Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E Coche.
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This is the first report of intense fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) uptake secondary to thymic hyperplasia during follow-up for thyroid carcinoma. A 36-yr-old woman underwent thyroidectomy for a papillary carcinoma measuring 4 cm in diameter. After two doses of radioiodine, thyroglobulin (Tg) remained detectable following recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulation. A whole body scan (WBS) was negative. On computed tomography (CT) scan, a slightly lobulated thymus was visualized. PET scan showed intense thymic uptake. Following resection, anatomo-pathological analysis showed homogenous hyperplastic thymic gland without neoplastic cells. Two months later, under levothyroxin (L-T4) substitution, Tg was no longer detectable and PET scanning did not show any 18-FDG uptake. This observation suggests that thymic FDG uptake does not necessarily herald recurrence of thyroid carcinoma and must be interpreted with caution in such a setting. Other conditions associated with abnormal uptake by hyperplastic thymus must also be envisaged.
AIM: To emphasise the pattern of lymphatic dissemination in the parapharyngeal space from thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Among 696 patients treated for thyroid cancer between 1986 and 2001, parapharyngeal metastasis was diagnosed in three patients, previously treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: All three patients have been treated by surgical resection through lateral cervical approach. Two of them were controlled regionally whereas the remaining one had a submucosal pharyngeal metastasis locally resected 27 months after parapharyngeal resection. CONCLUSIONS: Parapharyngeal metastasis is rare, but should be a recognized pattern of lymphatic dissemination from thyroid carcinoma to avoid unnecessary radioiodine and because surgical resection is efficacious with acceptable morbidity.
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Metastatic liposarcoma of the thyroid gland is exceptionally rare. A case of pleomorphic liposarcoma, which manifested as a soft tissue lump in the neck, is described in a 30-year-old woman. Fine needle aspiration cytology permitted prompt diagnosis. The ultrasound and CT appearance of this type of thyroid metastasis is described which has not been previously reported in the literature.
UNLABELLED: Computer aided surgery (CAS) is now routinely introduced in the ENT surgical field especially in endoscopic endonasal surgery. OBJECTIVE: Using a frameless computer aided surgery for endoscopic endonasal approach (SurgiGATE ORL TM), we tried to evaluate the practical use of such a system, to calculate supplementary installation time of the procedure, to determine the number of matching attempt (referencing) before starting optonavigation and to determine its clinical accuracy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty two patients underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery with the help of CAS; 13 revision cases (2 nasal polyposis, 7 paranasal sinus mucoceles, 4 frontal recess stenosis) and 19 primary cases (16 inflammatory diseases, 3 benign tumor removal). Paired points matching was used as referencing before optonavigation. Clinical accuracy of CAS was calculated at two confidence points during optonavigation and measured in multiples of the pixel size on CT Scan. RESULTS: Number of matching attempts before starting optonavigation was; mean 1.8 (1-4). Supplementary installation time of the system was; mean 15 minutes (10-40). Clinical accuracy at two confidence points was always between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. (6 < 0.5 mm, 16 < 1 mm, 10 < 2 mm). There was no major complication during surgery neither no side effect due to the use of the CAS except for one case who presented a slight tongue edema due to a wrong position of the dynamic reference base (maxillary splint) during the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: CAS and optonavigation using the surgiGATE ORL TM is safe and efficient in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The accuracy of the system is sufficient and its use appropriate for primary either revision rhinologic procedures.
Electrocardiographically-assisted imaging is a recent development in multislice spiral computed tomography. In this article, we summarize the principles of four-detector row CT for cardiac applications. Following is an overview of the potential of this technique to evaluate the heart, the thoracic aorta, and the paracardiac pulmonary parenchyma. Technical considerations for optimal imaging are highlighted.
