete within the coming decade? The protection of medical personnel and patients must be improved.

[Does thyroid scintigram still have indications in 2005?].

Since 15 years, the indications of thyroid scintigrams have been dramatically reduced. This examination appeared useless in most cases of hypothyroidism and for the evaluation of thyroid cysts or for infracentimetric nodules. For greater solid nodules, its poor sensibility and bad specificity have resulted in its replacement by echography and fine needle biopsy.

Prognostic factors associated with the survival of patients developing loco-regional recurrences of differentiated thyroid carcinomas.

To estimate survival of patients with loco-regional recurrences (LRRs) of differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) and to identify factors associated with survival after LRRs, we analyzed retrospective data of the 172 patients treated and followed up in our institution from 1958 to 2000 who had developed LRRs (6% of DTC patients). Ultrasound, when used, picked up 95% of the recurrences. Survival was estimated with the method of Kaplan-Meier, and associated prognostic features were studied in univariate and multivariate Cox model-based analyses.

[Adaptation of thyroid function to excess iodine].

NORMALLY: The production of thyroid hormones is normally stable, despite iodine supplies that may vary widely and even on sudden excess iodine. The metabolism of iodine is characterised by adapted thyroid uptake, the requirements varying on the age and physiological status of the individual (pregnancy, breastfeeding) and by insufficient supplies in several areas in France. IN THE CASE OF EXCESS: The mechanisms that permit the thyroid to adapt to a sudden or chronic excess of iodine are immature in the newborn and sometimes deficient in adults, and may lead to iodine-induced dysthyroidism.

Selection of patients with solitary thyroid nodules for operation.

Objective: To improve the preoperative selection for operation of patients with solitary thyroid nodules.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: University hospital, France.

Non-medical exposure to radioiodines and thyroid cancer.

The Chernobyl accident, which occurred 32 years after the accidental exposure of Marshall islanders, resulted in the exposure of neighbouring populations to a mixture of iodine isotopes and in an increased incidence of thyroid cancer. The highest thyroid doses were received by the youngest age groups. This review describes the existing evidence, and examines factors that may have increased the risk.