Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics, longterm clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality were analyzed. Results: The study included 226 patients (144 women, 82 men). The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for all MTC patients at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals were 92.7%, 89.4%, 74.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.1%, 56.1%, 40.2%, and 32.1% at these intervals. DSS was comparable between the groups from 1980–2009 and 2010–2020 (P=0.995); however, the 1980–2009 group had significantly lower RFS rates (P=0.031). The 2010–2020 group exhibited greater extents of surgical and lymph node dissection (P=0.003) and smaller tumors (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified extrathyroidal extension as the strongest prognostic factor for both RFS and DSS. Age >55 years and tumor size of ≥2 cm were also significant prognostic factors for DSS, while hereditary disease and lymph node metastasis were significant for RFS. Survival analysis after propensity-score matching of rearranged during transfection (RET)-negative and non-screened RET-positive groups showed comparable DSS but longer RFS in the RET-negative group. Conclusion Extrathyroidal extension was identified as the strongest prognostic factor for RFS and DSS. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with decreased DSS, while RET mutation and lymph node metastasis significantly impacted RFS.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics, longterm clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality were analyzed. Results: The study included 226 patients (144 women, 82 men). The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for all MTC patients at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals were 92.7%, 89.4%, 74.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.1%, 56.1%, 40.2%, and 32.1% at these intervals. DSS was comparable between the groups from 1980–2009 and 2010–2020 (P=0.995); however, the 1980–2009 group had significantly lower RFS rates (P=0.031). The 2010–2020 group exhibited greater extents of surgical and lymph node dissection (P=0.003) and smaller tumors (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified extrathyroidal extension as the strongest prognostic factor for both RFS and DSS. Age >55 years and tumor size of ≥2 cm were also significant prognostic factors for DSS, while hereditary disease and lymph node metastasis were significant for RFS. Survival analysis after propensity-score matching of rearranged during transfection (RET)-negative and non-screened RET-positive groups showed comparable DSS but longer RFS in the RET-negative group. Conclusion Extrathyroidal extension was identified as the strongest prognostic factor for RFS and DSS. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with decreased DSS, while RET mutation and lymph node metastasis significantly impacted RFS.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics, longterm clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality were analyzed. Results: The study included 226 patients (144 women, 82 men). The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for all MTC patients at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals were 92.7%, 89.4%, 74.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.1%, 56.1%, 40.2%, and 32.1% at these intervals. DSS was comparable between the groups from 1980–2009 and 2010–2020 (P=0.995); however, the 1980–2009 group had significantly lower RFS rates (P=0.031). The 2010–2020 group exhibited greater extents of surgical and lymph node dissection (P=0.003) and smaller tumors (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified extrathyroidal extension as the strongest prognostic factor for both RFS and DSS. Age >55 years and tumor size of ≥2 cm were also significant prognostic factors for DSS, while hereditary disease and lymph node metastasis were significant for RFS. Survival analysis after propensity-score matching of rearranged during transfection (RET)-negative and non-screened RET-positive groups showed comparable DSS but longer RFS in the RET-negative group. Conclusion Extrathyroidal extension was identified as the strongest prognostic factor for RFS and DSS. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with decreased DSS, while RET mutation and lymph node metastasis significantly impacted RFS.

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics, longterm clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality were analyzed. Results: The study included 226 patients (144 women, 82 men). The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for all MTC patients at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals were 92.7%, 89.4%, 74.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.1%, 56.1%, 40.2%, and 32.1% at these intervals. DSS was comparable between the groups from 1980–2009 and 2010–2020 (P=0.995); however, the 1980–2009 group had significantly lower RFS rates (P=0.031). The 2010–2020 group exhibited greater extents of surgical and lymph node dissection (P=0.003) and smaller tumors (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified extrathyroidal extension as the strongest prognostic factor for both RFS and DSS. Age >55 years and tumor size of ≥2 cm were also significant prognostic factors for DSS, while hereditary disease and lymph node metastasis were significant for RFS. Survival analysis after propensity-score matching of rearranged during transfection (RET)-negative and non-screened RET-positive groups showed comparable DSS but longer RFS in the RET-negative group. Conclusion Extrathyroidal extension was identified as the strongest prognostic factor for RFS and DSS. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with decreased DSS, while RET mutation and lymph node metastasis significantly impacted RFS.

Differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates a wide range of clinical presentations, from very indolent cases to those with an aggressive prognosis. Therefore, diagnosing and treating each cancer appropriately based on its risk status is important. The Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) has provided and amended the clinical guidelines for thyroid cancer management since 2007. The main changes in this revised 2024 guideline include 1) individualization of surgical extent according to pathological tests and clinical findings, 2) application of active surveillance in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, 3) indications for minimally invasive surgery, 4) adoption of World Health Organization pathological diagnostic criteria and definition of terminology in Korean, 5) update on literature evidence of recurrence risk for initial risk stratification, 6) addition of the role of molecular testing, 7) addition of definition of initial risk stratification and targeting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations according to ongoing risk stratification (ORS), 8) addition of treatment of perioperative hypoparathyroidism, 9) update on systemic chemotherapy, and 10) addition of treatment for pediatric patients with thyroid cancer.

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy and effectiveness of a new patient handover system developed for better handover in a metropolitan emergency department (ED). Methods: A retrospective observational study was designed to evaluate the appropriateness and satisfaction level of the new ED handover system. The participants were pre-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) providers with patient transport experience before and after the pilot of the new handover system. Results: A questionnaire was completed by 37 pre-hospital EMS providers who transported patients to the emergency department. Based on the results, pre-hospital EMS providers felt an increased level of kindness from the ED healthcare professionals during patient handover (P<0.001), from 3.19±1.05 points before the introduction of the system to 3.97±0.96 points after its introduction, and the activeness of ED healthcare professionals also increased, from 3.35±1.03 to 4.14±0.86 points (P<0.001). The sufficiency of contents of patient handover information to explain a patient’s condition increased from 3.59±0.76 to 4.08±0.72 points (P<0.003). The score for overall satisfaction felt by the EMS providers during patient handover increased from 3.46±0.96 to 3.76±0.86 points, which was not statistically significant (P=0.020). Conclusion Our findings suggest that the introduction of a new patient handover system between EMS providers and the ED staff is effective for both pre-hospital EMS providers and ED staff.

PURPOSE: With the emergence of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, profiling a wide range of genomic alterations has become a possibility resulting in improved implementation of targeted cancer therapy. In Asian populations, the prevalence and spectrum of clinically actionable genetic alterations has not yet been determined because of a lack of studies examining high-throughput cancer genomic data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this issue, 1,071 tumor samples were collected from five major cancer institutes in Korea and analyzed using targeted NGS at a centralized laboratory. Samples were either fresh frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) and the quality and yield of extracted genomic DNA was assessed. In order to estimate the effect of sample condition on the quality of sequencing results, tissue preparation method, specimen type (resected or biopsied) and tissue storage time were compared. RESULTS: We detected 7,360 non-synonymous point mutations, 1,164 small insertions and deletions, 3,173 copy number alterations, and 462 structural variants. Fifty-four percent of tumors had one or more clinically relevant genetic mutation. The distribution of actionable variants was variable among different genes. Fresh frozen tissues, surgically resected specimens, and recently obtained specimens generated superior sequencing results over FFPE tissues, biopsied specimens, and tissues with long storage duration. CONCLUSION: In order to overcome, challenges involved in bringing NGS testing into routine clinical use, a centralized laboratory model was designed that could improve the NGS workflows, provide appropriate turnaround times and control costs with goal of enabling precision medicine.
Academies and Institutes ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Paraffin ; Point Mutation ; Precision Medicine ; Prevalence

Sialocele formation is a recognised complication of parotid surgery. Most cases resolve after conservative therapy consisting of pressure dressing, fasting, and repeated aspiration. However, some cases are resistent to such treatment and require further intervention. In this report, we present the method of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection into the parotid gland under ultrasonographic guidance along with atropine injection. A 63-year-old female underwent excision of a pleomorphic adenoma abutting an accessory parotid gland. Sialocele formation persisted after almost 3 weeks of conservative therapy. BTX A was given under ultrasonographic guidance and the sialocele disappeared after two doses of treatment. BTX injection under ultrasonographic guidance was thus a safe and effective method for treating persistent sialocele.
Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; Atropine ; Bandages ; Botulinum Toxins* ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A* ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Diseases ; Parotid Gland

