Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Gaurav Agarwal.
We provide an overview of a recent study in Cancer Discovery by Leongamornlert and colleagues involving genomic profiling of 30 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms using available blood or bone marrow samples to assess what factors underlie disease evolution or predict stability. See related article by Leongamornlert et al., p. 1843.
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BACKGROUND: Ideal management of toxic goiter still remains elusive. Though surgical management of toxic multinodular goiter (MNG) is well accepted, surgical treatment of Graves' disease (GD) is still controversial in view of the presumed increased incidence of complications. In this paper, we discuss the experience of the surgical management of hyperthyroidism at a specialized tertiary care endocrine center in a developing country, highlighting the minimal morbidity and satisfactory outcome in experienced hands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 325 consecutive patients with hyperthyroidism managed surgically from 1990 to 2005. The etiologic diagnoses were Graves' disease (185), toxic MNG (105), and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN) (n = 35). The indications for surgery in Graves' patients were large goiter, relapse after antithyroid drug therapy (ATD), Graves' ophthalmopathy, and presence of nodule. The indications for surgery in toxic MNG were retrosternal extension (n = 15), compressive symptoms (n = 20), and large size (grade II). Among the AFTN nodule size, those greater than 4 cm (85%) formed the major indication for surgery. Subjects with GD and toxic MNG were subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy (n = 93 prior to 1995) or total thyroidectomy (n = 205 post-1995). Hemithyroidectomy was the procedure of choice in patients with AFTN. RESULTS: Patients with Graves' disease were younger in age, with shorter mean duration of goiter when compared with the other 2 groups. Eight percent of patients with Graves' disease without a clinically palpable nodule and 25% of those with nodules had associated differentiated carcinoma, including papillary, follicular, and medullary thyroid cancer. Four percent of patients with toxic MNG had malignancy. Complications included temporary hypocalcemia (24%), permanent hypocalcemia (3%), and permanent vocal-cord palsy (1%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for hyperthyroidism has negligible mortality and acceptable morbidity in experienced hands. It is a definite option in selected cases. Immediate and permanent cure of hyperthyroidism is achieved, with no recurrences, after total thyroidectomy. The cosmetic outcome is good, with excellent patient satisfaction and acceptance.
INTRODUCTION: Fine needle aspiration cytology is not a commonly employed diagnostic modality in the diagnosis of parathyroid tumors. CASE REPORT: A 28 year old lady being followed-up for 5 years after en bloc resection of a parathyroid carcinoma presented with a nodule in the lower neck, away from the parathyroidectomy scar. The 1 cm isolated nodule was located in the muscular and subcutaneous plane and corresponded to the needle track of FNA performed on a neck nodule before the parathyroidectomy. On evaluation, she had mild hypercalcemia and high normal serum parathyroid hormone levels. FNAC and histology including immunohistochemistry for Chromogranin A after local excision of the nodule confirmed the nodule to be a recurrent parathyroid carcinoma along the needle track. DISCUSSION: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is only the second case of needle track implantation after FNA in parathyroid carcinoma reported to date. This case highlights the risk of engraftment of parathyroid tissue after FNA and cautions against the use of FNA as a preoperative diagnostic modality for the evaluation of parathyroid lesions.
INTRODUCTION: No foolproof preoperative diagnostic indicators of parathyroid carcinoma (PC) exist in absence of nonskeletal metastases. Palpable parathyroid tumor, advanced skeletal and renal manifestations, and very high serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels are considered strong predictors. Most of these features are common in Indian primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients although only few have PC. The aim of this study was to identify dependable clinicoinvestigative predictors of PC in Indian PHPT patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical, biochemical, radiological, and densitometric attributes of 100 PHPT patients who underwent successful parathyroidectomy (1990-2004) were studied. Various parameters of patient groups with parathyroid adenoma (n = 84), primary hyperplasia (n = 12), and carcinoma (n = 4) were compared using ANOVA, with P value < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 37.4 years, with no difference in the 3 groups (P = 0.92). Patients in 3 groups had comparably severe bone disease; 36 had coexistent renal disease. Two patients with PC and 27 (32%) with adenoma had palpable parathyroid tumor. None of the biochemical parameters predicted malignant pathology. Mean tumor weight (milligram) in carcinoma patients (15,080 +/- 5,638.02) was significantly higher than those with adenoma (5,724 +/- 1,257.9) (P = 0.002). Postoperative course and recovery in carcinoma patients were similar to those with adenoma. In follow-up (mean: 33 months), none of the adenoma patients were found to have persistent/recurrent PHPT attributable to missed PC. CONCLUSION: Indian patients with parathyroid adenoma, hyperplasia, and carcinoma were not found to differ in their clinical, biochemical, and pathological characteristics except for significantly higher tumor weight in the carcinoma group.
