Publications by authors named "Kepal Patel"

Background: Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) is a frequently chosen therapy for Graves' disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether RAI for Graves' disease increases the risk of thyroid malignancy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all Graves' disease patients who underwent thyroidectomy at a single institution between 2013 and 2022.

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Background: Patient electronic messaging has increased clinician workload contributing to burnout. Large language models can respond to these patient queries, but no studies exist on large language model responses in thyroid disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study randomly selected 33 of 52 patient questions found on Reddit/askdocs.

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Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in thyroid cancer care may be mitigated by improving enrollment of more diverse patient populations in clinical trials. We studied trial eligibility criteria and enrollment to assess barriers to equitable representation.

Methods: ClinicalTrials.

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Thyroid carcinoma of follicular cell origin exists on a histopathologic and clinical spectrum. The authors focus on the category of tumors that fall between the very favorable well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas and the very unfavorable anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. These intermediately aggressive tumors include poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma and the newly defined differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma.

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Background: Fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography imaging has been shown to be an independent risk factor for malignancy in thyroid nodules. More recently, a new positron emission tomography radiotracer-Gallium-68 DOTATATE-has gained popularity as a sensitive method to detect neuroendocrine tumors. With greater availability of this imaging, incidental Gallium-68 DOTATATE uptake in the thyroid gland has increased.

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Background And Objective: Thyroid nodules are frequently incidentally found on physical exam or imaging for an unrelated work-up. Although surgery remains the gold standard for treating symptomatic benign and/or malignant thyroid nodules, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option for high risk patients and those who decline surgery. The novel application of RFA to treat thyroid disease was originally described for symptomatic, benign thyroid nodules.

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Objective: Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) is a known complication of parathyroidectomy. Patients with renal hyperparathyroidism are particularly vulnerable to HBS because of their prolonged exposure to electrolyte abnormalities and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH). However, in-depth characterization of predictive factors for HBS in these patients is lacking.

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The primary goal of this interdisciplinary consensus statement is to provide a framework for the safe adoption and implementation of ablation technologies for benign thyroid nodules. This consensus statement is organized around three key themes: (1) safety of ablation techniques and their implementation, (2) optimal skillset criteria for proceduralists performing ablative procedures, and (3) defining expectations of success for this treatment option given its unique risks and benefits. Ablation safety considerations in pre-procedural, peri-procedural, and post-procedural settings are discussed, including clinical factors related to patient selection and counseling, anesthetic and technical considerations to optimize patient safety, peri-procedural risk mitigation strategies, post-procedural complication management, and safe follow-up practices.

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Article Synopsis
  • A comprehensive genomic analysis was conducted on a large number of thyroid nodules (50,734 FNA samples) to identify molecular alterations and better understand their clinical significance, particularly in Bethesda categories III-VI.
  • The results showed that a majority (65.3%) of the samples tested negative for significant alterations, while a smaller proportion (33.9%) tested positive, revealing different mutation patterns in BCIII-IV and BCV-VI nodules, with BCV-VI showing more aggressive genetic changes.
  • The findings indicate that 68% of BCIII-IV nodules were negative, highlighting the potential to avoid unnecessary surgery, while BCV-VI nodules had more actionable mutations that could inform treatment decisions for patients.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates thyroid nodules classified as highly suspicious (category 5) under the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System, focusing on the malignancy rates and diagnostic features of these nodules.
  • Out of 496 nodules reviewed, only 12.3% were found malignant through fine-needle aspiration, with various cytopathology categories indicating different levels of malignancy risk.
  • Surgical resections were performed on 42 nodules, with a high malignancy rate of 78.6% among those excised, highlighting the need for effective risk stratification tools in managing these nodules.
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Importance: Over time, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines have increasingly promoted more limited treatments for well-differentiated thyroid cancers.

Objective: To determine whether the 2009 and 2015 ATA guidelines were associated with changes in the management of low-risk papillary thyroid carcinomas on a national scale.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This historical cohort study used the National Cancer Database.

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Background: A 64-year-old man presented with a 7.8 cm lipomatous thyroid mass discovered on magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: After two non-diagnostic fine needle aspirations (FNAs) were performed, computed tomography (CT) revealed features concerning for malignancy including central necrosis and infiltrative borders.

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Background: There is a bidirectional association between primary aldosteronism and obstructive sleep apnea, with evidence suggesting that the treatment of primary aldosteronism can reduce obstructive sleep apnea severity. Current guidelines recommend screening for primary aldosteronism in patients with comorbid hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, identifying potential candidates for treatment. However, emerging data suggest current screening practices are unsatisfactory.

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Cytopathological evaluation of thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens can fail to raise preoperative suspicion of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The Afirma RNA-sequencing MTC classifier identifies MTC among FNA samples that are cytologically indeterminate, suspicious, or malignant (Bethesda categories III-VI). In this study we report the development and clinical performance of this MTC classifier.

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Image-guided interventional techniques have emerged as promising treatments for thyroid disease. Percutaneous ethanol ablation, radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation, high intensity focused ultrasound, and microwave ablation have shown efficacy in treating benign thyroid disease. There is increasing evidence that these techniques may effectively treat papillary thyroid microcarcinomas, recurrent and metastatic disease, follicular neoplasms, and parathyroid lesions.

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The optimal treatment option for cystic thyroid lesions depends on the composition of the lesion, prior interventions, and patient preference. Simple aspiration is a good initial diagnostic and treatment modality for thyroid lesions that are predominantly cystic. However, recurrence rates are high and, should fluid re-accumulate, further aspirations are unlikely to be effective.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined outcomes for patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) who underwent repeat fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and genomic testing to improve diagnosis and treatment decisions.
  • - Out of 96 patients reviewed, the repeat FNA led to 42% of nodules being reclassified as benign, with most nodules downgraded to non-surgical management, significantly reducing the need for surgery.
  • - Patients with positive ThyroSeq results were more likely to undergo surgery, though the overall risk of high-risk malignancy in these cases was found to be low.
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Article Synopsis
  • This clinical review focuses on nonsurgical, minimally invasive methods for managing thyroid nodules and malignancy, detailing their indications, effectiveness, side effects, and outcomes.
  • Research highlighted that techniques like percutaneous ethanol injection and ultrasound-guided laser/ radiofrequency ablation are safe and effective for treating benign and symptomatic thyroid issues when performed by skilled centers.
  • While traditional surgery remains the standard treatment, emerging minimally invasive methods offer promising alternatives for managing thyroid conditions, including small thyroid cancers, pending further evaluation.
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