Completion Thyroidectomy In Patients Research Articles

Need for completion thyroidectomy in patients with T1-T2 differentiated thyroid neoplasia: 10 years of experience from a Portuguese center

Need for completion thyroidectomy in patients with T1-T2 differentiated thyroid neoplasia: 10 years of experience from a Portuguese center

7914 Staged Treatment with Radioiodine Following Lobectomy in a Case of High Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract Disclosure: L. Pathak: None. A. Sharma: None. K. Rao: None. M.G. Jakoby: None. Introduction: Radioiodine ([1]3[1]I ) is usually reserved for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) who are at high risk of persistence or recurrence after thyroidectomy. We present a case of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with extrathyroidal extension managed by lobectomy and staged [1]3[1]I ablation of the contralateral lobe and metastases due to comorbidities that made oncologic resection prohibitive. Case Description: A 58-year-old male had a 2.2 cm focus of PTC in the left thyroid lobe that extended into extrathyroidal soft tissue, adjacent trachea, and completely compromised the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Due to left vocal cord paralysis and subglottic tracheal stenosis, left lobectomy was performed but oncologic resection (total thyroidectomy and tracheal resection) was deferred. The patient underwent recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulated treatment with 30 mCi (1.1 GBq) of [1]3[1]I for right thyroid lobe ablation followed 60 d later by 180 mCi (6.7 GBq) of [1]3[1]I to treat metastases. Response to treatment was incomplete, with unstimulated thyroglobulin level falling from 293.9 to 18.9 ng/mL 1 y after [1]3[1]I and CT of the neck notable for a 2.7 cm left thyroid bed mass with invasion of adjacent trachea and a 1.0 cm right paratracheal mass, both of which exhibited hypermetabolism on PET imaging and yielded cytology consistent with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC). A cluster of left supraclavicular lymph nodes showed both hypermetabolism on PET and radioiodine uptake on rhTSH scan. This patient is being prepared for surgical resection of the left thyroid bed and right paratracheal tumors and left lateral lymph node dissection. Discussion: Radioiodine lobar ablation is an alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients with an unexpected diagnosis of DTC after lobectomy, with a recent meta-analysis finding a success rate of 69%. No difference in thyroid cancer recurrence rates was found in nearly 500 matched pairs of patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy or radioiodine lobar ablation. Unfortunately, staged lobar ablation followed by high dose [1]3[1]I was not successful in treating this high-risk PTC patient. Cases of coexisting PTC and PDTC are reported, and [1]3[1]I treatment was unsuccessful at treating PDTC that was not apparent on postsurgical histopathology. This case indicates that surgery is preferable to staged [1]3[1]I treatment of patients with aggressive PTC, especially if there are no comorbidities that make total thyroidectomy a high-risk procedure. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Partial Thyroidectomy With Incidental Metastatic Lymph Nodes

The need for completion thyroidectomy in patients with incidental metastatic lymph nodes after partial thyroidectomy is unclear. To investigate the outcomes of patients with incidental metastatic lymph nodes following partial thyroidectomy. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained thyroid cancer database from 1985 to 2015 was carried out at a head and neck surgery practice at a tertiary referral cancer center. A total of 74 patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy or thyroid isthmusectomy between 1985 and 2015 and were found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes on final pathologic analysis and were selected to be observed without immediate completion thyroidectomy were included. A separate group of additional 11 patients who underwent immediate completion thyroidectomy was also identified and reviewed. Analysis took place from February to May 2022. Recurrence-free survival outcomes of patients found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes on final pathologic analysis following partial thyroidectomy with no immediate completion thyroidectomy. A total of 74 patients were observed, with a median (IQR) age of 39 (28-49) years; 44 (59%) were women. Sixty-four patients underwent thyroid lobectomy and 10 patients had isthmusectomy. Classic papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common histologic type (34 [46%]). Vascular invasion and microscopic extrathyroidal extension were present in 11 patients (16%) and 22 patients (30%), respectively. Positive margins were identified in 5 patients (7.8%). Size of metastatic lymph nodes ranged between 0.07 cm and 1.2 cm. No extranodal extension was reported. A total of 52 patients (70%) were classified as intermediate risk for recurrence based on the American Thyroid Association risk stratification system. The median (IQR) follow up was 48.15 (15.4-86.1) months, during which only 1 patient had a regional recurrence. Another patient underwent delayed completion thyroidectomy for a contralateral lobe malignant abnormality. Recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were 97.4%, 100%, and 96.2%, respectively. A separate group of 11 patients who underwent immediate completion thyroidectomy were reviewed. These patients were more likely to have tall-cell papillary thyroid carcinoma (6 [55%] vs 13 [18%]), multifocality (9 [82%] vs 28 [41%]), microscopic extrathyroidal extension (8 [73%] vs 22 [30%]), and positive margins (3 [30%] vs 5 [7.8%]) compared with patients who were under observation only. Completion thyroidectomy may not be necessary in appropriately selected patients who are found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes (N1a) after partial thyroidectomy for localized well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Propensity Score Matched Outcome Analysis of Lobar Ablation Versus Completion Thyroidectomy in Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients: Median Follow-Up of 11 Years.