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Adenomas of the parathyroid gland, the majority of which are of the solitary chief cell type, are the most frequent cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Parathyroid adenomas composed predominantly or exclusively of oxyphil cells are rare and most oxyphil cell adenomas of this organ remain clinically silent. We present here a case of hyperfunctioning oxyphil cell adenoma of the parathyroid gland resulting in pHPT, osteitis fibrosa cystica and simultaneous bilateral fractures upper shafts of femora.
PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in children is rare. The optimal initial surgical treatment remains controversial, given the generally favorable overall prognosis but high rate of cervical metastasis and local recurrence. Our objective was to examine the surgical outcomes of a policy of total thyroidectomy and routine selective lymph node dissection (SLND) as the initial surgical approach to children with PTC. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comprising 14 children (age, < or =17 years) with PTC referred for thyroid surgery during the past 15 years. Clinical presentation, the surgical procedure, final pathology, lymph node involvement, complications, and recurrence rates are reported. RESULTS: There were 9 females and 5 males, with an average age of 12.5 years. Seven patients (50%) had clinically apparent cervical lymphadenopathy at the time of surgical referral. All subjects underwent total thyroidectomy, and 12 (86%) had SLND. Of the 12 who underwent SLND, 10 (83%) had nodal metastases. Temporary hypocalcemia was noted in 3 of the patients (21%), and 1 patient has required ongoing intermittent calcium supplementation. All patients are alive and well at follow-up with no clinical, biochemical, or radiological evidence of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy with initial SLND is an appropriate surgical approach in children with PTC. It can be done without a significantly increased risk for permanent complications and may reduce the requirement for subsequent surgical intervention for local recurrence in this young population.
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Foot lesions in postrenal transplant diabetics are often overlooked and hence underestimated. An audit of patients attending the authors' department was done. They reviewed the case notes to assess the presentation, clinical profiles, and outcomes of foot infections in patients with diabetes mellitus who received renal transplants at their center. Medical records of 192 diabetic foot patients were assessed, of which 8.8% (n = 17) had a history of previous renal transplantation for diabetic nephropathy. All 17 patients had noninsulin-dependent diabetes of mean duration of 16.2 years (range 7-27 years). Common complications and risk factors were studied. Mean duration to development of foot lesions in renal allograft recipients was 19.7 months (range 6-84 months). The big toe was the most common site of infection. Neuropathy and poor foot care appear to be important factors in the development of these foot lesions. Escherichia coli was the predominant organism on pus culture. Thirty-eight percent of patients needed major amputations; absence of an intact distal vascular tree was associated with a high major amputation rate. Two patients expired due to foot-related septicemia, and healing occurred in the remainder. Mean hospitalization time was 32.7 days. Most patients required more than one admission. The study emphasizes the need for greater attention to lower extremity complications in this patient group.
Water-clear cell hyperplasia is a rare but well-documented cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid adenomas of water-clear cell type are exceptionally rare, and only five case reports are available at present in the medical literature. We report an additional case of water-clear cell adenoma of the parathyroid gland, and the differential diagnoses are discussed.
Sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is a molecule involved in active accumulation of iodine in thyroid gland for the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone. Its expression has also been demonstrated in extra-thyroidal tissues including lactating mice mammary gland and also in human breast cancers. Iodide transport in thyroid cells through NIS is the basis for using radioiodine for diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The similar approach may prove beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer if iodine uptake, its retention and NIS expression can be shown unequivocally in malignant tumors. The aim of the present study was to investigate NIS expression, in vivo iodine transport ability and fate of iodine in human breast tumors. Women (age 33-58 years) with infiltrating duct carcinoma confirmed by FNAC and subsequent histopathology were the subject of this study. Expression of NIS RNA and protein was confirmed by RNAase protection assay, western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively in surgically excised breast tumor tissue. Iodine transport ability and its nature was assessed both in vivo and in vitro. We report high NIS expression at both transcriptional and translational level and its ability to transport iodine in human breast tumors. The in vivo iodine transport ability was confirmed by scintigraphy. Unlike thyroid, perchlorate and thiocyanate do not inhibit iodine transport in breast tumors. The presence of iodinated proteins suggests the longer retention time. The unequivocal demonstration of NIS expression, its functionality and retention of iodine by organification further provides supportive evidence for use of radioiodine as an additional treatment modality of human breast carcinoma.
A 36-year-old Chinese female with an 8-year history of chronic, generalized plaque psoriasis demonstrated a marked improvement of the disease after removal of an intercurrent euthyroid multinodular goitre. Thyroxine was commenced immediately postoperatively. No thyroid antibodies were detected and thyroid function and calcium levels remained within normal limits both pre- and postoperatively. Four weeks following surgery, narrow-band ultraviolet B (nbUVB) therapy was recommenced for recurrent psoriasis. The manifestations of psoriasis at this stage were less severe than before thyroidectomy and responded well to treatment, whereas before surgery the response to therapy had been poor. One year following total thyroidectomy, the patient received very effective psoriasis control with nbUVB therapy. The possible role of surgery and thyroid hormones in altering the pathogenesis of psoriasis in the acute setting is clearly of interest and warrants further research consideration.
