Only a small percentage of patients (2-5%) with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) exhibit distant metastasis at the initial diagnosis or during the disease course. The most common metastatic sites of DTC are the lungs, followed by the bones. Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is considered the primary treatment for RAI-avid distant metastatic DTC. Depending on the characteristics of metastatic lesions, local treatment such as surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, and external beam radiation therapy may be considered for some patients with metastatic DTC. Slowly growing and asymptomatic metastases can be monitored with follow-up while receiving thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression therapy. In patients with a limited number of lung metastases and good performance status, surgical removal of the metastatic lesions may be considered. Systemic therapy should be considered for patients with progressive RAI refractory DTC. In this clinical guideline, we aim to outline the treatment principles for patients with lung, bone, and brain metastases of DTC.

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.

The aim of this study was to develop evidence-based recommendations for determining the surgical extent in patients with locally invasive differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Locally invasive DTC with gross extrathyroidal extension invading surrounding anatomical structures may lead to several functional deficits and poor oncological outcomes. At present, the optimal extent of surgery in locally invasive DTC remains a matter of debate, and there are no adequate guidelines. On October 8, 2021, four experts searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases; the identified papers were reviewed by 39 experts in thyroid and head and neck surgery. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of evidence, and to develop and report recommendations. The strength of a recommendation reflects the confidence of a guideline panel that the desirable effects of an intervention outweigh any undesirable effects, across all patients for whom the recommendation is applicable. After completing the draft guidelines, Delphi questionnaires were completed by members of the Korean Society of Head and Neck Surgery. Twenty-seven evidence-based recommendations were made for several factors, including the preoperative workup; surgical extent of thyroidectomy; surgery for cancer invading the strap muscles, recurrent laryngeal nerve, laryngeal framework, trachea, or esophagus; and surgery for patients with central and lateral cervical lymph node involvement. Evidence-based guidelines were devised to help clinicians make safer and more efficient clinical decisions for the optimal surgical treatment of patients with locally invasive DTC.

The occlusal treatment including prosthetic treatment should be considered when the pathologic symptom was observed with the excessive discrepancy between the centric relation occlusion (CRO) and the maximum intercuspal position (MIP). Through careful diagnosis, the malocclusion and interarch relationship can be analyzed, and occlusal adjustment, restorative treatment, orthodontic therapy, or orthognathic surgery can be performed depending on the degree of disharmony. The patient in this case report complained the unstable occlusion and loss of masticatory function that had been occurring for several years. At the time of the visit, the patient showed severe occlusal disharmony, with only the upper right second molar contacting the lower jaw at the maximum intercuspal position. Based on the analysis of the occlusion, it was difficult to solve the problem with just occlusal adjustment or restorative treatment. In addition, the patient had the skeletal class II malocclusion between the upper and lower jaws. Therefore, for resolving the severe skeletal class II malocclusion, pre- and post-orthodontic treatment, bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) was performed. After that, the occlusal adjustment was performed for stable occlusion, and the missing teeth area was restored with dental implants. During the follow-up period, a periodic follow-up visits and additional occlusal adjustments were performed to achieve a stable centric occlusion and harmonious anterior and lateral guidance. As a result, the final prosthodontic treatment was completed, and the patient’s masticatory function was restored.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ex vivo activated and expanded natural killer (NK) cell therapy (SNK01) plus pembrolizumab in a randomized phase I/IIa clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Overall, 18 patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a programmed death ligand 1 tumor proportion score of 1% or greater who had a history of failed frontline platinum-based therapy were randomized (2:1) to receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks +/– 6 weekly infusions of SNK01 at either 2×109 or 4×109 cells per infusion (pembrolizumab monotherapy vs. SNK01 combination). The primary endpoint was safety, whereas the secondary endpoints were the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and quality of life. Results: Since no dose-limiting toxicity was observed, the maximum tolerated dose was determined as SNK01 4×109 cells/dose. The safety data did not show any new safety signals when SNK01 was combined with pembrolizumab. The ORR and the 1-year survival rate in the NK combination group were higher than those in patients who underwent pembrolizumab monotherapy (ORR, 41.7% vs. 0%; 1-year survival rate, 66.7% vs. 50.0%). Furthermore, the median PFS was higher in the SNK01 combination group (6.2 months vs. 1.6 months, p=0.001). Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, the NK cell combination therapy may consider as a safe treatment method for stage IV NSCLC patients who had a history of failed platinum-based therapy without an increase in adverse events.

