Removal Of Gland Research Articles

SAT193 Double Trouble: A Case of Ipsilateral Double Parathyroid Adenoma

Abstract Disclosure: J.P. Suelto: None. G.D. Wassmer: None. Background: Eighty percent of the cases of Primary Hyperparathyroidism is caused by a single adenoma and only about 15% are multiglandular adenoma. Parathyroid imaging like Sestamibi is less sensitive in detecting multiglandular disease. Clinical Case: A 63 year-old female presented with intermittent left lower back pain for 7 years. There was no joint pain, weakness, urinary symptoms, constipation and abdominal pain. In 2019, due to persistence of left back pain, abdominal ultrasound done showed a right non-obstructing nephrolithiasis. Ionized and total calcium were elevated at 1.53 meq/L (NV 1.12-1.32 meq/L) and 11.35 ng/dl (NV 8.42-10.23 ng/dl) respectively with normal creatinine, phosphorus and albumin. PTH was elevated at 116.6 pg/ml (NV 10-65 pg/ml). Primary Hyperparathyroidism probably secondary to parathyroid adenoma was considered. Thyroid ultrasound showed right thyroid cyst but no enlarged parathyroid gland. Parathyroid imaging using Dual Isotope Subtraction Method neither showed evidence of adenoma. Patient was advised parathyroidectomy but did not consent hence started on Cinacalcet. In 2021, ionized calcium was still elevated to 1.58 meq/L with elevated PTH 151 pg/ml and low Vitamin D level 22.76 ng/ml (>30 ng/mL). Patient was given Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily and Cinacalcet was up-titrated to 60mg daily. Sestamibi/SPECT CT showed faint focus of radioactivity in the right thyroidal bed area suspicious for parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia. She then agreed to have parathyroidectomy. There was no decrease in PTH after removal of the right inferior parathyroid gland (measuring 1.8x0.6x0.6cm, weighs 500mg), hence re-exploration was done. It was only after the removal of the right superior parathyroid gland (measuring 2.8x0.9x0.7cm, weighs 1 gram) when the 5 and 10 minute post excision PTH decreased to 123.91 and 76.01 pg/ml respectively from preincision PTH of 407.19 pg/ml. Histopathology showed Parathyroid adenoma of right inferior and superior parathyroid glands. No further evidence of hypercalcemia was noted at 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: Double adenoma is reported in 2% to 12% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. This occurs predominantly as bilateral superior in 45% and on same side of the neck in 18%. Sestamibi scanning is poor in the presence of multiglandular disease. It was observed that the presence of oxyphil cells may cause longer sestamibi retention in parathyroid tissues. Given the same amount of oxyphil cells in ipsilateral adenomas, the tracer may be distributed hence faintly seen on imaging. Addition of SPECT/CT/4D CT may improve the anatomical localization. Another reason for false negative imaging in this patient can be due to use of Cinacalcet which may decrease scintigraphy uptake of parathyroid adenoma. The combination of preoperative imaging localization and intraoperative PTH monitoring permits successful surgical outcome. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