Background: Radioactive iodine lobar ablation (RAILA) of the contralateral thyroid lobe has been suggested as an alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who underwent initial hemithyroidectomy. However, data on long-term outcomes are scarce. In this study, we intended to describe the long-term outcomes of RAILA versus completion thyroidectomy in a cohort of low-risk DTC patients. Methods: Data of patients with low-risk DTC who underwent initial hemithyroidectomy, and were subsequently treated with either completion thyroidectomy or RAILA between 1996 and 2015, were collected and analyzed. The treatment outcomes included ablation rate, recurrence rate, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and adverse events, and were validated by propensity score matching analysis. Results: Of the 1243 patients (median age: 34 years, range: 5-78) with low-risk DTC, 514 patients underwent upfront RAILA while 729 patients underwent completion thyroidectomy followed by remnant ablation. The ablation rate following the first radioactive iodine (131I) cycle was 75.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 71.3-78.9] in the RAILA group versus 84.1% [CI 81.2-86.6] in the completion thyroidectomy group (p < 0.001). Over median follow-up of 11.4 years (interquartile range: 8.3-15.8), the recurrence rates between the two groups were not significantly different (1.6% [CI 0.7-3.2] vs. 1.0% [CI 0.4-2.1], respectively, p = 0.343). The product limit estimate of RFS at 10 years was 98.6% [CI 97.6-99.6%] in the RAILA group versus 99.1% [CI 98.3-99.9%] in the completion thyroidectomy group (p = 0.391). The outcomes in 497 matched pairs generated through propensity score analysis were similar. None of the patients in the RAILA group experienced permanent hypocalcemia or recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, while the corresponding rates in the completion thyroidectomy group were 10/729 (1.4%) (p = 0.006) and 5/729 (0.7%) (p = 0.080), respectively. Radiation thyroiditis was seen in 25/514 (4.9%) patients in the RAILA group versus 3/729 (0.4%) in the completion thyroidectomy group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Upfront RAILA is seen to be a noninvasive, safe, and effective alternative to surgical completion thyroidectomy in low-risk DTC patients in the absence of macroscopic malignancy in the remaining thyroid lobe.

Is hemithyroidectomy sufficient in unilateral benign nodular goitre?

