PURPOSE: Although guidelines indicate that routine dissection of the central lymph nodes in patients with thyroid carcinoma should include the right para-oesophageal lymph nodes (RPELNs), located between the right recurrent laryngeal nerve and the cervical oesophagus and posterior to the former, RPELN dissection is often omitted due to high risk of injuries to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the right inferior parathyroid gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection, including the RPELNs, between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013 at the Thyroid Cancer Center of Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: Of 5556 patients, 148 were positive for RPELN metastasis; of the latter, 91 had primary tumours greater than 1 cm (p<0.001). Extrathyroidal extension by the primary tumour (81.8%; p<0.001), bilaterality, and multifocality were more common in patients with than without RPELN metastasis; however, there were no significant differences in age and sex between groups. A total of 95.9% of patients with RPELN metastasis had central node (except right para-oesophageal lymph node) metastasis, and the incidence of lateral neck node metastasis was significantly higher in patients with than without RPELN metastasis (63.5% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001). Forty-one patients underwent mediastinal dissection, with 11 patients confirmed as having mediastinal lymph node metastasis with RPELN metastasis on pathological examination. CONCLUSION: RPELN metastasis is significantly associated with lateral neck and mediastinal lymph node metastasis.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma/pathology/*surgery ; Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology/*surgery ; Esophageal Neoplasms/*secondary/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; *Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes/pathology/*surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve/pathology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; *Thyroidectomy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Decision to perform concurrent ipsilateral thyroidectomy on patients with hypopharyngeal cancer is important, and unnecessary thyroidectomy should be avoided if oncologically feasible. We hypothesized that concurrent ipsilateral thyroidectomy is not routinely required to prevent occult metastasis. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of histological thyroid invasion in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, and to refine the indications for prophylactic ipsilateral thyroidectomy in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records from the Department of Otolaryngology at Yonsei University College of Medicine was conducted from January 1994 to December 2009. A total of 49 patients underwent laryngopharyngectomy with thyroidectomy as a primary treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid gland involvement was 10.2%. The most common route of invasion was direct extension through the thyroid cartilage. Thyroid cartilage invasion (p=0.034) was the most significant factor associated with thyroid invasion. Disease-specific survival at 5 years was lower in patients with than without thyroid gland invasion (26.7% vs. 55.2%, respectively; p=0.032). Disease-free survival at 5 years was also lower in patients with than without thyroid gland invasion (20.0% vs. 52.1%, respectively; p=0.024). CONCLUSION: Ipsilateral thyroidectomy in combination with total laryngopharyngectomy is indicated when invasion of the thyroid cartilage is suspected in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/epidemiology/pathology/*surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology/pathology/*surgery ; Incidence ; *Laryngectomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasms, Second Primary/epidemiology/pathology/surgery ; *Pharyngectomy ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland/*pathology/surgery ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology/*secondary ; Thyroidectomy/*methods

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC) of the thyroid are relatively uncommon thyroid malignancies in iodine-sufficient areas. In this study we evaluated the clinical behavior, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of FTC and HCC in Korea. METHODS: This multicenter study included 483 patients with FTC and 80 patients with HCC who underwent an initial surgery between 1995 and 2006 in one of the four tertiary referral hospitals in Korea. We evaluated clinicopathological factors associated with distant metastases and recurrence during a median of 6 years of follow-up. RESULTS: HCC patients were significantly older (49 years vs. 43 years; p < 0.001) and had more lymphovascular invasions (22% vs. 14%; p = 0.03) compared with FTC patients. Distant metastases were confirmed in 40 patients (8%) in the FTC group and in two patients (3%) in the HCC group (p = 0.07). Distant metastases were significantly associated with older age, widely invasive cancer and extrathyroidal invasion. Only 14 patients (3%) had recurrent disease and there was no significant difference between FTC and HCC groups (p = 0.38). Recurrence was associated with larger tumor size and cervical lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: HCC patients were older and had more lymphovascular invasions than FTC patients. However, FTC and HCC patients had similar initial clinicopathological features. Older age, wide invasiveness and extrathyroidal invasion were independent risk factors for predicting distant metastases in FTC and HCC patients.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/*epidemiology/secondary/surgery ; Adult ; Age Factors ; *Diet ; Female ; Humans ; *Iodine ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; *Nutritional Status ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*epidemiology/pathology/surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

The most common BRAF mutation in thyroid cancer is c.1799T>A (p.Val600Glu), and other BRAF mutations are rarely reported. We investigated the clinicopathological features of thyroid cancer with rare BRAF mutations. A total of 2,763 patients with thyroid cancer underwent molecular testing by direct DNA sequencing for mutations in BRAF exon 15. Among them, 2,110 (76.4%) had BRAF mutations. The c.1799T>A mutation was found in 2,093 (76.9%) of 2,722 papillary carcinomas and in one of 7 medullary carcinomas. Sixteen cases (0.76%) harbored rare mutation types. Five cases had single-nucleotide substitutions, 5 cases had small in-frame deletion or insertion, and one harbored a two-nucleotide substitution. Of these mutations, 2 were novel (c.1797_1798insGAGACTACA, c.[1799T>A; 1801_1812del]). The c.1801A>C mutation was identified in 4 follicular variant papillary carcinomas and one follicular carcinoma. None of the patients with the c.1801A>C mutation showed extrathyroidal extension or lymph node metastasis. The prevalence of rare BRAF mutations was 0.76% of all BRAF-positive thyroid cancers, and the rare mutations were associated with less aggressive pathologic features. Although BRAF mutations are detected exclusively in papillary carcinoma, they are also found in medullary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma.
Base Sequence ; Female ; Genetic Markers/genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology/*genetics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Prevalence ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/*genetics ; Rare Diseases/epidemiology/genetics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology/*genetics/*pathology ; Tumor Markers, Biological/*genetics

OBJECTIVETo describe the incidence trends and to access the histological changing patterns of thyroid cancer in urban areas of Beijing.

METHODSTotal of 4883 new cases diagnosed as thyroid cancer in 1995-2010 in urban areas of Beijing were extracted from the population-based data base of Beijing cancer registry, among which 1185 were males and 3698 were females with a coverage population of 56 143 454 person-years and 54 430 655 person-years, respectively. Incidence, age adjusted incidence, annual percentage change (APC) and gender specific incidence change of different histology patterns during last 16 years were calculate.

RESULTSThere were 4883 cases diagnosed as thyroid cancer during 1995 - 2010 with the sex ratio of 1:3 (1185 males and 3698 females). Incidence rate of thyroid cancer in urban areas of Beijing increased dramatically from 1.55/100 000 (97/6 245 016) in 1995 to 9.90/100 000 (768/7 758 759) in 2010 with an increase rate of 538.71%. After adjusted by world population, the standardized incidence rate increased from 1.27/100 000 in 1995 to 6.96/100 000 in 2010 with a 12.12% annual percentage change (APC = 12.12%, P < 0.05). Among males, incidence rate increased from 0.85/100 000 (27/3 185 669) to 4.58/100 000 (179/3 912 458) with an increase rate of 438.82%. After adjusted by world population, the standardized incidence rate of males increased from 0.68/100 000 in 1995 to 3.19/100 000 in 2010 with an 11.09% annual percentage change (APC = 11.09%, P < 0.05). Among females, the incidence rate increased from 2.29/100 000 (70/3 059 347) to 15.31/100 000 (589/3 846 301) with an increase rate of 568.56%. After adjusted by world population, the standardized incidence rate of females increased from 1.89/100 000 in 1995 to 10.82/100 000 in 2010 with a 12.48% annual percentage change (APC = 12.48%, P < 0.05). Incidence rate ranked 18th and 12th in 1995 among males and females, respectively; while it ranked 14th and 5th in 2010 respectively. Among 4883 cases, 4594 cases were confirmed histologically as primary tumor accounting for 94.08% of total cases. Papillary carcinoma was the most common subtype accounting for 77.31% (3775/4883) of total cases. Among all the pathological types of thyroid cancer, the proportion of papillary carcinoma has risen from 51.55% (50/97) in 1995 to 87.63% (673/768) in 2010. However, the proportion of the follicular carcinoma decreased from 5.15% (5/97) to 1.69% (13/768).

CONCLUSIONIncidence of thyroid cancer in urban areas of Beijing keeps increasing which is mainly due to the rising of papillary carcinoma. Risk factors of papillary thyroid cancer should be focused on when strategies for thyroid cancer prevention and control are conducted.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in the constituent ratio of patients received surgical therapy for their thyroid diseases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1986 to 2012.

METHODSThe clinical data of patients received surgical therapy with pathologically confirmed findings from 1986 to 2012 were collected, and a corresponding database was established. The constituent ratios of thyroid diseases and thyroid malignant tumor among different population groups in different years were analyzed.

RESULTSThe number of patients with thyroid diseases admitted to our hospital had significantly increased in the past 27 years, particularly those with nodular goiter or thyroid cancer. The composition ratios of thyroid cancer and nodular goiter increased significantly, and among malignancies the papillary thyroid carcinoma increased obviously. The detection rate of papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma had continuously increased since 2008.

CONCLUSIONThyroid diseases and malignant tumor pathological types had dramatically changed in hospitalized patients in our hospital in the past 27 years.

Adult ; Female ; Goiter, Nodular ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; epidemiology ; surgery ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology

Oncologists and scientists in the field of head and neck cancer exchanged their research findings and clinical experiences in the Sino-USA Symposium on Head and Neck Cancer, which was held January 6-7, 2012 in Guangzhou, China. The symposium was jointly organized by Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). The Guangdong Provincial Anti-Cancer Association and the Chinese Journal of Cancer also helped in organizing the conference. Speakers were from China (SYSUCC, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center) and the United States (MDACC). The presentations covered most kinds of head and neck cancers and included both basic and clinical research progress. In particular, NPC was discussed in depth. The symposium explored the reality that cancer is complex and numerous questions remain to be answered, even though there has already been an enormous effort into research. International exchanges of experience and in-depth cooperation are definitely needed to improve our capability of caring for cancer patients. In this article, we provide highlights of the presentations.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; etiology ; genetics ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genes, ras ; genetics ; Humans ; Point Mutation ; Prognosis ; Thyroglobulin ; metabolism ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors

Histologic patterns at tumor margins may be related to prognosis in several malignancies. We investigated tumor aggressiveness with respect to tumor margin histology in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Five hundred fourteen consecutive patients who underwent surgery for primary PTC between January and July 2009 were assigned to two groups, one with an infiltrative pattern (I-type, n = 347) at tumor margins and one with an expanding pattern (E-type, n = 167). Tumor aggressiveness was assessed by analyzing relationships between these patterns and known prognostic factors. The analysis showed that unfavorable prognostic factors such as tumor multiplicity (P = 0.002), extrathyroidal extension (P < 0.001), lateral neck lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and advanced TNM stage (P = 0.001) were significantly more prevalent in patients with I-type PTC than in those with the E-type. Central neck node metastases were more prevalent without statistical significance in the I-type patients (P = 0.376). Tumor margin histology was not related to gender or tumor size. These results suggest that histologic patterns at tumor margins predict aggressiveness in PTC.
Adult ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology/*pathology

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is associated with tumor genesis, growth, progression and metastasis, and acts by blocking caspase-mediated apoptosis. In the present study, we sought to evaluate the expression patterns of XIAP in various neoplastic thyroid disorders and determine the association between XIAP expression and clinicopathologic factors. Expression of XIAP was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal anti-XIAP in 164 specimens of conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and 53 specimens of other malignant or benign thyroid tumors. XIAP positivity was observed in 128 (78%) of the 164 conventional PTC specimens. Positive rates of XIAP expression in follicular variant PTC, follicular, medullary, poorly differentiated, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma specimens were 20%, 25%, 38%, 67%, and 38%, respectively. Six nodular hyperplasia specimens were negative and 1 of 7 follicular adenomas (8%) was positive for XIAP. Lateral neck lymph node metastases were more frequent in patients negative for XIAP expression (P = 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining for XIAP as a novel molecular marker may thus be helpful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Moreover, high XIAP expression in conventional PTC is strongly associated with reduced risk of lateral neck lymph node metastasis.
Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology/metabolism/*pathology ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein/immunology/*metabolism