1.Assessment of the quality of diagnosis and surgical procedure coding for thyroid cancer on the front page of medical records in a single center
Wen LIU ; Dewei RAO ; Zhizhong DONG ; Miao YANG ; Ruochuan CHENG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(5):921-929
Background and Aims:As a core data source in the development of medical informatization,the front page of inpatient medical records plays a crucial role in determining the usability of research data and the scientific quality of clinical decision-making.Given the relatively standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols for thyroid malignancies,this disease serves as a representative model for evaluating the data quality of medical record front sheets.This study aimed to systematically assess the accuracy of diagnostic and surgical procedure coding for thyroid malignancies on the medical record front page,identify existing problems,and explore strategies for improvement and the potential for future application in clinical research.Methods:A total of 3 361 patients who underwent initial surgical treatment and were pathologically confirmed with thyroid cancer at the Department of Thyroid Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively included.Postoperative pathology reports and surgical records were used as reference standards to evaluate the accuracy of primary and secondary diagnosis codes,as well as primary and secondary surgical procedure codes on the medical record front page.Results:The accuracy rate of primary diagnosis coding reached 98.8%.However,among 1 368 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis,only 31.2%had correctly recorded secondary diagnosis codes and metastatic sites,with an omission rate as high as 67.8%.The overall accuracy rate for primary surgical procedure coding was 90.4%,with thyroid lobectomy(TL)and total thyroidectomy(TT)coding accuracies of 85.5%and 96.0%,respectively.Among the coding errors,70.0%involved TL procedures being incorrectly coded as TT.Secondary surgical procedure codes—mainly for lymph node dissection—were highly inconsistent,with up to 14 different coding types,reflecting a lack of standardization and unified input criteria.Notably,the error rate for primary surgical coding in 2020 increased significantly compared with the previous two years,suggesting subjectivity and variability in manual data entry.Conclusion:This study highlights major accuracy deficiencies in surgical procedure coding for thyroid malignancies on the medical record front page,which may compromise the scientific validity of real-world data.Going forward,leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to support structured documentation and automated coding,alongside establishing a proactive quality control system through multidisciplinary collaboration,may significantly improve data accuracy.These efforts are essential for strengthening data foundations for precision treatment,performance evaluation,insurance payment,and clinical research on thyroid cancer.
2.Assessment of the quality of diagnosis and surgical procedure coding for thyroid cancer on the front page of medical records in a single center
Wen LIU ; Dewei RAO ; Zhizhong DONG ; Miao YANG ; Ruochuan CHENG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(5):921-929
Background and Aims:As a core data source in the development of medical informatization,the front page of inpatient medical records plays a crucial role in determining the usability of research data and the scientific quality of clinical decision-making.Given the relatively standardized diagnostic and treatment protocols for thyroid malignancies,this disease serves as a representative model for evaluating the data quality of medical record front sheets.This study aimed to systematically assess the accuracy of diagnostic and surgical procedure coding for thyroid malignancies on the medical record front page,identify existing problems,and explore strategies for improvement and the potential for future application in clinical research.Methods:A total of 3 361 patients who underwent initial surgical treatment and were pathologically confirmed with thyroid cancer at the Department of Thyroid Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020 were retrospectively included.Postoperative pathology reports and surgical records were used as reference standards to evaluate the accuracy of primary and secondary diagnosis codes,as well as primary and secondary surgical procedure codes on the medical record front page.Results:The accuracy rate of primary diagnosis coding reached 98.8%.However,among 1 368 patients with cervical lymph node metastasis,only 31.2%had correctly recorded secondary diagnosis codes and metastatic sites,with an omission rate as high as 67.8%.The overall accuracy rate for primary surgical procedure coding was 90.4%,with thyroid lobectomy(TL)and total thyroidectomy(TT)coding accuracies of 85.5%and 96.0%,respectively.Among the coding errors,70.0%involved TL procedures being incorrectly coded as TT.Secondary surgical procedure codes—mainly for lymph node dissection—were highly inconsistent,with up to 14 different coding types,reflecting a lack of standardization and unified input criteria.Notably,the error rate for primary surgical coding in 2020 increased significantly compared with the previous two years,suggesting subjectivity and variability in manual data entry.Conclusion:This study highlights major accuracy deficiencies in surgical procedure coding for thyroid malignancies on the medical record front page,which may compromise the scientific validity of real-world data.Going forward,leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to support structured documentation and automated coding,alongside establishing a proactive quality control system through multidisciplinary collaboration,may significantly improve data accuracy.These efforts are essential for strengthening data foundations for precision treatment,performance evaluation,insurance payment,and clinical research on thyroid cancer.