THU506 A Not-So-Simple Case Of Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract Disclosure: P.J. Bhatt: None. S. Rabiei: None. V. Kantorovich: None. Multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 (MEN-1) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by an inactivating mutation of the MEN-1 tumor suppressor gene and is associated with tumors of the parathyroid (95%), endocrine pancreas (40-70%) and anterior pituitary (30-40%). Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most frequent and earliest expression of MEN1 syndrome with a typical onset at age 20-25 in inherited cases, reaching 100% penetrance after age 50. Current guidelines recommend genetic testing in all individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosed at a young age, with multiglandular disease, or with family history of primary hyperparathyroidism. A 58 year old female with a history of L. breast cancer, pulmonary embolisms, DM2, and recurrent nephrolithiasis was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism at age 36 and had a parathyroidectomy with 3.5 gland removal and later a total thyroidectomy. She continued to be symptomatic and was found to have an ectopic parathyroid gland in her chest requiring parathyroid gland reimplantation 18 years later. After 3 years, she was admitted for a CHF exacerbation and a pancreatic tail lesion was incidentally discovered. There was no mention of pancreatic lesions prior to this reading. Family history was pertinent for a father with nephrolithiasis. Her daughter had recurrent nephrolithiasis, hyperparathyroidism and was found to have a MEN 1 variant of uncertain significance, prompting the patient to seek genetic counseling. 22 years after her initial diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, she tested positive for a likely pathologic heterozygous variant mutation of the MEN1 gene called 1747C>T. At endocrinology follow-up, she was asymptomatic. Labs showed elevated Chromogranin A at 1,799 ng/ dL [<311] and gastrin 174pg/mL [</=100]. FSH, LH, prolactin, free alpha subunit, cortisol, and IGF-1 were normal. Further imaging confirmed a DOTATATE-avid 1.1cm nodular lesion in the pancreatic tail, concerning for a neuroendocrine tumor. MEN1 gene mutation is associated with MEN1 syndrome, familial isolated hyperparathyroidism and has an autosomal dominant predisposition to thyroid cancer and paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndrome. The 1747C>T sequence change creates a premature translational stop signal in the MEN1 gene and disrupts the NLS2 domain of the MEN1 protein, which is important for DNA binding and repression of cell proliferation. Upon diagnosis of multiglandular hyperparathyroidism, the patient should have been sent for genetic testing and instead, became an example of a multisystem failure to identify and provide necessary testing and treatment. Until her variant diagnosis, her pancreatic tumor was not identified as such. The main cause of mortality in MEN-1 patients is malignant spread of neuroendocrine tumors, hence early detection and prompt treatment are of the utmost importance to preserve quality of life and improve survival. Presentation: Thursday, June 15, 2023

SAT231 Next-generation Sequencing For Detection Of Underlying Genetic Causes Of Nonsurgical Hypoparathyroidism: Preliminary Results From A Sponsored Testing Program

Abstract Disclosure: M. Mannstadt: Advisory Board Member; Self; Takeda, Calcilytix, Amolyt. Research Investigator; Self; Takeda, Calcilytix, Amolyt. A. Mathew: Employee; Self; BridgeBio Pharma. A. Sridhar: Employee; Self; BridgeBio Pharma. L.S. Smith: Employee; Self; BridgeBio Pharma. M. Roberts: Employee; Self; BridgeBio Pharma. S. Adler: Employee; Self; BridgeBio Pharma. Hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by inadequate production of parathyroid hormone to maintain normal blood calcium levels. Hypoparathyroidism is most frequently caused by damage to or removal of the parathyroid glands but can also be associated with genetic etiologies. Genetic forms of hypoparathyroidism can present as isolated or as part of a syndrome and include disorders of parathyroid gland formation, parathyroid hormone secretion, and damage to the parathyroid gland through autoimmunity. Genetic testing may uncover the underlying etiology of nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism and can help confirm clinical diagnosis, guide medical treatment, and identify affected family members. A sponsored genetic testing program was made available for patients with suspected genetic hypoparathyroidism who met program eligibility criteria. The next-generation sequencing panel has evolved to include 26 genes known to be associated with hypoparathyroidism: ACADM, AIRE, ATP1A1, CASR, CHD7, CLDN16, CLDN19, CNNM2, DHCR7, EGF, FAM111A, FXYD2, GATA3, GCM2, GNA11, HADHA, HADHB, KCNA1, NEBL, PTH, SEMA3E, SLC12A3, SOX3, TBCE, TBX1 and TRPM6. A total of 169 samples between December 2020 and December 2022 were tested from participants with a mean±SD age of 23.4±20.4 (range 0-81) who were diagnosed with nonsurgical/idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (73.9%), hypocalcemia suspected to be of genetic cause (23.7%) or had a relative with a confirmed diagnosis of genetic hypoparathyroidism (2.4%). Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, and variants of uncertain significance were identified in 64 individuals (37.9%). Amongst these 64 participants, 77 variants were detected with 46.9% of variant harboring individuals documented as having unknown or no family history. In order of frequency, the relative number of individuals with detected variants are as follows: CASR 56.3% (36/64), AIRE 12.5% (8/64), TBX1 9.38% (6/64), GATA3 7.8% (5/64), GNA11 6.25% (4/64), CHD7 3.13% (2/64), FAM111A 3.13% (2/64), PTH 3.13% (2/64), ACADM 1.6% (1/64), GCM2 1.6% (1/64), HADHB 1.6% (1/64) and TBCE 1.6% (1/64). Of note, 5 individuals had variants identified in more than 1 gene. Notably, these data demonstrate that genetic testing may identify clinically-relevant variants in approximately 2 of 5 individuals with nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism. The most common genetic form of hypoparathyroidism was found to be autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 1 (21.3% of individuals tested; 36/169), caused by gain-of-function variants in the CASR gene. Overall, this ongoing sponsored testing program provides an efficient path to aid in the diagnosis of genetic causes and may ultimately improve the understanding and management of nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Operative approaches for thymectomy: clinical characteristics and classification variant