Multinodular goiter is a common disease. If only one thyroid lobe is affected, hemithyroidectomy may be preferred to reduce complication and hormone replacement therapy. However, completion thyroidectomy may be required later. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of completion thyroidectomy in patients who develop nodules after hemithyroidectomy, and we aimed to find the ratio of patients who required hormone replacement for permanent hypothyroidism. Patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for benign nodular goitre between January 2012 and June 2017 were analyzed. The age of the patients, gender, number of nodules and dimension of the largest nodule, preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy results, and postoperative histopathology findings were recorded. The need for completion thyroidectomy and need for postoperative L-thyroxine treatment were based on these parameters. A total of 170 patients were included in the study. During the follow-up period new nodule or progression in existing nodule was observed in 23% (39 patients) of the cases. Permanent hypothyroidism requiring L-thyroxine treatment was observed in 31% (53 patients) of the cases. In this study, young age, multiple nodules and toxic nodular goitre diagnosis were noted to be independent risk factors that contributed to progression diseases in cases operated for benign nodular goitre. Due to low reoperation risk and acceptable permanent hypothyroidism rates, hemithyroidectomy is a viable option for benign goitre cases. The patients should be on follow-up for possible complications, especially hypothyroidism, for at least a year.

Persistent Postthyroidectomy Hypoparathyroidism in the Netherlands

Hypoparathyroidism is one of the most common complications after total or completion thyroidectomy. The reported incidence rate of hypoparathyroidism in the literature is highly variable. Data that provide a better understanding of the magnitude of this postoperative complication are warranted and can provide a stepping stone for further collaborations that aim to reduce complication rates and establish uniform treatment protocols. To evaluate the incidence of postoperative, persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy in patients who were referred to university hospital centers and assess the association of different definitions with the incidence of hypoparathyroidism. This retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted throughout 2016 in 7 Dutch university hospital centers included 200 patients who were undergoing a total or completion thyroidectomy. Data analysis was conducted in January 2021. We report on the incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism, defined as the need for active vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation longer than 1 year after surgery. A total of 200 patients (143 women [71.5%]; mean [IQR] age, 49.0 [37.0-62.0] years) were included and 30 patients (15.0%) developed persistent hypoparathyroidism. The incidence of persistent hypoparathyroidism varied between 14.5% (calcium and active vitamin D 1 year postsurgery) to 28.5% (calcium and/or active vitamin D 6 months postsurgery) depending on the definition used. In this cohort study, the risk of persistent hypoparathyroidism after total or completion thyroidectomy was 15% in patients who were referred to university hospital centers. The high rate of persistent hypoparathyroidism warrants efforts to reduce this complication rate. There is discrepancy in the definition and treatment of persistent hypoparathyroidism, and use of uniform evidence-based treatment guidelines enables comparison of interventions.

Is hemithyroidectomy sufficient in unilateral benign nodular goitre?

Multinodular goiter is a common disease. If only one thyroid lobe is affected, hemithyroidectomy may be preferred to reduce complication and hormone replacement therapy. However, completion thyroidectomy may be required later. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of completion thyroidectomy in patients who develop nodules after hemithyroidectomy, and we aimed to find the ratio of patients who required hormone replacement for permanent hypothyroidism. Patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for benign nodular goitre between January 2012 and June 2017 were analyzed. The age of the patients, gender, number of nodules and dimension of the largest nodule, preoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy results, and postoperative histopathology findings were recorded. The need for completion thyroidectomy and need for postoperative L-thyroxine treatment were based on these parameters. A total of 170 patients were included in the study. During the follow-up period new nodule or progression in existing nodule was observed in 23% (39 patients) of the cases. Permanent hypothyroidism requiring L-thyroxine treatment was observed in 31% (53 patients) of the cases. In this study, young age, multiple nodules and toxic nodular goitre diagnosis were noted to be independent risk factors that contributed to progression diseases in cases operated for benign nodular goitre. Due to low reoperation risk and acceptable permanent hypothyroidism rates, hemithyroidectomy is a viable option for benign goitre cases. The patients should be on follow-up for possible complications, especially hypothyroidism, for at least a year.

English

English

Need for Completion Thyroidectomy in Patients Undergoing Lobectomy for Indeterminate and High-Risk Nodules: Impact of Intra-Operative Findings and Final Pathology.

