Advantages and disadvantages of surgical therapy and optimal extent of thyroidectomy for the treatment of hyperthyroidism

Approach to the Patient: Management and the Long-term Consequences of Graves' Disease in Children

In children, Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Most pediatric patients with GD will not go into lasting remission, even following many years of antidrug therapy. Thus, most pediatric patients will require radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery. When antithyroid drugs are used, methimazole is the drug of choice. When methimazole is used in children, up to 20% will have minor adverse reactions and serious adverse events occur in up to 1%. RAI is an effective form of therapy when the thyroid size is less than 80 g. Because of concerns of whole-body radiation exposure, it is recommended that RAI be avoided in children under 5 years of age, and dosages less than 10 mCi be used between 5 and 10 years of age. Surgery is an effective treatment in children if performed by a high-volume thyroid surgeon. Because of the scarcity of high-volume pediatric thyroid surgeons, a multidisciplinary approach using pediatric surgeons and endocrine surgeons can be considered. Whereas there is a trend toward long-term antithyroid drug therapy in adults, for several reasons, this approach may not be practical for children. Determining the optimal treatment for the pediatric patient with GD, requires consideration of the risks and benefits relating to age and likelihood of remission.

An overview of the contribution of acupuncture to thyroid disorders

Thyroid dysfunction, affecting people of all ages, not only damages human growth and energy metabolism but is also comorbid with other illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and gastrointestinal disorders. With the increasing acceptance of alternative and complementary therapies, acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, has also been employed to address this problem. Analysing 29 clinical projects that were retrieved from 29 major digital databases and include 1757 patients aged 7-79 years from China, Italy, Korea, Macedonia and Russia, this narrative review offers an overview of the efficacy, and evaluated the safe and cost-effective use of acupuncture against hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid-relevant illnesses. Findings indicated reductions in patient symptoms and improvements in biomarkers where acupuncture was used alone or in combination therapy. In addition to showing the role of acupuncture as an alternative and complementary medicine or as an adjunctive therapy for curative and rehabilitative purposes, more well-designed researches are needed to achieve reliable data.

Perfect storm: Therapeutic plasma exchange for a patient with thyroid storm

Thyroid storm is a potentially lethal complication of hyperthyroidism with increased thyroid hormones and exaggerated symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. First-line therapy includes methimazole (MMI) or propylthiouracil (PTU) to block production of thyroid hormones as a bridge toward definitive surgical treatment. Untreated thyroid storm has a mortality rate of up to 30%; this is particularly alarming when patients cannot tolerate or fail pharmacotherapy, especially if they cannot undergo thyroidectomy. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an ASFA category III indication for thyroid storm, meaning the optimum role of this therapy is not established, and there are a limited number of cases in the literature. Yet TPE can remove T3 and T4 bound to albumin, autoantibodies, catecholamines and cytokines and is likely beneficial for these patients. We report a patient with thyroid storm who could not tolerate PTU, subsequently failed therapy with MMI, and was not appropriate for thyroidectomy. TPE was therefore performed daily for 4 days (1.0 plasma volume with 5% albumin replacement and 2 U of plasma). Over the treatment course, the patient's thyroid hormones normalized and symptoms of thyroid storm largely resolved; his T3 decreased from 2.27 to 0.81 ng/mL (normal 0.8-2.0), T4 decreased from 4.8 to 1.7 ng/mL (0.8-1.8), heart rate normalized, altered mental status improved, and he converted to normal sinus rhythm. He was ultimately discharged in euthyroid state. He experienced no side effects from his TPE procedures. TPE is a safe and effective treatment for thyroid storm when conventional treatments are not successful or appropriate.

Controversies in the management of Graves' disease in children

Graves' disease (GD) is the most prevalent cause of thyrotoxicosis in children. Because spontaneous and lasting resolution of this condition occurs in only a minority of patients, most pediatric patients with GD will need radioactive iodine treatment (¹³¹I) or thyroidectomy. Whereas the medication propylthiouracil (PTU) had been used in the past, only methimazole (MMI) should be now used in children, as PTU is associated with an unacceptable risk of liver failure. However, MMI may be associated minor and major side effects, which may be minimized using lower doses. An area of controversy involves the optimal duration of antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy. For some children, the prolonged use of antithyroid drugs is a valid approach, but for most, this will not increase the chance of remission. When ¹³¹I is administered, dosages should be greater than 150 uCi/gm of thyroid tissue, with higher dosages needed for larger glands. Considering that there will be low-level whole body radiation exposure associated with ¹³¹I, this treatment is viewed as controversial by some and should be avoided in young children. When surgery is performed, near-total or total thyroidectomy is the recommended procedure. Complications for thyroidectomy in children are considerably higher than in adults. Thus, an experienced thyroid surgeon is needed when children have surgery. Overall, when different treatment options for GD are considered, the benefits, risks and viewpoints of the family need to be considered and discussed in full.

Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy as a Preoperative Procedure in Patients with Malignancy in Solitary and Multiple Thyroid Nodules

BACKGROUND

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a recognized technique for the basic, preoperative cytological diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To analyze the accuracy of FNAB in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer in patients with solitary and multiple thyroid nodules and to compare the demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with thyroid carcinoma in solitary and multiple tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The case records of 2,403 patients with solitary and multiple thyroid tumors treated consecutively between 2008 and 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. We selected 1,645 for further analysis. A solitary thyroid nodule was observed in 493 patients, and multiple nodules were detected in 1,152 patients. Further classification of the patients in these two groups was performed on the basis of the FNAB results, type of surgery performed and histopathology. TC was histopathologically confirmed in 166 patients, and benign disease was found in 1,479. The TC patients were assigned to the study group, and those with benign thyroid disease were placed into the control group. The study group was divided into two subgroups according to the presence of cancer in a single thyroid nodule or in multiple nodules. Malignancy in a solitary thyroid nodule was diagnosed in 98 (59.0%) patients, and cancer in multiple nodules was diagnosed in 68 (41.0%). Comparative analyses of the demographic, clinical and histopathological characteristics were performed for both subgroups. The following statistical analyses were performed: comparative characteristic of subgroups, ROC analysis for study group and subgroup of patients, and multivariable logistic regression analysis for study group.

RESULTS

The rate of prediction of TC by FNAB was three times higher in the patients with a solitary thyroid nodule compared with those with multiple thyroid nodules and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). The rate of total thyroid resection and lack of necessity for reoperation were also significantly higher in the TC patients with a solitary nodule. The histopathological results showed that significantly more patients with a solitary nodule had advanced-stage TC (stage III or IV) and tumor progression (pT3 or pT4) (p = 0.002 for both). ROC analysis demonstrated that the overall accuracy of FNAB as a predictor of thyroid cancer presence was high, especially for the subgroup of patients with a solitary thyroid nodule (AUC = 0.958, p<0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed that a positive FNAB result was the sole predictor of the performance of total resection in the TC study group (p<0.0001), while a negative FNAB result and the presence of a papillary cancer type were independent predictors of the risk of reoperation (p<0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

FNAB often produces false-negative results in patients with multiple malignant thyroid tumors, which results in reoperation in many cases. False-negative FNAB results are rare in patients with a solitary tumor. Because of the low predictive capacity of FNAB for thyroid cancer in patients with multiple thyroid tumors, total thyroid excision should be considered in most cases despite a "negative" (no malignant) FNAB result.

Pediatric Graves' disease: management in the post-propylthiouracil Era

The most prevalent cause of thyrotoxicosis in children is Graves’ disease (GD), and remission occurs only in a modest proportion of patients. Thus most pediatric patients with GD will need treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI; ¹³¹I) or surgical thyroidectomy. When antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are prescribed, only methimazole (MMI) should be administered, as PTU is associated with an unacceptable risk of severe liver injury. If remission does not occur following ATD therapy, ¹³¹I or surgery should be contemplated. When ¹³¹I is administered, dosages should be greater than 150 uCi/gm of thyroid tissue, with higher dosages needed for large glands. Considering that there will be low-level whole body radiation exposure associated with ¹³¹I, this treatment should be avoided in young children. When surgery is performed near total or total-thyroidectomy is the recommended procedure. Complications for thyroidectomy in children are considerably higher than in adults, thus an experienced thyroid surgeon is needed when children are operated on. Most importantly, the care of children with GD can be complicated and requires physicians with expertise in the area.