Currently, surgical intervention is the gold standard treatment of thymus tumors. Radical removal of the thymus gland in a single block, including the tumor, adjacent lymph nodes, and surrounding tissue of the anterior mediastinum, is a prerequisite for achieving satisfactory immediate and long-term results. The need for maximum thymectomy together with anterior mediastinal fiber is attributed to the fact that, along with other long-term survival factors (stage of tumor progression and histological subtype of the tumor), 4550% of deaths in the long-term follow-up period are due to the recurrence of thymoma and 1520% are caused by a progressive course of myasthenia gravis. The results of domestic and foreign studies on the implementation of thymectomy from various surgical approaches are analyzed. These include traditional thoracotomy and sternotomy, video-assisted and robot-assisted interventions, and combined operative accesses. The data presented are based on systematic reviews, retrospective cohort studies, clinical cases, and experimental studies using text databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and eLibrary.ru. The clinical characteristics of each operative access are given with an emphasis on technical features and advantages and disadvantages of thymectomy. The immediate results of surgical treatment of patients with thymus gland neoplasms are presented. Additional methods of visualization and physical preparation of anterior mediastinal tissues are described separately, which help increase the safety and effectiveness of surgical intervention. Currently, low-traumatic video-assisted surgical interventions are widely used in thoracic surgery, gradually replacing traditional open operations. Nevertheless, the variety of proposed options for surgical access, lack of clear indications and contraindications to various interventions on the thymus gland, and discrepancies in the use of various terms determine the need to develop a modern classification of surgical accesses for performing thymectomy. Taking into account world literature data and our own experience, a classification of operative accesses for performing thymectomy is proposed.

Venom extraction method influences venom composition and potency in the giant house spider Eratigena atrica (C. L. Koch, 1843)

Extraction is the first step when investigating venom composition and function. In small invertebrates, widely used extraction methods include electrostimulation and venom gland extraction, however, the influence of these methods on composition and toxicology is poorly understood. Using the Giant House Spider Eratigena atrica as a model, we show that electrostimulation and venom gland removal extraction methods produce different protein profiles as assessed by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE and significantly different potencies in the cricket Acheta domesticus.

Changes of the facial soft tissue after mandibular reconstruction using vascularized iliac flap.

To reveal the change patterns of the facial soft tissue after applying mandibular reconstruction. 16 Patients with mandibular benign tumor were recruited in this retrospective study. For all patients, segmental mandibular osteotomy and concurrent reconstruction using vascularized iliac flap were conducted. The soft tissue thickness of patients' lower face was measured with CT scans before surgery, 1week, 6months and 1year after surgery. The time-dependent changes of tissue thickness were analyzed. The most significant tissue swelling was 28.86%, at 1week after the surgery. The average increase of tissue thickness was 4.78 ± 5.30mm across patient. After 1year of the surgery, tissue thickness decreased to the level before operation or the level of the healthy side. The thickness of the low-density tissue fluctuated mildly, while the thickness of the high-density tissue fluctuated significantly. The disuse atrophy of the masseter occurred 1week after the surgery, and was reversed after 1year. The removal of the submandibular gland caused depression in submandibular area, which intensified over time. Across patients, soft tissue thickness in the lower face after mandibular osteotomy and reconstruction increased significantly 1week after the surgery, and decreased over time. After 1year, tissue thickness went back to the pre-surgery level, where matched up with the healthy side. We documented the change patterns of the facial soft tissue after mandibular reconstruction. These results can help improve the planning of virtual surgeries and the timing for aesthetic assessment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2100054103.

