The administration of anesthetic in the thyroid pericapsular region increases the possibility of side effects during percutaneous laser photocoagulation of thyroid nodules.

Background And Objective: Nodular thyroid disease is very frequent in iodine-deficient areas affecting at least 50% of the population. Percutaneous laser ablation (LA) represents an effective method and an alternative to conventional surgery. Since the first description of the LA methodology for thyroid nodules, various studies have suggested some modifications to increase the percentage of volume reduction of the nodules.

Do Italian surgeons use antibiotic prophylaxis in thyroid surgery? Results from a national study (UEC--Italian Endocrine Surgery Units Association).

Thyroid surgery is a clean procedure and therefore antibiotic prophylaxis is not routinely recommended by most international guidelines. However, antibiotics are often used in clinical practice. We enrolled 2926 patients who performed a thyroid surgical operation between the years 2009 and 2011 in the 38 centers of endocrine surgery that joined the UEC--Italian Endocrine Surgery Units Association.

Ultrasound-guided interstitial laser ablation for thyroid nodules is effective only at high total amounts of energy: results from a three-year pilot study.

Objective: According to cross-sectional surveys, the prevalence of nontoxic nodular goiter appears to be higher in the adult population. Surgical intervention is indicated for the following: (a) progressive goiter growth, (b) compression of organs such as the trachea and esophagus, and (c) significant aesthetic disfigurement. Ultrasound-guided laser photocoagulation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules is a viable alternative to traditional surgery.

Persistent hypercalcitoninemia in patients with medullary thyroid cancer.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a highly malignant and progressive disease. Surgery is the only effective treatment. Calcitonin is a significant marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma, and due to its sensitivity it represents a useful tool for the follow-up.

Surgical treatment of intrathyroid metastases: preliminary results of a multicentric study.

Background: Intrathyroid metastases (ITM) are rare and usually have a dismal prognosis. The aim of this study was to detect which neoplasms metastasize most often to the thyroid gland, their clinical features and treatment options.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical files of 17,122 patients submitted to surgery for thyroid disease between 1995 and 2005.

[Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerves and sympathetic-inferior laryngeal anastomotic branches: 6 years' personal experience].

The incidence and possible association of inferior laryngeal nerve and sympathetic anastomotic branch anomalies were evaluated in this study. Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerves stem from vascular anomalies involving the right subclavian artery and aortic arches during embryological development. These anomalies usually have no functional consequences (except for occasional dysphagia), but are potentially dangerous during thyroid surgery, occurring in about 1% of cases.

[Molecular medicine in thyroid surgery].

Cancer originates from a single cell which, through the acquisition of mutations in genes for key growth and survival factors, undergoes clonal expansion. Study of the genome allowed the detection of genes whose mutation is involved in tumour formation. In detail, in most thyroid neoplasms we are now able to identify the genes which cause cancer initiation.

[Intraoperative ultrasonography in the surgery of recurrence of well differentiated thyroid cancer].

Surgical resection is the only curative treatment option for local recurrence of well differentiated thyroid cancer. In our experience, we found that intraoperative ultrasonography can be of significant help in facilitating the localisation and complete resection of lesions. From 2005 to 2006, 12 patients with well differentiated thyroid tumour recurrences underwent intraoperative ultrasonography.

[Diagnostic-therapeutic pathways as instruments of clinical management: experience at the S. Maria Hospital in Terni].

Diagnostic-therapeutic itineraries and treatment profiles are instruments of clinical management. The authors report on their experience with the experimental creation of such itineraries in thyroid nodular pathology. These are the fruit of collaboration between the management team, endocrinological surgeons, and the hospital computer staff.

[Role of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism].

The minimally invasive approach to parathyroid surgery is considered an efficient alternative to traditional cervicotomy when the pre-operative diagnostic work-up indicates a single parathyroid adenoma. Imaging techniques (ultrasound, SPECT), on the one hand, and intraoperative diagnostic techniques (radio-guided surgery, intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay), on the other, contribute to the success and development of specialized centres which prefer to use this type of surgery. The postoperative pain control and aesthetic results achieved with these techniques are today the main subjects of interest in the minimally invasive approach.

[Quality sharing between the national health service and citizens: a diagnostic and therapeutic planning experience at the "S. Maria" Hospital in Terni].

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Programs are instruments of clinical management. The authors report on their experience with the construction of a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Program in the field of breast cancer. This is the result of collaboration between the Breast Unit, an administrative team and a computer team at the "S.