Current guidelines increasingly suggest the use of thyroid lobectomy for indeterminate (Bethesda 3 and 4) and high-risk (Bethesda 5 and 6) thyroid nodules; however, the clinical reality is often very different. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of completion thyroidectomy (CTx) for indeterminate and high-risk thyroid nodules which are pre-operatively classified as suitable for unilateral resection (lobe eligible) based on current guidelines. Seven hundred consecutive patients with thyroid nodules and FNA cytology over four years (2015-2018) were reviewed. Distribution of the dominant nodules by Bethesda was: non-diagnostic 3.9%, benign 28.1%, atypia of unknown significance 19.0%, follicular neoplasm 23.6%, suspicious for malignancy 6.1% and malignancy 19.3%. Of 298 indeterminate nodules, 68.8% (205/298) had relative but independent indications for a total thyroidectomy (TTx) and the remainder were candidates for lobectomy. For these lobe eligible patients, the overall risk of ultimately needing a TTx was 19.4% (18/93), comprising 4.3% (4/93) from intra-operative findings and 15.7% (14/89) from final pathology. Similarly, of 170 high-risk nodules, 63.5% (108/170) had upfront indications for a TTx and the remaining 62 nodules were lobe eligible. Of the patients taken to the operating room for a lobectomy, 21.0% (13/62) were upgraded to a TTx intra-operatively and 26.5% (13/49) post-operatively. The lobe success rate for indeterminate nodules was 25.2% and for high-risk nodules was 21.2%. The rate of CTx, or the proportion of patients needing a second operation was 15.7% (14/89) and 26.5% (13/49), respectively. In counselling a patient for surgery, the risk of needing a more radical initial procedure or second surgery needs to be accurately explained. There are three points of care that can influence operative strategy, pre-operatively by way of high-risk clinical factors, intra-operatively via anatomical findings and post-operatively in response to unrecognized pathological features. Additionally, the patient's personal value judgment and level of risk aversion should be taken into consideration.

Risk of needing completion thyroidectomy for low‐risk papillary thyroid cancers treated by lobectomy

BackgroundLow‐risk differentiated thyroid cancers may, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA) 2015 guidelines, be managed initially with lobectomy. However, definitive risk categorization requires pathological assessment of the specimen, resulting in completion thyroidectomy being recommended when discordance between preoperative and postoperative staging occurs. This study sought to establish the expected rate of completion thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) treated by lobectomy.MethodsPatients with PTC treated over 5 years (2013–2017 inclusive) and meeting the ATA criteria for lobectomy were identified from the prospectively developed database of a high‐volume, university department of endocrine surgery. Concordance between the ATA initial and final recommendation, and the putative rate of completion thyroidectomy were calculated. Multivariable analysis was used to assess preoperative factors as predictors of the need for total thyroidectomy.ResultsOf 275 patients with PTC who met ATA preoperative criteria for lobectomy there was concordance between this and the final recommendation in 158 (57·5 per cent) and discordance in 117 (43·5 per cent). Most common reasons for discordance were: angioinvasion (30·8 per cent), local invasion (23·9 per cent) or both (20·5 per cent). Four patients (1·5 per cent) had permanent hypoparathyroidism. On multivariable analysis, age, sex, tumour size and family history did not independently predict the final treatment required.ConclusionAlthough many patients may be treated adequately with lobectomy, just under half would require completion thyroidectomy. Further work is needed on preoperative risk stratification but, before this, total thyroidectomy remains the treatment of choice for low‐risk 1–4‐cm PTC in the hands of high‐volume thyroid surgeons who can demonstrate low complication rates.

Completion Thyroidectomy in Patients Diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Is There a Predictive Factor for Contralateral Lobe Tumor?

Objectives:Completion thyroidectomy (CT) is defined as the removal of the residual thyroid tissue in the case of detected malignancy after lobectomy for an indeterminate or non-diagnostic biopsy. Factors such as tumor diameter, aggressive histology, extrathyroidal spread, and positive surgical margin in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) constitute CT indications. However, the type of surgery is controversial especially in patients with a tumor diameter of 1-4 cm. Determination of predictive factors for contralateral lobe tumors (CLTs) in PTC may be helpful for rough or excessive treatment of patients with this common thyroid pathology.The aim of the present study was to determine the predictive factors and rate of detection of CLTs after CT in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma after lobectomy.Methods:Medical records of patients who underwent lobectomy with the final histological diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma for the study period 2011 to 2016 were reviewed. Demographic data of the patients, diameter, multicentricity and subtype of tumor, extrathyroidal spread, and vascular invasion rate were obtained. Patients were divided into 2 groups as final histological examination after CT revealed benign (Group 1) and malignant (Group 2).Results:Data of 49 patients were retrospectively analyzed during the study period. The female-to-male ratio was 33/16. The mean age of the patients was 47.59 (23–77) years. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of 30 and 19 patients, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding demographic data and tumor characteristics.Conclusion:Despite the fact that we have not been detecting any predictive factor in predicting the presence of tumor on the contralateral lobe in our study, the detection of a tumor on the contralateral lobe is frequent.

Clinical impact of microscopic extrathyroidal extension in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma treated with hemithyroidectomy

Pathologically confirmed microscopic extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is often identified after hemithyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Without the presence of microscopic ETE, these patients would be optimal candidates for hemithyroidectomy. The present study aimed at evaluating the clinical impact of microscopic ETE on the recurrence of PTMC treated with hemithyroidectomy. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics and 5-year outcomes for 262 PTMC patients without ETE and 86 with microscopic ETE who were treated with hemithyroidectomy between January 2004 and December 2010. The mean tumour size was larger (0.67 vs. 0.54cm, p<0.001) and the proportion of tumours measuring ≥0.5cm was higher (84.9 vs. 66.8%, p=0.001) in patients with microscopic ETE as compared with patients without ETE. Occult multifocal disease was more frequent in patients with microscopic ETE than in those without ETE (14.0 vs. 6.5%, p=0.030). However, the recurrence rate was not different between the two groups during the mean 55.8-month follow-up period. In addition, univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no meaningful association between recurrence and microscopic ETE in patients with PTMC treated with hemithyroidectomy. Although microscopic ETE was associated with large tumour size and multifocal disease, its clinical impact on disease recurrence was not significant in PTMC patients treated with hemithyroidectomy. Therefore, microscopic ETE identified after hemithyroidectomy would not be an absolute indication for completion thyroidectomy in patients with PTMC.

Completion thyroidectomy of well-differentiated thyroid cancer — a prospective, miserandomised study

Postoperatively diagnosed papillary or follicular thyroid cancer in subtotally thyroidectomised patients requires a completion thyroidectomy. Re-operation with a gamma probe can be particularly useful in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of using an intraoperative hand-held gamma detector during completion thyroidectomy in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WTC). 75 patients with WTC qualified for total re-thyroidectomy. In 43 patients, Group I (Nav), a hand-held gamma probe (Navigator GPS) was used intraoperatively. 32 patients were re-operated without the gamma probe (Group II). In Group I, thyroid remnants were removed based on counted gamma signals. To estimate the radicality of reoperation in both groups, thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were determined and total body scanning (TBS) - I(131) uptake - was performed. Total thyroidectomy with central lymphadenectomy was performed in 75 cases. The average level of Tg and iodine uptake after radicalisation was lower in Group I (Nav) than in Group II (3.32 ± 2.09 v. 4.58 ± 2.5 ng/mL, respectively, for Tg [p = 0.021] and 6.29 ± 3.38 v. 7.31 ± 2.29 ng/mL, respectively, for iodine uptake [p = 0.187]). Additionally, the frequency of postoperative complications was comparable, the difference in both groups was not significant, despite the use of the gamma probe (p = 0.109). The intraoperative use of a hand-held gamma detector can help to improve the radicality of a completion thyroidectomy procedure after an incomplete primary thyroid resection, but the results of this procedure in the hands of an experienced surgeon are comparable whether or not the gamma detector is used.