BACKGROUND: A feasibility study of 'focused' minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) using a lateral approach was commenced in 1999. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this procedure in the first 100 consecutive patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, non-randomized case-control study. One hundred consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (mean age 63.1 years; 74 females, 26 males) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria underwent focused MIP between May 1999 and December 2000. The results for the first and last 50 consecutive patients were compared to see whether they were reflective of a learning curve. The role of intraoperative quick parathyroid hormone (QPTH) estimation was also evaluated. RESULTS: Focused MIP was successfully completed in 93 of 100 patients, with seven conversions. Three (3.2%) of the 93 patients had persistent hyperparathyroidism. Quick PTH was measured in 81 patients and the results were true positive (for cure) in 72 patients, false negative in six patients, true negative in two patients and false positive in one patient. Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis occurred in one patient. During the same time period, open parathyroidectomy was performed in 242 patients. The results were not different between the first and later 50 patients undergoing MIP, nor were the outcomes significantly different from patients undergoing open parathyroidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Focused MIP is a safe and effective operative approach for appropriately selected patients. Failed procedures were invariably related to shortcomings of the localization studies. Measurement of QPTH, although accurate, is unreliable in the presence of multigland disease.
BACKGROUND: This paper describes the technique of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. The technique is based on a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the fascial planes in neck, the surgical pathology and embryology of parathyroid glands and precise anatomical interpretation of preoperative localization studies. METHODS: Tissue trauma is minimized by using a 2.0 cm incision placed directly over the abnormal parathyroid gland and by removing the adenoma, without compromising the basic endocrine surgical principles of identification and preservation of recurrent laryngeal nerve, avoidance of any capsular breech, and ligation of the vascular pedicle. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: With proper patient selection, this technique results in a failure rate of less than 4% and ensures that the incidence of complications, such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, remains comparable with that of standard open parathyroidectomy.
PURPOSE: Subtotal thyroidectomy has been advocated as the standard treatment for Graves' disease because of the possibility of avoiding thyroxine therapy as well as the assumed lower risk of complications compared to total thyroidectomy. However, the long-term results of subtotal thyroidectomy are not as good as they were previously believed to be, as evidenced by the increasing incidence of hypothyroidism. If the risk of complications from total thyroidectomy is no higher,then that procedure offers significant advantages in the surgical management of Graves' disease. The aim of this study therefore was to compare the complication rate of the two procedures in patients with Graves' disease. METHODS: This was a retrospective case control study in a tertiary referral hospital. Information was obtained from an endocrine surgery database over the study period from January 1957 to December 2000. During that period 1246 patients with Graves' disease underwent subtotal thyroidectomy and 119 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Prior to 1987 total thyroidectomy was rarely if ever performed whereas in the last 12 months total thyroidectomy comprised 95% of all procedures. There was no significant difference in the rate of permanent complications between the two procedures although temporary hypocalcaemia was significantly more common following total thyroidectomy. Permanent hypoparathyroidism resulted in one patient each who underwent total thyroidectomy (0.8%) and subtotal thyroidectomy (0.1%). Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in one patient who underwent total thyroidectomy (0.8%) and 5 patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy (0.4%). CONCLUSION: Given that subtotal thyroidectomy provides an unpredictable outcome and that the risk of permanent complications is no greater than with total thyroidectomy, there appears little logical reason to continue to recommend subtotal thyroidectomy for the surgical management of Graves' disease. We believe that Graves' disease should join the increasing list of thyroid conditions for which total thyroidectomy is the preferred option.
BACKGROUND: After parathyroidectomy, recovery of osteitis fibrosa cystica, which continues to dominate presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism in India has not been documented objectively. METHODS: We followed up clinical recovery, biochemic markers of bone turnover, bone mineral density, and skeletal radiology in 51 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and osteitis fibrosa cystica for 9 to 124 months (median, 32 months). RESULTS: After parathyroidectomy, 46 patients had hypocalcemia. During postoperative week 1, bone pain improved in 71%. During 3 months, appendicular fractures healed in all 33 such patients, and 6 of 7 patients who were bedridden could walk. Mean bone mineral density increments (percent change/y) seen at various sites at 1 week, 3, 6, and 12 months were distal forearm--37, 28, 23, 21; lumbar spine--165, 104, 101, 106; and total hip--168, 157, 166, 133. Follow-up radiographs demonstrated prompt recovery though disorderly remineralization. Brown tumors and fractures showed hyperdensities within 3 months. Brown tumors regressed partially in 6 of 27 patients after 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: After parathyroidectomy, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have early, marked, and sustained recovery of osteitis fibrosa cystica. Early (1 week) bone mineral density increments of > 100%/y hint at the skeleton's ability to promptly restore itself. Densitometric recovery is prompt at cancellous (lumbar spine), but not at cortical (forearm) bone sites. Contour defects and bony tumors persist, and may need corrective osteotomies.
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