BACKGROUND: The authors report their initial experience with partial and total thyroidectomy, and neck exploration for hyperparathyroidism using the video-assisted approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 1999 and March 2001, 114 patients underwent a thyroid (n = 57) or parathyroid (n = 57) operation using a video-assisted cervical approach. Video-assisted neck exploration was conducted in all cases under general anaesthesia leading to a partial or total thyroidectomy, and to a selective adenoma removal in PHPT or to a subtotal parathyroid resection in SHPT. RESULTS: IN THE THYROID GROUP: The mean cranio-caudal and transversal diameter of the resected specimen were respectively 4.9 +/- 0.9 and 2.8 +/- 0.6 cm, and mean total lobar weight was 11.7 +/- 5.8 g. Conversion to conventional surgery was required in 5 patients (8.8%). The mean operative time was 133.9 +/- 26.9 and 86.5 +/- 22.5 minutes for total and partial thyroidectomy respectively. The laryngeal nerve was identified in 96% of cases. The mean length of skin incision was 24.0 +/- 2 mm. There were 3 cases of postoperative hypocalcemia, and 2 cases of postoperative hoarseness. The postoperative hospital stay was less than 24 hours for 72.7% of patients. The pain intensity at day one (VAS) was 2.1 +/- 1.3. IN THE PARATHYROID GROUP: Seven of the 44 patients who underwent PHPT (15.9%) and 4 of the 13 patients who underwent surgery for SHPT (30.8%) were converted to a conventional surgical technique. The mean operative time in PHPT and SHPT was 47.3 +/- 22.3 minutes and 136.8 +/- 18.7 minutes, respectively. Recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified in 53.1% of the patients. The median diameter and weight of the resected parathyroid glands were 1.5 cm (range 0.8-2.7) and 0.9 g (range 0.5-7), respectively. The length of skin incision was 24 +/- 2 mm. All but 2 patients are currently cured. Postoperative complications included hematoma and transient hoarseness each in one patient (1.75%). The median pain intensity at day one (VAS) was 0.5 (range: 0 to 3.6). In the PHPT group, the postoperative hospital stay was less than 24 hours for 56.7% of the patients, and less than 48 hours for 91.9% of them. CONCLUSION: The video-assisted approach for thyroid and parathyroid surgery is feasible, safe and effective in selected cases. Benefits for the patients should be further assessed in future prospective comparative trials.
This paper focuses primarily on upper airway anatomy and its variations during breathing and highlights the advantages/disadvantages of the different imaging techniques. The major indications of upper airway imaging are also discussed.
BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for primary hyperparathyroidism includes unilateral neck exploration, access via a totally endoscopic approach, and access via a video-assisted procedure. We report herein our initial experience with the video-assisted neck exploration procedure for primary (PHPT) and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). METHODS: Between June 1999 and May 2000, 35 patients were selected for PHPT (n = 25) and SHPT (n = 10). In all cases, video-assisted neck exploration was performed under general anesthesia, leading to selective adenoma removal in PHPT or subtotal parathyroid resection in SHPT. Patient selection was based on the preoperative localization studies (ultrasonography and sestamibi scintigraphy). RESULTS: Five of the 25 patients operated on for PHPT (20%) and three of the 10 patients who underwent surgery for SHPT (30 %) were converted to a conventional surgical technique. The mean operative times in PHPT and SHPT were 48.9 +/- 18.7 min and 136.8 +/- 18.7 min, respectively. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified in 45% of the patients. The median size and weight of the resected parathyroid glands were 1.8 cm (range, 0.9-2.5) and 1 g (range, 0.5-7), respectively. The length of skin incision was 24 +/- 1.2 mm. All but one patient are currently cured, with a median follow-up of 6 months (range, 2-13). Postoperative complications included hematoma and transient hoarseness in one patient each (2.85%). The median pain intensity, based on the visual analogue scale (VAS) method, as measured at postoperative day 1 was 0.5 (range, 0-3.6). In the PHPT group, the postoperative hospital stay was
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of positron emission tomography with radiolabeled [18F]-2-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (PET-FDG) imaging in mediastinal lymph node (LN) staging for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and to compare it to conventional clinical and surgical staging. METHODS: From June 1998 to February 2000, we enrolled 64 potentially resectable NSCLC patients in a prospective study of PET-FDG imaging of the mediastinum to assess LN involvement. Results of this technique were compared to conventional clinical and surgical staging. Diagnostic efficacy was determined by calculating sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for each method. RESULTS: PET-FDG imaging correctly identified nodal stage (N0-N1 vs. N2) in 50 out of 61 patients (82%), overstaging occurred in eight patients (13%), and understaging in three patients (4.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for PET-FDG scan imaging were 67, 85, 82, 43, and 93.6%, respectively. Conventional staging correctly identified nodal stage (N0-N1 vs. N2) in 51 out of 62 patients (82%), overstaging occurred in five patients (8.1%), and understaging in six patients (9.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values for conventional staging were 33, 90.6, 82, 37, and 89%, respectively. With regard to N2 disease, conventional staging showed a poor sensitivity (33%). Indeed, six out of 64 patients were understaged for mediastinal LN involvement. Even though the improvement was not statistically significant (McNemar P=0.08), the combined use of PET-FDG scan and computerized tomography (CT) scan allowed a two-fold increase in the sensitivity of our clinical preoperative staging. Moreover, relying on the PET-scan high negative predictive value might have contributed to a three-fold decrease in the number of required surgical staging procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the PET-FDG imaging strength lies in its very high negative predictive value and increased sensitivity. In this study, the overall accuracy of PET-FDG scan (82%) was lower than previously reported. Combined with chest CT-scan preoperatively, it may alleviate the need for surgical staging when PET-FDG studies of the mediastinum are negative. However, with a positive PET-FDG scan result, further diagnostic procedures should be pursued in order to avoid overstaging and allow better surgical patient selection.