Two cases of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve: routine nerve exploration in total thyroidectomy

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is one of the main complications of thyroidectomy. Since variability in the course of the nerve increases the risk of injury, routine nerve exploration is recommended. In this report, we present two cases of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve found during total thyroidectomy performed for benign pathologies. Total thyroidectomy was performed on two female patients (52 and 54 years old) with a diagnosis of multi-nodular goiter in our clinics. Nerve exploration was performed routinely and non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was noted in both patients. Patients were discharged on the first postoperative day without any complications. Recurrent laryngeal nerve exploration does not increase the risk of nerve injury and ensures safety in case of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve presence, despite its rarity.

Is subtotal thyroidectomy a cost-effective treatment for Graves disease? A cost-effectiveness analysis of the medical and surgical treatment options

BACKGROUND

The 3 treatment options for Graves disease (GD) are antithyroid drugs (ATDs), radioactive iodine (RAI), and thyroid surgery. We hypothesized that thyroid surgery is cost-effective for Graves disease when compared to RAI or ATD.

METHODS

Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to compare operative strategies to medical treatment strategies for GD. The decision model, based on a reference case, included treatment outcomes, probabilities, and costs derived from literature review. Outcomes were weighted using quality of life utility factors, yielding quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The uncertainty of costs, probabilities, and utility estimates in the model were examined by univariate and multivariate sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation.

RESULTS

The subtotal thyroidectomy strategy produced the greatest QALYs, 25.783, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $26,602 per QALY, reflecting a gain of 0.091 QALYs at an additional cost of $2416 compared to RAI. Surgery was cost-effective when the initial postoperative euthyroid rate was greater than 49.5% and the total cost was less than $7391. Monte Carlo simulation showed the subtotal thyroidectomy strategy to be optimal in 826 of 1000 cases.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that subtotal thyroidectomy can be a cost-effective treatment for GD. However, a 49.5% initial postoperative euthyroid rate was a necessary condition for cost-effective surgical management of GD.

Total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid diseases

OBJECTIVE

To review the indications for total thyroidectomy as the preferred option in certain benign diseases of the thyroid in order to prevent recurrence or future reoperations.

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients with benign thyroid diseases, carried out from January 1997 to December 2009, analyzing the data relating to age, surgical treatment and postoperative evolution.

RESULTS

The mean age was 51.8 years (21/77), with the highest incidence in the fifth and sixth decades of life, with 34 (51.5%) patients. The most common preoperative diagnosis was nontoxic multinodular goiter, of which seven were also intrathoracic, followed by autoimmune thyroiditis; recurrent goiter occurred in 11 cases. Multinodular goiter was found in 37 (56.1%) patients, autoimmune thyroiditis in 22 (33.3%), follicular adenoma isolated in five (7.6%), Hurthle cell adenoma in two (3.0%). Sixteen patients (24.2%) had more than one histopathological diagnosis. Permanent injury of the recurrent nerve was observed in one patient (1.5%). There was no case of permanent hypoparathyroidism. There was no operative mortality.

CONCLUSION

Total thyroidectomy is an operation that can be safely performed, with low incidence of permanent complications, which allows one to broaden its indications in various benign thyroid diseases, thus avoiding future recurrences and reoperations.

Neck ultrasound for prediction of right nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve

BACKGROUND

Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is 1 of the important causes for nerve damage during neck surgery. The anomaly is almost associated with congenital vascular abnormally. Most neck vascular anomalies can be detected by ultrasound.

METHODS

Both 3.5-MHz and 10-MHz probe neck ultrasound scans were performed for 2330 patients undergoing thyroidectomy preoperatively. Absence of innominate artery (INA) was defined as positive with right NRLN.

RESULTS

Of 13 positive patients found by 10-MHz probe, 11 were also identified by 3.5-MHz probe, and proved to be with right NRLN during operation. Two false-positive patients (18%) found by 10-MHz probe were due to short INA and tortuous INA, respectively. The incidence of right NRLN was 0.47% in Chinese people. Both the sensitivity and specificity for predicting right NRLN by 3.5-MHz probe were 100%.

CONCLUSION

A 3.5-MHz probe neck ultrasound scan can accurately demonstrate right NRLN. Applying this tool for neck surgery to reduce the nerve damage is highly advised.