Profile of Patients with Completion Thyroidectomy and Assessment of Their Suitability for Outpatient Surgery

Outpatient thyroid surgery for thyroid lobectomy has been shown to be safe and feasible. The safety of outpatient completion thyroidectomy in patients who have previously undergone thyroid lobectomy has not been extensively evaluated in the medical literature to date. The authors sought to evaluate postoperative complications associated with completion thyroidectomy in their institution to determine if it would be safe and feasible to perform as an outpatient procedure. Case series with chart review. Tertiary care teaching hospital. Two hundred four consecutive patients, who underwent completion thyroidectomy after previous thyroid lobectomy from January 2000 to June 2010, comprised the study population. Medical records were reviewed for preoperative and postoperative serum calcium levels, preoperative and postoperative fiber-optic laryngoscopic examination of vocal fold mobility, associated comorbidities, length of hospital stay, drain use, seroma or hematoma formation, final thyroid pathology, and postoperative follow-up. Overall, 9 patients (4.4%) developed postoperative complications, including transient symptomatic hypocalcemia in 4 patients (2.0%), transient laboratory hypocalcemia in 3 patients (1.5%), seroma formation in 1 patient (0.5%), and hematoma development in 1 patient (0.5%). There were no cases with permanent or temporary vocal fold paralysis. No significant difference was found in the overall complication rate before and after 4 hours of observation (P = .50). Selected patients who undergo completion thyroidectomy after previous thyroid lobectomy can be safely discharged after 4 hours of postoperative observation with appropriate instructions.

A prospective clinical trial to assess the efficacy of radioiodine ablation as an alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer undergoing sub-total thyroidectomy

We conducted a prospective clinical trial to evaluate whether radioiodine ablation can be an effective alternative to completion thyroidectomy in patients undergoing sub-total thyroidectomy and if yes, the optimum activity of 131I and frequency of ablation. A total of 85 patients (F–63; M–22) with mean age of 37.9±12.3 years were recruited in this study. The pre-ablation mean 24 hour radioiodine neck uptake, effective half-life, residual thyroid tissue weight and TSH values were 13.9±8.5%, 4.5±0.9 days, 9.6±3.6 g and 11.7±6.4 µIU/ml, respectively. Thyroid tissue was completely ablated in 50 patients (58.8%, 95% CI:50–68%) after mean 1st administered activity of 32.3±10.7 mCi of 131I and the cumulative ablation rate was 91.8% after two doses of 131I. During mean follow-up duration of 49 months no local/distant recurrence has been observed so far in this cohort. It appears that radioiodine ablation may be an attractive alternative to completion thyroidectomy and an activity as low as 35 mCi may achieve reasonable ablation.

Hürthle Cell Tumors

To design a new management algorithm for all Hürthle cell tumors and variants based on histopathologic findings and the ret/PTC molecular marker. A retrospective medical record review. A large tertiary care teaching center. Forty-five consecutive cases of Hürthle cell carcinoma were gathered from a database of 661 patients with well-differentiated epithelial thyroid cancers compiled over 22 years. Data collected included patient information, tumor information, and treatment factors. Outcome parameters included tumor and treatment variables, which were analyzed statistically using the chi(2) and t tests. Disease-free survival and disease-specific survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. A female-male ratio of 3:1 was found, with a median patient age of 57 years. Twenty-three patients had American Joint Commission on Cancer stage II disease. Treatment factors had no significant effect on disease recurrence or survival. More than half of the patients had histologically proved regional metastases. Vascular invasion significantly diminished disease-specific survival and disease-free interval. We found a high incidence of Hürthle cell carcinoma with cervical metastasis. On the basis of findings of this study and our previous clinical and molecular findings, we propose a treatment algorithm that combines histologic examination and molecular assays for the ret/PTC gene rearrangements specific to papillary thyroid carcinoma. After permanent section analysis demonstrating Hürthle cell metaplasia, the algorithm mandates completion thyroidectomy in patients with ret/PTC-positive Hürthle cell tumors and clinical observation for ret/PTC-negative Hürthle cell adenomas. We recommend more aggressive treatment of ret/PTC-positive Hürthle cell lesions (or Hürthle cell papillary thyroid cancer), because of the higher incidence of regional metastatic disease.

Completion thyroidectomy in patients with thyroid carcinoma initially submitted to lobectomy

Completion thyroidectomy in patients with thyroid carcinoma initially submitted to lobectomy

Completion thyroidectomy in patients with thyroid cancer who initially underwent unilateral operation.

In some instances, thyroid cancer may be diagnosed with histological examination after resection of putative or suspected benign nodule. In these cases, completion thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation is usually recommended to prevent recurrence. If small intrathyroidal cancer is found, completion thyroidectomy may not be performed. Many patients have separate cancers in the contralateral lobe and in these cases completion thyroidectomy is essential even though primary tumour is small and limited within thyroid. We analysed the frequency of malignant lesions in the contralateral lobe after completion thyroidectomy and assessed the predictive factors that may anticipate the presence of malignant lesion that may necessitate completion thyroidectomy. Between 1995 and 2001, 243 patients were operated under the cytological diagnosis of follicular neoplasm. A total of 214 of them underwent lobectomy and isthmectomy and 81 turned out to have malignant disease in the resected lobe and they underwent completion thyroidectomy within a week to 6 months after the permanent section diagnosis of cancer. Their mean age was 40.7 +/- 12.1 years (range 14-71 years). After initial surgery, 53 patients had follicular carcinoma, 24 papillary carcinoma, one Hürthle cell carcinoma, one medullary, one insular and one anaplastic carcinoma. Mean tumour size was 4.1 +/- 2.6 cm (range 0.9-11 cm). After completion thyroidectomy, factors predicting the presence of cancer in the contralateral lobe were assessed according to clinical parameters and pathologic findings in ipsilateral lobe. First surgery revealed cancer multifocality in 34 cases, perithyroidal tumour extension in six and regional lymph node metastases in three. After completion thyroidectomy, 29 of the 81 patients revealed additional cancer in the contralateral lobe. Age, sex, size or pathologic type of the primary tumour was not associated with the presence of additional tumour in the contralateral lobe. Cancer multifocality in the ipsilateral lobe was the only significant variable to predict the presence of additional cancer in the contralateral lobe (relative risk = 6.03, confidence interval 2.23-16.35). Coexistence of benign nodule in ipsilateral lobe was not associated with increased cancer risk in the contralateral lobe. When diagnosed as thyroid cancer after unilateral surgery, the only predictive factor for the presence of additional contralateral cancer was multifocality of cancer in the ipsilateral lobe. We suggest that completion thyroidectomy is mandatory if multifocal cancers are found in the resected lobe, even though the cancers are very small and limited within the thyroid.

The incidence of bilateral well-differentiated thyroid cancer found at completion thyroidectomy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of completion thyroidectomy in patients with presumed unilateral well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). The medical records of all patients having had unilateral thyroid lobectomy for WDTC, who subsequently underwent completion thyroidectomy, were reviewed. From 1980 to 1991, 60 patients with WDTC underwent completion thyroidectomy. Forty-seven patients had presumed unilateral WDTC, with no evidence of residual disease prior to their completion thyroidectomy. Twenty-five (53%) of these patients were found to have residual neoplastic disease in the neck. In 20 (43%) of 47 patients, a focus of cancer was found in the remaining thyroid lobe and in 5 additional patients no cancer was found in the contralateral lobe, however, unsuspected nodal disease was found. The remaining 13 of the 60 patients presented with either regional recurrence (n = 12) or distant metastases (n = 1) at the time of their completion thyroidectomy. All (92%) but 1 of these 13 patients had cancer in the remaining thyroid lobe. Multifocal disease in the primary lobe was associated with bilateral thyroid cancer (p less than 0.01). Complications were infrequent; transient hypocalcemia occurred in 5 (8%) patients, permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 1 (1.7%) patient, and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in 3 (5%) patients. Residual WDTC was found in 37 (62%) of 60 patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy. Multifocal disease in the primary resected lobe was associated with a high incidence of contralateral thyroid cancer. Completion thyroidectomy is a safe procedure and may prevent the development of regional recurrence by eliminating an unsuspected focus of cancer.