Unpredictable nightmare in thyroid surgery: Incidental Parathyroidectomy

Background: Incidental removal of the parathyroid gland is an unwanted minor complication of thyroidectomy and would occur even in experienced centers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our clinic’s outcomes, incidence, and risk factors for incidental parathyroidectomy. 
 Methods: A total of 627 patients with an average age of 50.74±12.68 years were included in the study. Seventy-eight point nine percent of the patients had bilateral total thyroidectomy, 11.2% had a total lobectomy with isthmectomy, 4.8% had completed thyroidectomy, 4% had bilateral total thyroidectomy with bilateral central dissection and 1.1% had bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy. Incidental parathyroidectomy was observed in 6.4% (n=40) of all patients.
 Results: There was a significant correlation between incidental parathyroidectomy and bilateral total thyroidectomy and bilateral central neck dissection. There were no statistically significant differences between the incidental and nonincidental parathyroidectomy group with respect to age and gender. While the preoperative diagnosis of hyperthyroidism (20.6% vs 7.5%) was significantly higher in the non-incidental parathyroidectomy group than in the incidental parathyroidectomy group, and the diagnosis of malignancy was significantly higher in the incidental parathyroidectomy group (32.5% vs. 11.6%, p=0.001). Regarding parathyroid localization, our incidental parathyroidectomy rate was higher in intrathyroidal localized cases. Postoperative transient hypocalcemia (62.5%) was higher in the incidental parathyroidectomy group than in the non-incidental parathyroidectomy group (34.4%, p

Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of submandibular gland — a rare entity

BackgroundAmong benign salivary gland tumors, pleomorphic adenoma is one of the most common tumor involving submandibular gland, but it is rare to encounter recurrent pleomorphic adenoma in submandibular gland after submandibular gland excision.Case presentationWe present a case of 22-year-old female patient who presented to us with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of submandibular gland region after 10 years of removal of submandibular gland, diagnosis was established with the help of ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology, and thereafter, patient was taken up for surgical excision under general anesthesia. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis.ConclusionsThis case report highlights the importance of special caution in removal of submandibular gland along with its capsule especially in pediatric population where due to small facial structures, chances of capsular breech are high, which can result in tumor seedling and future recurrence of tumor.

Robot-Assisted Parathyroidectomy Using Indocyanine Green (ICG) Fluorescence in Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background and Objectives: Surgical treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has evolved from bilateral exploration through a long transcervical incision to focused parathyroidectomy with a minimal incision above the pathologic gland. Recently, endoscopic or robot-assisted parathyroid surgery without direct neck incision has been introduced. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence as a new method for the visual identification of abnormal hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in robot-assisted parathyroidectomy using FireflyTM technology. We also aimed to conduct a comparative analysis between robot-assisted parathyroidectomy and conventional focused parathyroidectomy in order to identify clinical differences between the two surgical approaches. Materials and Methods: A total of 37 patients with PHPT underwent parathyroidectomy at a single university hospital between September 2018 and December 2022. Thirty-one patients underwent open focused parathyroidectomy (open group), and six patients underwent robot-assisted parathyroidectomy (robot group). Pre-operative localization via parathyroid SPECT-CT and an intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assay were used to successfully remove the pathologic parathyroid in both groups. ICG was administered only in the robot group. Results: Pathologic parathyroid showed a persistent fluorescence pattern under near-infrared vision. After the removal of the fluorescent parathyroid gland, IOPTH was normalized in all six patients in the robot group. However, the open group showed shorter hospital stays (1.8 ± 1.2 vs. 3.0 ± 0.0 days, p < 0.001) and shorter operation times (91.1 ± 69.1 vs. 152.5 ± 23.6 min, p = 0.001) than the robot group. After 6 months of surgery, PTH, calcium, and ionized calcium levels were all normalized without significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: Robot-assisted parathyroidectomy using ICG is helpful for the visual identification of the pathologic parathyroid gland. The advantage of robot parathyroidectomy is a better cosmetic outcome. However, it still does not show better clinical outcomes than conventional open focused parathyroidectomy.

A 15-year-old Girl with a Lateral Neck Mass Turning Out to Be Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma-Lateral Ectopic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma or Lymph Node Metastasis?

Lateral neck lesions in children are common and involve various infectious or inflammatory etiologies as well as embryological remnants such as branchial cleft cysts. Although unusual, ectopic thyroid tissue can also present as a lateral neck mass. Here, we present an unusual case of a 15-year-old girl treated for an asymptomatic lateral neck mass that after surgical removal was found to be papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, after removal of the thyroid gland, no primary thyroid tumor was found. The question arose whether the lateral neck lesion was a lymph node metastasis without identifiable primary tumor (at histological evaluation) or rather malignant degeneration of ectopic thyroid tissue. Total thyroidectomy was performed with postoperative adjuvant radioactive iodine ablation. Even though PTC in a lateral neck mass without a primary thyroid tumor has been described previously, pediatric cases have not been reported. In this report we share our experience on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, and review the existing literature.