3.Etiological analysis and clinical implications of locally advanced thyroid cancer
Ruochuan CHENG ; Wen LIU ; Zhizhong DONG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;33(11):1751-1758
Although the overall prognosis of thyroid cancer is favorable,some patients may still experience persistent,recurrent,or distant metastatic disease after initial standard treatment. Among them,patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC) have a poorer prognosis,making it a major cause of mortality in thyroid cancer. Analysis of etiology of LATC reveals that most LATC cases arise from the progression of differentiated thyroid cancer. Contributing factors include limitations in preoperative assessment,gradual downgrading of treatment intensity,and the widespread adoption of thermal ablation therapies. Therefore,early standardized management of low-risk thyroid cancer is essential to prevent the development of LATC.
4.Environmental influences on the increased incidence rate of thyroid cancer
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(12):904-908
The incidence of thyroid cancer is rising rapidly and has now become the third most common cancer among women in China. The increase may partly result from overscreening. However, the significant rise in global mortality and increased rate of larger tumors can not be explained by overdiagnosis of microcarcinoma alone. In this review, we discuss the influence of modifiable factors, environmental exposures, on the incidence rises of throid cancer. And it caused thyroid cancer patients may be exactly those with non-overdiagnosed, larger or fatal cases. In the era of precision medicine, epidemiological investigations and environmental factor studies should be conducted to identify these populations with an increased risk of high-grade thyroid cancer.
5.Etiological analysis and clinical implications of locally advanced thyroid cancer
Ruochuan CHENG ; Wen LIU ; Zhizhong DONG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;33(11):1751-1758
Although the overall prognosis of thyroid cancer is favorable,some patients may still experience persistent,recurrent,or distant metastatic disease after initial standard treatment. Among them,patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC) have a poorer prognosis,making it a major cause of mortality in thyroid cancer. Analysis of etiology of LATC reveals that most LATC cases arise from the progression of differentiated thyroid cancer. Contributing factors include limitations in preoperative assessment,gradual downgrading of treatment intensity,and the widespread adoption of thermal ablation therapies. Therefore,early standardized management of low-risk thyroid cancer is essential to prevent the development of LATC.
6.Environmental influences on the increased incidence rate of thyroid cancer
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(12):904-908
The incidence of thyroid cancer is rising rapidly and has now become the third most common cancer among women in China. The increase may partly result from overscreening. However, the significant rise in global mortality and increased rate of larger tumors can not be explained by overdiagnosis of microcarcinoma alone. In this review, we discuss the influence of modifiable factors, environmental exposures, on the incidence rises of throid cancer. And it caused thyroid cancer patients may be exactly those with non-overdiagnosed, larger or fatal cases. In the era of precision medicine, epidemiological investigations and environmental factor studies should be conducted to identify these populations with an increased risk of high-grade thyroid cancer.
7.Clinical anatomy and cause analysis of parathyroid gland injury
Qijia LI ; Ruochuan CHENG ; Wen LIU ; Bin LIU
International Journal of Surgery 2022;49(2):140-144
With the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer, more and more thyroid operations are being performed.The relationship between parathyroid gland and thyroid gland is closed and complex, and parathyroid gland’s location is changeable and its blood supply is fragile.Hypoparathyroidism caused by the damage of parathyroid gland has become one of the common postoperative complications.The causes of injury or dysfunction of parathyroid gland are various, which are not only related to anatomical factors, including the variation in morphology, colour, quantity, location and blood supply, but also related to the operation skills of the surgeon or the use of energy devices, while the destruction of blood supply and tissue thermal damage are the main reasons.Therefore, expert mastery on the anatomical location of parathyroid gland and distribution of blood supply of parathyroid gland, careful anatomy during the operation to prevent accidental removal of parathyroid gland, rational use of energy devices to prevent mechanical damage of parathyroid gland and blood supply and thermal damage, is conducive to improving protection of parathyroid function and can reduce the occurrence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.
8.Active surveillance for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: A single center prospective observation study
Wen LIU ; Weihan CAO ; Zhizhong DONG ; Ruochuan CHENG
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2022;38(12):1068-1074
Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of the active surveillance as an alternative to surgery in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC); And to explore potential surgical indicators based on characteristics of patients and medical environment.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted in patients with low risk PTMC and received active surveillance management( n=98). Patient adherence, non-progression surgery rates were described, cumulative incidence of tumor growth≥3 mm and tumor volume increase≥50% under ultrasonic monitoring, as well as tumor doubling rate(TDR) were evaluated. Results:A total of 98 patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort. The median age was 39(30, 45) years, and the median baseline diameter of the index tumors was 5.0(3.8, 6.8) mm, with 63.3% of tumors being≤5 mm. After a median 22(12, 44) months follow-up, tumor size growth≥3 mm and tumor volume increase≥50% occurred in 11(11.2%) and 50(51.0%) patients, and no new lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and death occurred. Five cases(5.1%) required delayed surgery, and other five non-progression patients opted in surgery based on their own preferences. One patient lost to follow-up. The median post-tumor progression TDRs was significantly lower than that of pre-tumor progression TDRs [size growth per year: -0.09(-0.12, 0.48) vs 0.91(0.86, 1.25), P=0.014, n=8; volume increase per year: 0.29(-0.14, 0.70) vs 1.04(0.66, 2.17), P<0.001, n=39]. After tumor size and volume progression, 62.5% and 43.6% of tumors were remained stable or shrank, respectively. Conclusions:Actived surveillance can be considered as one of the management strategies for low-risk PTMC. Given the differences in population and clinical characteristics, it should be taken in to consideration in developing active surveillance management, such as candidate criteria, follow-up strategies, and intervention indications.
9.A clinical study on the central lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in cN0 T1/T2
Shuyan ZHAO ; Ruochuan CHENG ; Yunhai MA ; Yanjun SU ; Bin LIU ; Tianyun WEN ; Jun QIAN
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2019;13(4):283-288
Objective To probe the reasonable range of central lymph node dissections(CLNs)for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in cN0 T1/T2 by analyzing the metastasis regulations of PTC in cN0 T1/T2.Methods Data of 891 PTC patients in cN0T1/T2 cases according to the research criterion from Oct.2013 to Sep.2017 were analyzed.All the patients were under the treatment of the same group of surgeons in Department of Thyroid Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Kunming Medical University and had undergone operation of bilateral total resection of thyroid gland and central lymph node.The clinical and pathological data were collected.Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to investigate the risk factors of central neck lymph node metastasis and high volume central neck lymph node metastasis.Results ①Univariate analysis showed that gender (P=0.002),age(P=0.002),multiform(P=0.000),nodular goiter(P=0.000)and with Hashimoto's(P=0.031)had significant influence in prevalence of CLN node metastasis.Gender(P=0.010)and tumor size(P=0.000)showed significant influence in prevalence of high volume CNL node metastasis.In multivariate analysis,age (OR=0.962,OR=2.856)and nodular goiter(OR=0.969,OR=3.012)showed the independent risk factor of CNL node metastasis and high volume CNL node metastasis.②The numbers of lesion in unilateral lesion were not correlated with IpsiCLNs and Cont-CLNs metastasis (P=0.347,P=0.653).The tumor diameter was correlated with Ipsi-CLNs and ContCLNs metastasis (P=0.010,P=0.000).The tumor diameter of bilateral multifocal carcinoma was correlated with LN-prRLN-CLNs metastasis (P=0.019).The tumor diameter of left and right unilateral single focal lesion was not correlated with LN-prRLN-CLNs metastasis(P=0.684,P=0.072).Conclusions According to the study,it is recommended that the PTC in cN0 T1/T2 should routinely undergo preventive central lymph nodes dissection in the case of technical support:①Preventive overall CLND is recommended for unilateral non-microscopic carcinoma and bilateral multiform carcinoma,especially in those older than 55.②For patients with unilateral single or multifocal microscopic carcinoma,only ipsilateral central lymph nodes dissection can be considered.③ Generally,routine dissection is not necessary for the lymph nodes of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve in the central region of the neck.However,for bilateral non-small cancers and right non-small cancers,LN-prRLN-CLNs dissection is recommended.
10.Current Status of Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma.
Lei LIU ; Ruochuan ZANG ; Peng SONG ; Shugeng GAO
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2018;21(12):902-906
Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare, poorly differentiated, subtype of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and constitutes approximately 0.1% to 0.5% of all lung malignancies. PSC can be divided into five subtypes based on the 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lung tumors: pleomorphic carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, giant cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, and pulmonary blastoma. Some imaging characteristics can be found for PSC although no special symptoms. The accurate pathological diagnosis of PSC can be a significant challenge, which depends on pathology and immunohistochemistry. PSC should be managed similar to other NSCLC, surgical resection is the standard management for early stage cases, moreover, multimodal treatment should be considered. However, PSC is insensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and has high rate of local and metastatic recurrence and poor prognosis. With the development of molecular pathology, targeted therapy and immunotherapy may have broad prospects.
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
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diagnosis
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therapy
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Lung Neoplasms
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diagnosis
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therapy
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Prognosis

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