Purpose: The clinical implications of tumor-infiltrating T cell subsets and their spatial distribution in biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin were investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of 52 BTC patients treated with palliative gemcitabine plus cisplatin were included. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry was performed on tumor tissues, and immune infiltrates were separately analyzed for the stroma, tumor margin, and tumor core. Results: The density of CD8+ T cells, FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells, and FoxP3+ CD4+ regulatory T cells was significantly higher in the tumor margin than in the stroma and tumor core. The density of LAG3- or TIM3-expressing CD8+ T cell and FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cell infiltrates was also higher in the tumor margin. In extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, there was a higher density of T cell subsets in the tumor core and regulatory T cells in all regions. A high density of FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells in the tumor margin showed a trend toward better progression-free survival (PFS) (p=0.092) and significantly better overall survival (OS) (p=0.012). In multivariate analyses, a high density of FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells in the tumor margin was independently associated with favorable PFS and OS. Conclusion The tumor margin is the major site for the active infiltration of T cell subsets with higher levels of LAG3 and TIM3 expression in BTC. The density of tumor margin-infiltrating FoxP3- CD4+ helper T cells may be associated with clinical outcomes in BTC patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

Based on rapid improvement in digital fields, many advanced digital technologies are utilized in prosthodontic treatment. Especially, intraoral scanners and 3D printing technology are commonly used, and facial scanning technology is recently being attempted to be part of these digital routines. This case report aims to introduce a digital procedure using the intraoral scanner, facial scanner, and 3D printing technology to create definitive restorations, which are esthetic and harmonious with patient’s face. From thoroughly evaluated full-mouth provisional restoration which was manufactured and fitted conventionally, definitive prostheses were fabricated using various digital technique. Stable occlusion with functionally and aesthetically satisfying results were achieved.

Extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma mostly affects the nasal cavity and there has been no report of the disease’s occurrence at the base of tongue. Here we report a case of 43-year-old man who presented with a diffuse ulcerative lesion at the base of tongue. Because the patient had oral bleeding, tracheostomy and lingual artery ligation was performed via a transcervical approach to control bleeding and protect the upper airway. We performed a deep biopsy through the lateral pharyngotomy approach, and finally, the patient was diagnosed with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type. We report this rare case of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma at the base of tongue with a literature review.

Extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus. Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma mostly affects the nasal cavity and there has been no report of the disease’s occurrence at the base of tongue. Here we report a case of 43-year-old man who presented with a diffuse ulcerative lesion at the base of tongue. Because the patient had oral bleeding, tracheostomy and lingual artery ligation was performed via a transcervical approach to control bleeding and protect the upper airway. We performed a deep biopsy through the lateral pharyngotomy approach, and finally, the patient was diagnosed with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type. We report this rare case of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma at the base of tongue with a literature review.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the survival and success rate of implant-supported fixed prosthesis according to the materials in the posterior area. Other purposes were to observe the complications and evaluate the factors affecting failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had been restored implant prosthesis in the posterior area by the same prosthodontist in the department of prosthodontics, dental hospital, Chonbuk National University, in the period from January 2011 to June 2018 were selected for the study. The patient's sex, age, material, location, type of prosthesis and complications were examined using medical records. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival and success rate. The Log-rank test was conducted to compare the differences between the groups. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between potential risk factors and success rate. RESULTS: A total of 364 implants were observed in 245 patients, with an average follow-up of 17.1 months. A total of 5 implant prostheses failed and were removed, and the 3 and 5 year cumulative survival rate of all implant prostheses were 97.5 and 91.0, respectively. The 3 and 5 year cumulative success rate of all implant prostheses were 61.1% and 32.9%, respectively. Material, sex, age, location and type of prosthesis did not affect success rate (P>.05). Complications occurred in the order of proximal contact loss (53 cases), retention loss (17 cases), peri-implant mucositis (12 cases), infraocclusion (4 cases) and so on. CONCLUSION: Considering a high cumulative survival rate of implant-supported fixed prostheses, regardless of the materials, implant restored in posterior area can be considered as a reliable treatment to tooth replacement. However, regular inspections and, if necessary, repairs and adjustments are very important because of the frequent occurrence of complications
Dentists ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Mucositis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthodontics ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tooth