This article reviews all clinical and pathological data available in the literature supporting the concept of selectivity in the neck nodes to be included in the Clinical Target Volume for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Using the terminology of neck node levels and the guidelines for the surgical delineation of these levels proposed by the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology of the American Academy for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, recommendations are proposed for both the selection and the delineation of lymph node target volumes.
Non-specific interstitial pneumonia is characterized pathologically by uniform interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. This disease is most commonly demonstrated on high resolution CT as subpleural ground-glass opacity mixed with irregular linear opacities. The authors report a case of non-specific interstitial pneumonia with high resolution findings consistent with a "crazy paving pattern". This appearance, represented by smoothly thickened interlobular septa with a background of geographic areas of ground-glass opacity, is unusual for non-specific interstitial pneumonia and was indistinguishable from other interstitial or alveolar lung diseases.
We report the radiological and high resolution CT (HRCT) findings of the pulmonary involvement in a case of subtype B Niemann-Pick disease, diagnosed in an asymptomatic 22-year-old man, which was proved by bone marrow biopsy and sphingomyelinase assessment. In the present case, HRCT showed smooth interlobular septa thickening and a subtle ground-glass pattern.
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The increasing use of 3D treatment planning in head and neck radiation oncology has created an urgent need for new guidelines for the selection and the delineation of the neck node areas to be included in the clinical target volume. Surgical literature has provided us with valuable information on the extent of pathological nodal involvement in the neck as a function of the primary tumor site. In addition, few clinical series have also reported information on radiological nodal involvement in those areas not commonly included in radical neck dissection. Taking all these data together, guidelines for the selection of the node levels to be irradiated for the major head and neck sites could be proposed. To fill the missing link between these guidelines and the 3D treatment planning, recommendations for the delineation of these node levels (levels I-VI and retropharyngeal) on CT (or MRI) slices have been proposed using the guidelines outlined by the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology of the American Academy for Otolarynology-Head and Neck Surgery. These guidelines were adapted to take into account specific radiological landmarks more easily identified on CT or MRI slices than in the operating field.
Because of their substantial in vitro synergy, we conducted a dose-escalation study of cyclophosphamide (CP) added to 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (CdA) in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CdA was given at a fixed dose (5.6 mg/m2/day) as a 2-h intravenous (i.v.) infusion, immediately followed by a 1-h i.v. infusion of CP, for 3 days. The initial daily CP dose was 200 mg/m2, and was escalated by 100 mg/m2 increments in successive cohorts of three to six patients to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). Additional patients were included at the MTD to extend toxicity and response analysis. Twenty-six patients received 68 cycles of chemotherapy. The MTD of CP after CdA 5.6 mg/m2, was 300 mg/m2. Acute neutropenia was the dose-limiting toxicity of this regimen, which was otherwise well tolerated. Delivery of repeated cycles was not feasible in eight patients (31%) because of prolonged thrombocytopenia. Severe infections were seen in three of 68 cycles (4%). The overall response rate was 58% (15 of 26; 95% CI, 36-76%), with 15% complete responses and 42% partial responses. These data show the feasibility of the association of CdA with CP. Given the response rate observed, further studies of this regimen are warranted in untreated patients, in particular with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and with Waldenström macroglobulinemia.