OBJECTIVES : Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is one of the principal causes associated with snoring, sleep apnea, and restless sleep. These sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with hyperactivity, rebellious behavior, aggressiveness, enuresis, inattention, social withdrawal, and learning difficulties. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of adenotonsillar hypertrophy on attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms and sleep-related symptoms in children by standard tests. METHODS : Children aged 5 through 15 years old, a total of 65 who were scheduled for Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, were studied. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children of the same age. In both groups, attention-deficit hyperactivity dis-order (ADHD) was evaluated by Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). The degree of inattention, hyperactivity and sleep-related symptoms was evaluated by Korean ADHD Rating Scales (K-ARS), ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) and pediatric sleep questionnaire. The K-ARS and sleep questionnaire were completed by the parents of the children. RESULTS : Acording to K-SADS-PL, 23 subjects out of 65 subjects in the patient group and 2 subjects out of 30 subjects in the control group were diagnosed with ADHD. According to sleep questionnaires, the patient group reported significantly more problems than the control group. The patients had significantly higher cumulative questionnaire scores than the control group. In linear regression analysis, the cumulative score of sleep questionnaire was associated with inattention subscale scores, hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores and the total score of K-ARS, and also with the response time and the standard deviation of response time of ADS. In relation to ADHD, the patient group had significantly higher ADHD scores in K-ARS inattention subscale and significantly slower response time in ADS compared to the control group. Comparing SDB children without ADHD and the control group without ADHD by excluding ADHD children in both groups, SDB children without ADHD did not show significantly higher scores in K-ARS but did show significantly slower ADS response time. CONCLUSION : Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy are associated with increased SDB and ADHD symptoms. Therefore they may need intensive treatment such as surgical intervention.
Adenoidectomy ; Aged ; Child ; Enuresis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Learning ; Linear Models ; Mood Disorders ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reaction Time ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Snoring ; Tonsillectomy ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES : Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is one of the principal causes associated with snoring, sleep apnea, and restless sleep. These sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with hyperactivity, rebellious behavior, aggressiveness, enuresis, inattention, social withdrawal, and learning difficulties. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of adenotonsillar hypertrophy on attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms and sleep-related symptoms in children by standard tests. METHODS : Children aged 5 through 15 years old, a total of 65 who were scheduled for Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, were studied. The control group consisted of 30 healthy children of the same age. In both groups, attention-deficit hyperactivity dis-order (ADHD) was evaluated by Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). The degree of inattention, hyperactivity and sleep-related symptoms was evaluated by Korean ADHD Rating Scales (K-ARS), ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) and pediatric sleep questionnaire. The K-ARS and sleep questionnaire were completed by the parents of the children. RESULTS : Acording to K-SADS-PL, 23 subjects out of 65 subjects in the patient group and 2 subjects out of 30 subjects in the control group were diagnosed with ADHD. According to sleep questionnaires, the patient group reported significantly more problems than the control group. The patients had significantly higher cumulative questionnaire scores than the control group. In linear regression analysis, the cumulative score of sleep questionnaire was associated with inattention subscale scores, hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores and the total score of K-ARS, and also with the response time and the standard deviation of response time of ADS. In relation to ADHD, the patient group had significantly higher ADHD scores in K-ARS inattention subscale and significantly slower response time in ADS compared to the control group. Comparing SDB children without ADHD and the control group without ADHD by excluding ADHD children in both groups, SDB children without ADHD did not show significantly higher scores in K-ARS but did show significantly slower ADS response time. CONCLUSION : Children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy are associated with increased SDB and ADHD symptoms. Therefore they may need intensive treatment such as surgical intervention.
Adenoidectomy ; Aged ; Child ; Enuresis ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Learning ; Linear Models ; Mood Disorders ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reaction Time ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; Snoring ; Tonsillectomy ; Weights and Measures