Analysis of Voice Quality After Thyroid Surgery

Voice changes are a common complication after a thyroidectomy, which isa surgical procedure involving partial or total removal of the thyroid gland. The main objective of this work is to examine the possible voice disorders after thyroid surgery. More precisely, it is an investigation of partial and total thyroidectomy, as well as the effects that cancerous and noncancerous thyroid glands can have regarding postsurgical vocal and their association with age and gender. Patients were evaluated using acoustic voice parameters, including harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, speaker phonation frequency (SPF) range, cepstral peak prominence (CPP), maximum phonational frequency range (MPFR), and shimmer at the preoperative stage and postoperatively at the 1day, and first-month stages. Results demonstrated a significant change in F0 parameters, SPF range, and CPP feature 1 month after surgery, depending on the type of thyroidectomy and thyroid pathology. No significant changes were observed in the HNR, shimmer, and jitter features. Age was associated with the CPP parameter in the entire sample. In contrast, the MPFR parameter was also related to the type of thyroidectomy in the entire sample. However, maximum F0 was significantly associated with the type of thyroidectomy, specifically in the female sample. Results indicated that a thyroidectomy can have a negative impact on voice quality. The age and type of thyroidectomy performed are not responsible for this change. Potentially this change can be due to factors such as nerve damage or the subjects' experience, such as job, anxiety, and their physical condition, as well as treatments they may have undergone before thyroidectomy. Further efforts are needed to fully understand the background of voice changes after thyroidectomy.

Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157-Possible Novel Therapy of Glaucoma and Other Ocular Conditions.

Recently, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy by activation of collateral pathways counteracted various occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes, vascular, and multiorgan failure, and blood pressure disturbances in rats with permanent major vessel occlusion and similar procedures disabling endothelium function. Thereby, we revealed BPC 157 cytoprotective therapy with strong vascular rescuing capabilities in glaucoma therapy. With these capabilities, BPC 157 therapy can recover glaucomatous rats, normalize intraocular pressure, maintain retinal integrity, recover pupil function, recover retinal ischemia, and corneal injuries (i.e., maintained transparency after complete corneal abrasion, corneal ulceration, and counteracted dry eye after lacrimal gland removal or corneal insensitivity). The most important point is that in glaucomatous rats (three of four episcleral veins cauterized) with high intraocular pressure, all BPC 157 regimens immediately normalized intraocular pressure. BPC 157-treated rats exhibited normal pupil diameter, microscopically well-preserved ganglion cells and optic nerve presentation, normal fundus presentation, nor- mal retinal and choroidal blood vessel presentation, and normal optic nerve presentation. The one episcleral vein rapidly upgraded to accomplish all functions in glaucomatous rats may correspond with occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes of the activated rescuing collateral pathway (azygos vein direct blood flow delivery). Normalized intraocular pressure in glaucomatous rats corresponded to the counteracted intra-cranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal, and caval hypertension, and aortal hypotension in occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes, were all attenuated/eliminated by BPC 157 therapy. Furthermore, given in other eye disturbances (i.e., retinal ischemia), BPC 157 instantly breaks a noxious chain of events, both at an early stage and an already advanced stage. Thus, we further advocate BPC 157 as a therapeutic agent in ocular disease.

Iatrogenic oesophageal fistulas after neckregion surgery

&lt;b&gt;Introduction:&lt;/b&gt; Iatrogenic esophageal fistulas after neck surgery are a rarely discussed topic in the Polish literature. Due to the scarcity of publications on esophageal fistulas, esophageal perforation after neck surgery, the topic of this paper was undertaken. For this purpose, the literature was reviewed and a description of two cases was presented, comparing the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered to the world literature.&lt;/br&gt;&lt;/br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Case reports:&lt;/b&gt; In the cases presented, esophageal fistula formation occurred after operations in the neck. In the first case, the esophageal fistula was a complication after resection of Zenker’s diverticulum and in the second case, the fistula developed after removal of the thyroid gland. Esophageal fistulas in the described patients proved to be a major therapeutic challenge. Despite a number of repair procedures undertaken by surgeons, laryngologists and thoracic surgeons in both patients, full therapeutic success was not achieved. In the present study, the authors related the management modalities of the presented patients to the experience of other centers. Methods of treating esophageal fistulas, possible complications and ways of treating these complications are discussed.