Perioperative management of Sneddon syndrome during thyroidectomy

The perioperative management of an adult woman with Sneddon syndrome is presented. This syndrome is characterized by vasculopathy, hypercoagulable state, ischemic cerebral events, livedo reticularis, heart valve disease, and renal insufficiency. During surgery in these patients, the balance between bleeding and thrombosis requires rapid diagnostic information for therapeutic decisions. Thrombelastographic analysis may be a valuable tool to use in monitoring these patients.

Long-term immunological study in Graves' disease treated with thyroid arterial embolization

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate long-term immunological changes after the treatment of Graves' disease (GD) with thyroid arterial embolization and the effect of thyroid arterial embolization on the body's immunological functions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-one patients with clinically and laboratorily ascertained GD were treated with thyroid arterial embolization and followed up for 3-54 months following embolization. Prior to embolization and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months following embolization, thyroid autoimmune antibodies were tested respectively, including thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), thyrotropin antibody (TRAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMAb), as well as subgroup lymphocytes of CD16+CD56+, CD19+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+. The autoimmune status of GD patients prior to embolization and the dynamic changes of the immunological function after embolization were analyzed.

RESULTS

The therapy of thyroid arterial embolization could effectively decrease the activity/titer and positive rate of TRAb and the ratio of CD4+/ CD8+ to normal levels at 6 months following embolization, while the ratio of CD3+CD8+ increased gradually to normal level at 1 year following embolization. In patients with recurrence, TSAb and TRAb remained at a higher level, while the rate of CD3+CD8+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were not statistically significantly different from those before embolization.

CONCLUSION

Immunological functional disorder exists in GD patients. The treatment method of thyroid arterial embolization can effectively resume the basic immunological function to normal range while patients with recurrence have no significant improvement, suggesting that thyroid arterial embolization has an effective role in adjusting the immunological function.

Safety and efficacy of surgical management of hyperthyroidism: 15-year experience from a tertiary care center in a developing country

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.

Thyroid medications during pregnancy

Euthyroid women experience dramatic changes in their thyroid physiology in order to accommodate the presence of placental and fetal tissues. These adaptations to the pregnant state make it crucial to develop reliable trimester-specific intervals for thyroid parameters. Use of non-pregnant reference intervals could lead to erroneous assessment of thyroid status in this rapidly changing hormonal environment. Only with a full appreciation of physiologic changes in thyroid parameters during a euthyroid pregnancy, can thyroid dysfunction be appropriately diagnosed and managed. Iodine sufficiency during pregnancy can be achieved with supplementation using a multivitamin. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism should be diagnosed using the appropriate reference intervals for pregnancy. Hypothyroid women are best treated with a specific brand of levothyroxine. Hypothyroidism should ideally be treated prior to conception. If newly recognized during pregnancy, it should be fully treated as early as possible. Frequent monitoring of thyroid status is essential as many women demonstrate an increased requirement for thyroid hormone during the first trimester. Although mild hyperthyroidism may be well tolerated during pregnancy, overt hyperthyroidism requires treatment. Thionamides are the mainstay of therapy. Following their initiation, close monitoring is required to avoid maternal and fetal hypothyroidism. There are occasional circumstances when other medical therapy or surgical therapy may be employed for hyperthyroidism. Thyroidectomy is generally safe in the second trimester in an appropriately prepared woman. There is limited data about the role and safety of oral contrast agents, iodine, amiodarone, and perchlorate. Radioiodine therapy is contradicted during pregnancy.

Thyroid disorders. Part I: hyperthyroidism

The significant thyroid disorders that may be found in dental patients are presented in a series of 3 articles. This article (part I) deals with hyperthyroidism, part II with hypothyroidism and thyroiditis, and part III with neoplastic lesions of the thyroid. The signs and symptoms, laboratory tests used to diagnoses hyperthyroidism, and the medical management of patients with hyperthyroidism are presented in this paper. The dental management of patients with hyperthyroidism is discussed in detail. The dentist, by detecting the early signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism, can refer the patient for medical diagnosis and treatment and avoid potential complications of treating patients with uncontrolled disease. These complications include the rare thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm) that may be precipitated by dental treatment, acute infection, or trauma in the patient with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Also, the use of epinephrine or other pressor ammines can cause a hypertensive crisis in the patient with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Patients will benefit from the early detection and referral by reducing the risks of the medical complications such as hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure.