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Susan J Mandel

Publications and source records attributed to Susan J Mandel.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Are detection and treatment of thyroid insufficiency in pregnancy feasible?

A workshop entitled, "The Impact of Maternal Thyroid Diseases on the Developing Fetus: Implications for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Screening," was held in Atlanta, Georgia, January 12-13, 2004. The workshop was sponsored jointly by The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The American Thyroid Association. This paper reports on the individual session that examined the ability to detect and treat thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy. For this session, presented papers included: "Laboratory Reference Values in Pregnancy" and "Criteria for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy." These presentations were formally discussed by invited respondents and by others in attendance. Salient points from this session about which there was agreement include the following: thyrotropin (TSH) can be used as marker for hypothyroidism in pregnancy, except when there is iodine deficiency usually evidenced by elevated serum thyroglobulin (Tg). We need more longitudinal studies of TSH during pregnancy in iodine-sufficient populations without evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease to develop trimester-specific TSH reference ranges. Current free thyroxine (FT4) estimate methods are sensitive to abnormal binding-protein states such as pregnancy. There is no absolute FT4 value that will define hypothyroxinemia across methods. Total thyroxine (TT4) changes in pregnancy are predictable and not method-specific. TT4 below 100 nmol/L (7.8 microg/dL) is a reasonable indicator of hypothyroxinemia in pregnancy. Women with known hypothyroidism and receiving levothyroxine (LT4) before pregnancy should plan to increase their dosage by 30% to 60% early in pregnancy. Women with autoimmune thyroid disease prior to pregnancy are at increased risk for thyroid insufficiency during pregnancy and postpartum thyroiditis and should be monitored with TSH during pregnancy.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Patterns of lateral neck metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although lymphatic metastasis does not affect overall survival for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, locoregional control can be improved with cervical lymphadenectomy. The major morbidity of neck dissection (ND) for the management of regional metastases is spinal accessory (cranial nerve XI) dysfunction. To avoid this complication, some surgeons have advocated a limited ND. OBJECTIVE: To establish the patterns of lateral cervical metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and the role of comprehensive ND, we performed a review of our experience with comprehensive ND. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2002, a total of 39 consecutive patients (31 women and 8 men) underwent 44 NDs for the management of lateral cervical metastases. Preoperative cytologic analysis revealed papillary carcinoma in all 39 patients (100%). All specimens were labeled and mapped by the operating surgeon to identify each level. The incidence of positive disease was determined in relation to the extent of lymphadenectomy for all dissected levels. RESULTS: All patients underwent ND at levels II through V; 7 (17%) of the 44 ND specimens included level I nodes. The incidence of metastatic disease in level II nodes was 52% (23/44 specimens). Similarly, 25 specimens (57%) contained histologic metastases at level III. Metastatic disease was noted in 18 level IV nodes (41%) and 9 level V nodes (21%). One (14%) of the 7 specimens with level I nodes contained tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma occur in predictable patterns, with disease commonly present at levels II through V. We believe that a comprehensive ND, including removal of transverse cervical and spinal accessory nodes, is necessary for the complete clearance of lateral metastases.

Adolescent↗

Hypothyroidism and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis in the pregnant state: maternal aspects.

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes that can be ameliorated or prevented by adequate therapy with thyroxine. Currently, there are no guidelines for universal screening for thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women or in women of reproductive age. Therefore, it is important to recognize those groups of women who may be at higher risk for development of hypothyroidism so that serum TSH testing may be performed with appropriate initiation of thyroxine therapy. In addition, the thyroxine therapy of women with established hypothyroidism should be optimized prior to conception and during pregnancy when the thyroxine dosage requirement generally increases early in gestation. The diverse etiologies of maternal hypothyroidism may require different increments in thyroxine dose during pregnancy, and generally the postpartum dosage requirement returns to pre-pregnancy levels.