Synergistic Effect of Simultaneous Testosterone Reduction and Selective Killing of Prostate Cancer Cells with Oral Bioavailable Curcumin Capsules May Ensure a Significant Drop in PSA Levels from Abnormally High Levels Due to Confirmed Metastasized Prostate Cancer

In this century there have been 1000s of Pubmed listed publications making multiple claims about the potential health benefits of curcumin found in the curry spice, turmeric. A baby boomer male who was diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), later after difficulty in urination, constriction of Urethra was treated with urethral catheterization. A year after BPH diagnosis, the PSA rose to 64 ng/ml and bone biopsy revealed prostate cancer cells, at which time a simultaneous combination treatment of Lupron depot and turmeric capsules from a pharmacy, containing curcumin was administered. 6 months after the combination treatment, the PSA level have remained well below average normal, around 0.3 ng/ml and the urination difficulties were resolved. While the noninvasive treatment without surgical removal of the prostate gland, has worked quite exceptionally for the time being, this report and review should be of broad interest for those who are involved in timely care of patients with enlarged prostate due to BPH, prostatitis, prostate cancer, and metastasized prostate cancer.

Urgent total pancreatoduodenectomy for profuse gastro-intestinal bleeding caused by renal cancer metastases to the pancreas

Urgent total pancreatoduodenectomy for profuse gastro-intestinal bleeding caused by renal cancer metastases to the pancreas

Simplified Easy-Accessible Smartphone-Based Photogrammetry for 3-Dimensional Anatomy Presentation Exemplified With a Photorealistic Cadaver-Based Model of the Intracranial and Extracranial Course of the Facial Nerve.

Smartphone-based photogrammetry (SMPhP) was recently presented as a practical and simple algorithm to create photorealistic 3-dimensional (3D) models that benefit from volumetric presentation of real anatomic dissections. Subsequently, there is a need to adapt the techniques for realistic depiction of layered anatomic structures, such as the course of cranial nerves and deep intracranial structures; the feasibility must be tested empirically. This study sought to adapt and test the technique for visualization of the combined intracranial and extracranial course of the facial nerve's complex anatomy and analyze feasibility and limitations. We dissected 1 latex-injected cadaver head to depict the facial nerve from the meatal to the extracranial portion. A smartphone camera alone was used to photograph the specimen, and dynamic lighting was applied to improve presentation of deep anatomic structures. Three-dimensional models were created with a cloud-based photogrammetry application. Four 3D models were generated. Two models showed the extracranial portions of the facial nerve before and after removal of the parotid gland; 1 model showed the facial nerve in the fallopian canal after mastoidectomy, and 1 model showed the intratemporal segments. Relevant anatomic structures were annotated through a web-viewer platform. The photographic quality of the 3D models provided sufficient resolution for imaging of the extracranial and mastoid portions of the facial nerve, whereas imaging of the meatal segment only lacked sufficient precision and resolution. A simple and accessible SMPhP algorithm allows 3D visualization of complex intracranial and extracranial neuroanatomy with sufficient detail to realistically depict superficial and deeper anatomic structures.

Parathyroid adenoma in a 15-year-old girl with recurrent urolithiasis

Introduction and aim. The incidence of urolithiasis in children has been growing steadily for several decades, and it accounts for an increasing percentage of hospitalizations. Kidney stones are deposits of various mineral salts. Most of them are composed of calcium, favored by hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria. Primary hyperparathyroidism is one of the reasons for increased calcium levels in the blood. Description of the case. A 15-year-old girl was hospitalized due to recurrent urolithiasis. Investigations revealed hypercalcemia with elevated parathyroid hormone. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland showed a local change near the lower pole of its right lobe, and Sestamibi nuclear scan confirmed the presence of the adenoma of the lower right parathyroid gland. Surgical removal of the parathyroid gland with the present adenoma was performed. Calcium and phosphate homeostasis parameters and the kidneys’ ultrasound image were without any significant deviations from the norm. Conclusion. After finding the cause of recurrent urolithiasis, the applied surgical treatment resolved all disease manifestations.

Retrosternal parathyromatosis in a patient with prior total parathyroidectomy

Abstract Parathyromatosis is a rare cause of recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism that often follows surgical removal of the parathyroid gland. Foci of parathyromatosis are most commonly found in the neck, mediastinum, and sites of autotransplantation. A 36-year-old male with renal failure and prior parathyroidectomy presented with generalized bone pain, for which laboratory investigations revealed hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative coil localization was utilized followed by thoracoscopy using fluoroscopy for resection of ectopic parathyroid tissue. The specimen was sent to histopathology, which revealed multiple nodules of hypercellular parathyroid tissue, consistent with the diagnosis of parathyromatosis. Parathyromatosis is a rare cause of recurrent hyperparathyroidism, with surgical removal being the only curative option. Follow-up is essential as it can commonly recur.

Thymus mast cells as a component of neuro-endocrine-immune interactions under stress

Mast cells (MCs) are a required component of the thymus microenvironment. They affect intercellular interactions and permeability of the hematothymic barrier through cytokine production. There is speculation that the thymus is the site of MCs formation and deposition. MCs are under complex neuro-endocrine control and they can play an important role in the process of acute transformation of the thymus in the formation of a stress reaction, affecting the extrathymic migration of cells. The purpose of this study is to assess the functional involvement of MCs in the process of the thymus acute transformation at various hyper- and hypodynamic effects during the formation of stress response and without it.The study was conducted on male Wistar rats. The stress factors were physical activity (swimming) of different intensities and immobilization, which represent two opposite states of dynamic stress. MCs were classified on histological preparations; a degranulation coefficient and a mean histochemical coefficient (synthetic activity) were calculated.In groups with preserved adrenal glands after exposure a significant decrease in the thymus mass coefficient is noted, which indicates a weakening of its functional activity in response to the development of stress. At the same time, MCs of the thymus quickly respond to neuro-endocrine factors under stress. These cells are involved in a general reaction: their activity consists in a synchronous decrease of the synthesis of granules in the cytoplasm and an increased release of active substances accumulated earlier. The mass and structure of the thymus remain unchanged in groups with removed adrenal glands after immobilization. No changes in morphofunctional indicators of mast cells were detected either. Experiments with hypo- and hyperdinamic loading of animals with preserved and removed adrenal glands indicate that the MCs response is largely determined by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the endocrine system. Removal of the adrenal glands (inability to release glucocorticoids) leads to a lack of functional response from the thymus MCs. The stimulating effect of adrenal glucocorticoids on MCs under stress is carried out in combination with other neuro-endocrine factors (catecholamines, corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone). When this axis is activated and a full-fledged stress reaction is formed by the body, MCs are actively involved in the process of acute transformation of the thymus through cytokine secretion. These is an important condition for the development of adaptation mechanisms by the immune system.

Integrated metabolic and genetic analysis reveals distinct features of human differentiated thyroid cancer.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) affects thousands of lives worldwide each year. Typically, DTC is a treatable disease with a good prognosis. Yet, some patients are subjected to partial or total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy to prevent local disease recurrence and metastasis. Unfortunately, thyroidectomy and/or radioiodine therapy often worsen(s) quality of life and might be unnecessary in indolent DTC cases. On the other hand, the lack of biomarkers indicating a potential metastatic thyroid cancer imposes an additional challenge to managing and treating patients with this disease. The presented clinical setting highlights the unmet need for a precise molecular diagnosis of DTC and potential metastatic disease, which should dictate appropriate therapy. In this article, we present a differential multi-omics model approach, including metabolomics, genomics, and bioinformatic models, to distinguish normal glands from thyroid tumours. Additionally, we are proposing biomarkers that could indicate potential metastatic diseases in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), a sub-class of DTC. Normal and tumour thyroid tissue from DTC patients had a distinct yet well-defined metabolic profile with high levels of anabolic metabolites and/or other metabolites associated with the energy maintenance of tumour cells. The consistency of the DTC metabolic profile allowed us to build a bioinformatic classification model capable of clearly distinguishing normal from tumor thyroid tissues, which might help diagnose thyroid cancer. Moreover, based on PTC patient samples, our data suggest that elevated nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutational burden, intra-tumour heterogeneity, shortened telomere length, and altered metabolic profile reflect the potential for metastatic disease. Altogether, this work indicates that a differential and integrated multi-omics approach might improve DTC management, perhaps preventing unnecessary thyroid gland removal and/or radioiodine therapy. Well-designed, prospective translational clinical trials will ultimately show the value of this integrated multi-omics approach and early diagnosis of DTC and potential metastatic PTC.