OBJECTIVE To evaluate the benefits,if any, of thyroidectomy using the harmonic scalpel versus conventional thyroidectomy. METHODS The clinical data of 34 consecutive patients underwent thyroid nodule enucleation or lobectomy in one year using the harmonic scalpel were recorded. The results were compared with that of the 34 case-control patients in the same period using conventional techniques. RESULTS The average incision length for those underwent thyroidectomy with the harmonic scalpel and conventional techniques was 3.8cm and 6.9cm respectively. Drains were not used in the harmonic scalpel group compared with average of 47ml drainage in the control group. The average inpatient cost was 7205 RMB for the harmonic scalpel group versus 8054 RMB for the control group(P=0.137). The average postoperative length of hospitalization was 3.5 days for the harmonic scalpel group versus 4.1 days for the control group (P=0.228). The average time of anesthesia was 95 minutes for the harmonic scalpel group compare with 81 minutes for the control group (P=0.018). One postoperative hoarseness occurred in each group. Two patients had mild skin burn in the harmonic scalpel group. No other complications were enumerated(x2=0.273,P=0.602). CONCLUSION The harmonic scalpel is a safe alternative for thyroidectomy. Compare with conventional thyroid surgery, this technique offers cosmetic benefit and less trauma for patient with thyroid nodules.

Objective To evaluate the influencing factors for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy in thyroid carcinoma.Methods 650 patients with thyroid carcinoma undergoing total thyroidectomy from Jun.2009 to Dec.2011 were followed up and analyzed retrospectively.The relativity between persistent hypocalcemia and the following criteria were studied:age, sex, primary tumor stage, initial thyroid treatment, neck dissection cen-tral compartment dissection, inadvertent parathyroidectomy, and thyroid caspsular dissection.χ2test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy and the other clinical factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the multivariate correlation of clinical factors and hypocal-cemia after total thyroidectomy. Results Persistent hypocalcemia was found in 112 out of 650 patients (17.2%).Advanced stage(OR=2.121,95%CI 1.140-3.947,P=0.018),bilateral central compartment dis-section(OR=1.852,95% CI 1.199 -2.863,P =0.006),failure to use thyroid caspsular dissection(OR =2.307,95%CI 1.208-4.405,P=0.011)and IPE(OR=1.580,95%CI 1.029-2.427,P=0.037)were inde-pendent predictive factors for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy.Conclusions It has high incidence of persis-tent hypocalcemia in patients with andvanced-stage thyroid carcinoma after going total thyroidectomy.Thyroid caspsular dissection method, proper indications for bilateral central compartment dissection, and reducing IPE can help to reduce the incidence of persistent hypocalcemia and improve the life quality of patients after going thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the treatment results of perioperative radiation and conservation laryngeal surgery for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS Forty seven patients with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with laryngeal function-sparing surgery were collected in this retrospective study. There were 3 posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancers and 44 pyriform sinus cancers. Forty four patients received preoperative irradiation,and three postoperatively. The types of surgery were:21 pyriform sinusectomies,16 pyriform sinusectomies accompanying with partial laryngectomies,and 10 partial hypopharyngectomies with near total laryngectomies. Six skin flaps and 2 jejunum flaps were used to repair the defects. RESULTS The 5 year survival rate of Ⅲ,Ⅳstage was 59 % and 50.2 % respectively and the laryngeal functions were preserved. CONCLUSION The policy of laryngeal function preservation was feasible in the treatment of locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. Suffice it to say that a combination of radiation and surgery was mandatory

1000 ml per day had to be cured by operation.

Purpose:To investigate the local factors that influenced cervical lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of the floor of mouth carcinoma.Methods:A retrospective study was undertaken of 65 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of floor of mouth, who were treated between 1983 and 1998. Local factors including the tumor location, the tumor size, local invasion and pathological differentiation were investigated for the correlation with cervical lymphatic metastasis and prognosis of the disease.Results:Cervical lymphatic metastasis was 46.2% (30/65) for these 65 patients, and 96.6% of the involved lymph nodes were located in level Ⅰ(submandibular region) of the neck. Of these 65 patients, cervical lymphatic metastasis was 62.2% and 40.0% for 45 anterior and 20 posterior floor of mouth carcinoma, respectively ( P = 0 .096).Cervical metastasis was 59.5% and 21.7% for tumor size greater than or less than 3 cm, respectively ( P = 0.003).Cervical metastasis was 46.8% and 44.4% for tumors invading the tongue or not, respectively.Cervical metastasis was 60 0% and 42 0% for tumors invading the gum or not, respectively.Cervical metastasis was 76.5% for the poorly differentiated and was 42.1% for the moderately and well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma ( P = 0.018). The overall 5 years survival was 46.4% for the 65 patients. The 5 years survival was 61.4% for these without cervical metastasis and 28.9% for these with cervical metastasis ( P = 0.0013).Conclusions:The local factors such as the tumor size greater than 3 cm, tumor invasion to the tongue and the gum, and the poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of floor of mouth increased the incidence of cervical metastasis, and therefore adversely influenced the prognosis.

Objective To study anatomy of the tensor fascia latae perforator flap (TFLP flap) and explore its clini-cal application in reconstruction of head and neck defects. Methods Five fresh cadavers were prepared, and mor-phology and blood supply of TFLP flap were examined by microsurgery anatomy. During dissections, the following parameters were recorded: number and type of perforators vessels, diameter of perforators, pedicle length, diameter of the original vessels, course (infra fascia and supra fascia) ,and its position was located by anatomical landmark. Results There were 41 TFLP flap perforators in all specimen with 35 musculocutaneous perforator and 6 septocuta-neous perforator. Original vessel was ascend branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery/vein with average diameter of (3.01±0.49) mm/(3. 28±0.57) mm. The mean pedicle length was (9. 1±0.79) cm. The surface location was (4. 22± 1. 37) cm laterally and (8. 73±2.72) cm beneath to anterosuperior iliac spine. Conclusion With the characteristics of constant position, large caliber and convenient preparation, TFLP flap is useful for operation andoption in reconstruction of head/neck defects and considered as backup of anterolateral thigh flap. The disadvantage of this flap is its short vascular pedicle.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical significance of expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),P16 and P27genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands.Methods:The expressions of PCNA,P16and P27were detected by immunohistochemical staining (SP)in 55 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands.Results:The higher and lower expressions of PCNA were 45.5%(19/55) and 65.5%(35/55) respectively;of P16 were 45.5%(25/55) and 54.5%(30/55)respectively.And the positive and negative expressions of P27 were 34.5%(19/55) and 65.5%(36/55),respectively.The correlation of expression of PCNA gene with local recurrence and tumor site showed significant (P=0.0317,P=0.0186);but the expression of P16was no any significant correlation in all of the variables.The expression of P27 was significant on the regional lymph node metastaisis (P=0.0083).When higher expression of P16was 45.5%(25/55),the P27positive expression was 56.0%(14/25),which showed a significant positive correlation (P=0.0025).Conclusion:In adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands,the PCNA gene should be one of the biological target predicting local recurrence,and P27gene should be one of the biological target justifying regional lymph node metastasis.

Objective To investigate the optimal methods of detecting micrometastasis of sentinel lymph node(SLN) in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC).Methods Data of 51 consecutive PTC patients without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed.They were conducted with SLN localization with blue dye,technetium-labeled sulfur colloid or the combination of them from Aug.2007 to Sep.2010.55 SLNs from 18 cases were selected.No metastasis was found to these 55 SLNs by routine pathological section.The 55 SLNs were serially sectioned at a 50 μm interval and stained by both HE and immunohistochemistry for detecting micrometastasis.Results SLN was successfully identified in all the 51 cases,with SLN identification rate of 100％.Among the 18 cases without metastasis to SLN by routine pathological section,5 cases were found micrometastasis by step sectioning plus immunohistochemically stains.The false negative rate was reduced from 15.4％ by routine pathological section to 2.6％ by step sectioning plus immunohistochemically stains.Conclusion Cytokeratin immunohistochemistry on series sections is a reliable method in detecting SLN micrometastasis in PTC.

Background and purpose:In recent years, energy-based instruments have been widely used in today’s open surgeries. Harmonic Focus? (HF) and Ligasure Small Jaw? (LSJ) are both custom-made for thyroid open surgery. This study aimed to explore the effcacy and safety of HF and LSJ in open thyroidectomy.Methods:The data from patients who undertook total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection by the same surgeon during last year in this hospital were reviewed. HF was used in 100 patients, and LSJ was used in 104 patients. The effectiveness was appraised by comparing operation time and postoperative volume of drainage on the ifrst postoperative day. The safety was appraised by comparing the incidence of postoperative complications.Results:The results of the effectiveness:the average duration of operation was (95.8±18.0) min for HF group, and (97.8±19.1) min for LSJ group, there was no statistical signiifcance (P=0.363). Postoperative volume of drainage on the ifrst postoperative day was (35.2±20.3) mL for HF group, and (36.3±23.8) mL for LSJ group, there was no statistical signiifcance (P=0.977). One patient (1.0%) had temporary vocal cord paralysis in HF and one had postoperative hematoma (1.0%) in LSJ group. Temporary hypo-parathyroidism was detected in 18 patients (18.0%) of HF group, and 16 patients (15.4%) of LSJ group. The decline of parathyroid hormone during the ifrst postoperative day was (12.3±12.8) pg/mL in HF group, and (13.9±13.4) pg/mL in LSJ group. The decline of serum calcium was (0.20±0.13) mg/dL in HF group, and (0.20±0.16) mg/dL in LSJ group. There were all no statistical signiifcances (P>0.05).Conclusion:Both HF and LSJ are safe and effective in open thy-roidectomy without similar operative complications.

ObjectiveTo evaluate combined radioisotope and methylene blue dye method for identifying sentinel lymph node (SLN) for modified radical neck dissection of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). MethodFifty-one consecutive PTC patients without clinical evidence of locoregional lymph node involvement were enrolled in the study between August 2007 and September 2010.5 h ( rangel.5 - 8 h) before the surgery,one single intratumoral injection of 74 MBq in a volume of 0.4 ml 99mTc -Dextran was administered under ultrasound guidance and 1％ methylene blue dye was injected into the parenchyma surrounding the primary tumor intraoperatively.Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy,intra-operative hand-held gamma probe detecting and blue dyed lymph node were used to identify the SLN.All SLNs were sent for frozen-section and the specimens of routine selective neck dissection were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E). ResultsSLNs were identified in 48 of 51 cases (94.1％ ) with combination method.SLN identification rate were 66.7％by methylene blue dye method and 90.2％by radioisotope method respectively.Final pathologic examination revealed that 30 cases ( 58.8％ ),including 3 cases who had negative SLNs,had lateral neck occult lymph node metastasis.The rate of occult lymph node metastasis in level Ⅱ,level Ⅲ,level Ⅳ and level Ⅴ were 17.6％,52.9％,29.4％ and 0％.Thus,the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of SLN biopsy were 90％, 100％,94.1％,100％ and 87.5％,respectively. ConclusionsSLNB is feasible and safe,the findings correlate with lateral lymph node status.Therefore,SLN biopsy is a good method for estimating the status of lateral lymph node in patients with clinical negative lymph node papillary thyroid carcinoma.