Female↗

Safety of modified radical neck dissection for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The management of cervical metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) remains controversial. Most surgeons perform a neck dissection (ND) for clinically apparent disease. The extent of nodal dissection varies from regional to comprehensive. Morbidity from ND in the setting of DTC remains high, particularly when performed in the setting of a thyroidectomy (TT). To determine complications from ND for DTC, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience of modified radical neck dissection for nodal metastases. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2002, 39 consecutive patients (31 females and 8 males) underwent 44 comprehensive NDs of levels II-V for DTC. Central compartment dissection (CCD) (levels VI and VII) was also performed during 23 of these procedures. Twenty (45.5%) patients had prior treatment elsewhere. Preoperative pathology revealed papillary carcinoma in 22 patients (56.4%), tall cell variant in 11 (28.2%), and follicular variant in 6 (15.4%). RESULTS: Ten patients (20%) underwent ND alone, whereas 6 (14%) underwent simultaneous ND and TT. Fifteen patients underwent simultaneous ND, TT, and CCD (30%). Temporary hypocalcemia occurred after 21% of NDs that were performed in the setting of either TT or CCD or both. There were no cases of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Transient regional lymph node (RLN) paresis occurred in two patients and was associated with a concomitant central compartment nodal dissection; there were no permanent RLN palsies. Transient spinal accessory nerve paresis developed after 27% of NDs performed. Two patients developed chyle leaks. CONCLUSIONS: When ND is necessary for the treatment of thyroid malignancies, the procedure can be performed safely with acceptable morbidity.

Adolescent↗

c-Met expression in tall cell variant papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

BACKGROUND: Tall cell variant papillary carcinoma of the thyroid demonstrates unusually aggressive clinical behavior compared with the usual form of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The proto-oncogene c-met encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor known to influence cell invasion. This current study examined c-Met expression in tall cell variant tumors compared with other types of papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid disease. METHODS: c-Met expression in 60 archived thyroid specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Tall cell variant specimens expressed significantly greater levels of c-Met than other forms of papillary thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid disease (P < 0.0001). c-Met expression was significantly different for the following pairs of histologies: tall cell variant versus usual papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (P < 0.0001), tall cell variant versus follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (P < 0.0001), tall cell variant versus benign thyroid (P < 0.0001), and usual papillary carcinoma of the thyroid versus benign thyroid (P = 0.005). In addition, for all types of papillary carcinomas evaluated, c-Met expression was significantly higher in specimens with extracapsular spread (P = 0.01) and skeletal muscle invasion (P = 0.02), and approached significance for specimens with lymphatic invasion (P = 0.06). After adjusting for extracapsular spread, c-Met expression was still found to be associated significantly with tall cell histology (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: c-Met expression is a significant marker for tall cell variant papillary carcinoma of the thyroid and its invasive behavior. This finding may explain the unusually aggressive behavior of this tumor and suggests a role for c-Met in the early identification of patients with tall cell variant thyroid disease.

Adult↗

The diagnostic dilemma of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Given the difference in surgical management between follicular neoplasms and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), we sought to determine the sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and intraoperative pathologic study (IP), frozen section and cytologic study, in establishing a diagnosis of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) and how these techniques impact operative management. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for nodular disease between June 1997 and June 2002 identifying patients with a final diagnosis of FVPTC. FNA and IP results were reviewed in this group of patients and correlated with those of final histopathologic study. The sensitivity of FNA and IP was calculated. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients had a final diagnosis of FVPTC. Eighty-six preoperative FNAs were obtained in 80 patients, leading to a diagnosis of PTC in 7 (sensitivity 9%). Intraoperative pathologic study was performed in 31 patients with suspicious FNA results, of which 13 were definitive for PTC (sensitivity 42%). Overall, IP was obtained in 42 patients, of which 15 were positive for PTC (sensitivity 36%). CONCLUSION: Although the sensitivity of FNA in establishing a diagnosis of FVPTC is low, FNA identifies patients with suspicious lesions in whom IP is important in guiding operative management.

Adult↗

Radioactive iodine and the salivary glands.

Radioactive iodine ((131)I) targets the thyroid gland and has been proven to play an effective role in the treatment of differentiated papillary and follicular cancers. Simultaneously, this radioisotope hones in on the salivary glands where it is concentrated and secreted into the saliva. Dose related damage to the salivary parenchyma results from the (131)I irradiation. Salivary gland swelling and pain, usually involving the parotid, can be seen. The symptoms may develop immediately after a therapeutic dose of (131)I and/or months later and progress in intensity with time. In conjunction with the radiation sialadenitis, secondary complications reported include xerostomia, taste alterations, infection, increases in caries, facial nerve involvement, stomatitis, candidiasis, and neoplasia. Prevention of the (131)I sialadenitis may involve the use of sialogogic agents to hasten the transit time of the radioactive iodine through the salivary glands. However, studies are not available to delineate the efficacy of this approach. Recently, amifostine has been advocated to prevent the effects of irradiation. Treatment of the varied complications that may develop encompass numerous approaches and include gland massage, sialogogic agents, duct probing, antibiotics, mouthwashes, good oral hygiene, and adequate hydration.

Amifostine↗

Comparison of I-123 and I-131 for whole-body imaging after stimulation by recombinant human thyrotropin: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: Many studies have established I-123 whole-body scanning (WBS) as an alternative to I-131 WBS in the evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer. Similarly, recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) has been shown to be an effective alternative to thyroid hormone withdrawal in the stimulation of TSH levels for WBS. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the ability of rhTSH-stimulated I-123 WBS to that of rhTSH-stimulated I-131 WBS in the evaluation of thyroid cancer. METHODS: The reports of 101 consecutive I-123 WBS and 101 consecutive I-131 WBS were analyzed. All patients had undergone near-total thyroidectomy, were considered to have a low risk for recurrence, and had rhTSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin levels measured at the time of imaging. Findings of an examination were considered positive if either residual thyroid tissue was detected on imaging or the serum thyroglobulin level was greater than 2 ng/dl. RESULTS: The results of rhTSH-stimulated I-123 scans and thyroglobulin levels were concordant in 91 (90%) cases, whereas the results of rhTSH-stimulated I-131 scans and thyroglobulin levels were concordant in 85 (84%) cases. I-123 WBS detected 9 foci of disease in 6 patients, whereas I-131 WBS detected 10 foci of disease in 9 patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary investigation are promising regarding the utility of rhTSH-stimulated I-123 WBS as an alternate approach to rhTSH-stimulated I-131 WBS in patients at low risk for recurrence.

Carcinoma↗

Safety of completion thyroidectomy following unilateral lobectomy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVES: When a diagnosis of thyroid cancer is returned following unilateral lobectomy, removal of the contralateral lobe is frequently necessary. Morbidity for completion thyroidectomy includes a reported 2% to 5% risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and an 8% to 15% incidence of hypoparathyroidism. In this study, to determine morbidity following completion thyroidectomy, we reviewed our results of reoperative surgery among patients with thyroid cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2000, 36 consecutive patients, 32 females and 4 males, with a mean age of 43.6 years (range, 19-59 y), underwent completion thyroidectomy. Preoperative fine-needle aspiration revealed follicular derived neoplasm in 32 patients (88.9%), indeterminate in 3 patients (8.3%), and Hürthle cell neoplasm in 1 patient (2.8%). The interval between the first and second operation was a mean of 43.3 days (range, 2-103 d). RESULTS: At the primary surgery, 29 patients (80.6%) had a follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, 6 (16.7%) had follicular carcinoma, and 1 (2.8%) had Hürthle cell carcinoma. Of these, 14 had multifocal disease. In the completion lobe, 20 patients (55.6%) had evidence of thyroid carcinoma. There was a 0% incidence of RLN injury, and the mean pre- and post-completion thyroidectomy serum calcium was 8.9 mg/dL and 8.6 mg/dL, respectively. There was one postoperative hematoma, requiring re-exploration. Five patients (13.9%) had a transient postoperative serum calcium (Ca) <8.0 mg/dL, with one being symptomatic. None required vitamin D or prolonged calcium supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: When completion thyroidectomy is necessary for the treatment of thyroid malignancy, the procedure can be performed safely with low morbidity and is effective for diagnosing and removing occult disease in the remaining thyroid.

Adult↗

A 21-year-old woman with consumptive hypothyroidism due to a vascular tumor expressing type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase.

We present a 21-yr-old female with a large hepatic vascular tumor and subclinical hypothyroidism. A high level of the thyroid hormone inactivating enzyme type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (D3) was detected in her tumor, and the TSH of 26.2 mU/liter returned to normal after surgical resection of the mass. This indicates that the vascular tumor caused this adult's hypothyroidism as has now been documented in nine infants with this syndrome. This first example of consumptive hypothyroidism in an adult indicates that the inactivation rate of thyroid hormone by D3 in a vascular tumor can stress the secretory capacity even of the TSH-stimulated normal adult thyroid gland.

Adult↗

Comparison of 123I scintigraphy at 5 and 24 hours in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

UNLABELLED: This study was performed to determine differences in 123I image quality at 5 and 24 h for the detection of residual thyroid or recurrent disease in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and to evaluate which of these approaches provides the optimal yield compared with scans obtained after 131I therapy. METHODS: The study included 99 patients (70 women, 29 men). Histopathology included 88 papillary cancers, 7 follicular cancers, and 4 Hürthle cell tumors. Each patient previously had a near-total thyroidectomy. Seventy patients were receiving initial 131I therapy, and 29 had undergone prior radioablative therapy with 131I. Whole-body images and spot views of the neck and chest were obtained with a dual-head scanner at 5 and 24 h after the oral administration of 56 MBq (1.5 mCi) Na123I. In addition, tomographic images of the neck and chest were obtained in 26 patients. The images obtained at 5 and 24 h were evaluated for the number of lesions visualized and the image quality. Seventy-four patients received radioablative therapy after this diagnostic work-up. Whole-body images were obtained on these patients 7 d after 131I therapy and were compared with the diagnostic scans. RESULTS: Overall, images acquired 5 and 24 h after oral administration of 56 MBq (1.5 mCi) 123I were concordant in 73% of patients. For 25 patients (25%), 24-h scanning was superior by detecting additional neck foci or confirming equivocal neck foci (20 patients) and confirming equivocal pulmonary uptake (5 patients). In the subset of patients undergoing surveillance imaging after prior 131I ablation therapy with positive scans, 24-h images were superior in 66%. In 3 patients, SPECT revealed additional foci compared with planar images at 5 h. These foci were also clearly identified on the planar images obtained at 24 h. Images obtained after therapy did not identify additional sites of tumor involvement compared with those noted on 24-h images but did reveal more foci of residual thyroid tissue in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yield of planar diagnostic 123I scintigraphy at 24 h was superior to that at 5 h for lesion detection and image quality, and images obtained after 131I therapy did not reveal unknown metastatic foci.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

Celiac disease manifesting as isolated hypocalcemia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient who presented with hypocalcemia and hypocalciuria as the initial manifestations of celiac disease, despite a normal vitamin D status. METHODS: We review the diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and biochemical and bone mineral density responses of a patient with asymptomatic celiac disease, which was initially suggested because of a low serum calcium level that became attributable to isolated malabsorption of calcium. RESULTS: A 36-year-old woman presented with hypocalcemia in the presence of normal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and high serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. She had hypocalciuria and secondary hyperparathyroidism that were refractory to pharmacologic calcium and cholecalciferol supplementation. Fecal calcium excretion indicated malabsorption of calcium, and biopsy of the small intestine demonstrated pathologic changes characteristic of celiac disease. Bone mineral density, determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, was in the osteopenic range at the femoral neck. The initiation of a gluten-free diet resulted in correction of all biochemical abnormalities and a substantial increase in bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: Primary intestinal malabsorption of calcium without concomitant vitamin D deficiency is possible in celiac disease because of the preferential involvement of the proximal small intestine early in the disease process. Our patient had hypocalcemia caused by celiac disease and values for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D that were normal and elevated, respectively. Correction was demonstrated after dietary gluten withdrawal.

Adult↗

Diagnostic use of ultrasonography in patients with nodular thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVE: To review the published reports pertaining to the diagnostic utility of ultrasonography for evaluation of thyroid nodules. METHODS: Various roles for diagnostic thyroid ultrasonography and screening ultrasound studies of the thyroid are discussed, and ultrasound characteristics of thyroid nodules and their association with malignant potential are described. RESULTS: In two studies that correlated ultrasound findings with physical examination findings in patients with a solitary thyroid nodule detected by palpation, 16% of such patients had no corresponding nodule evident on ultrasonography, and 45% of such patients had an additional nodule detected by ultrasonography. Similarly, approximately 18% of patients with a palpable multinodular thyroid had no nodules larger than 1 cm in diameter on ultrasound studies. Thyroid nodules larger than 1 cm have been found by ultrasonography to be present in from 2 to almost 5% of the population with normal findings on examination of the thyroid. Use of screening ultrasound study of the thyroid has been suggested for patients with a history of childhood irradiation to the head and neck or a family history of thyroid cancer. Numerous investigations that have evaluated ultrasound features of thyroid nodules have suggested five characteristics as suggestive of malignant potential--hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, irregular or microlobulated border, absent or irregular thick halo, and increased intranodular vascularity. CONCLUSION: Correlation of ultrasound and palpation findings will provide a comprehensive evaluation of nodular thyroid disease. Moreover, real-time ultrasonography facilitates characterization of features associated with an increased risk of a malignant lesion. High-resolution thyroid ultrasonography is a dynamic tool for endocrinologists.

Humans↗