Increase of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and a plea for restrictive treatment: A retrospective study of 1,391 prospective documented patients.

Background: The incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PMCs) has increased sharply and therefore the lack of consensus for treatment has become a clinical dilemma. Our aim was to evaluate a less-radical approach.

Methods: This study includes 1,391 patients with PMC treated at a single surgical referral center in the endemic goiter area in Austria.

Thrombocytes Correlate with Lymphangiogenesis in Human Esophageal Cancer and Mediate Growth of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells In Vitro.

Recent data provide evidence for an important role of thrombocytes in lymphangiogenesis within human malignant disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of thrombocytes in lymphangiogenesis in human esophageal cancer. Perioperative peripheral blood platelet counts (PBPC) were evaluated retrospectively in 320 patients with esophageal cancer, comprising 184 adenocarcinomas (AC), and 136 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).

RAF-kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) downregulation in esophageal cancer and its metastases.

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is an inhibitor of Raf-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MEK)-MAP kinase and is considered as an important tumor suppressor. RKIP-expression was investigated retrospectively in 321 esophageal cancers [179 adenocarcinomas (ACs), 142 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs)]. RKIP-expression was further investigated in 41 precursor lesions consisting of 14 cases of non-dysplastic Barrett's mucosa, 5 low grade dysplasias (LGD), and 12 high grade dysplasias (HGD) as well as, 4 cases with low grade and 6 cases with high-grade squamous cell dysplasia.

The incidence of lymphocytic thyroid infiltration and Hashimoto's thyroiditis increased in patients operated for benign goiter over a 31-year period.

The incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) seems to have increased over the last several decades. Since there is a lack of recent studies in the literature that evaluate this phenomenon on a histological basis, we aimed to assess the incidence of lymphocytic thyroid infiltration (LTI) in our large surgical patient collective over a 31-year period. In our study, a total of 1,050 patients who had undergone uni- or bilateral thyroid surgery for benign goiter were included (150 patients in each group, during 1979 to 2009).

Carbonic anhydrase IX overexpression is associated with diminished prognosis in esophageal cancer and correlates with Her-2 expression.

Background: Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a transmembrane glycoprotein, seems to play a key role in the adaption of tumor cells to hypoxia. This study was designed to investigate the clinical role of CAIX and its association with Her-2 in a large cohort of adeno- (AC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the esophagus and their metastases.

Methods: Expression of CAIX and Her-2 was investigated immunohistochemically in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 330 esophageal cancers (182 ACS, 148 SCCs).

Incidental papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid--further evidence of a very low malignant potential: a retrospective clinicopathological study with up to 30 years of follow-up.

Background: Despite the frequent occurrence of papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) of the thyroid, no consensus on its malignant potential or its treatment exists. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with PMC treated in a single institution during a 30-year period and to study the incidence rates of PMC in all patients operated on for thyroid diseases during this period.

Methods: Demographic data, clinical characteristics, histological workup of the resected glands, histopathological features, treatment, and follow-up data were studied.

Expression of Her-2 in carcinomas of the esophagus.

The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 gene (HER-2) encodes for a membrane-bound tyrosine kinase (Her-2), which is overexpressed in various human cancers. Her-2-targeted therapy has recently been shown to be beneficial for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Her-2 protein expression was investigated in 341 esophageal carcinomas [152 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 189 adenocarcinomas (AC)], 39 cases of Barrett mucosa, and 11 cases of squamous cell dysplasia.