A Descriptive Comparative Analysis of the Surgical Management of Adrenal Tumors: The Open, Robotic, and Laparoscopic Approaches

Background

Currently, adrenalectomies are trending toward minimally invasive approach including robotic and laparoscopic surgery. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation and outcomes associated with the 3 different surgical approaches in patients who underwent adrenalectomy for adrenal mass at a single tertiary center.

Methods

A retrospective descriptive observational study was conducted to include all patients who underwent surgical interventions for adrenal gland mass between 2004 and 2019. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the interventional approach (open, robotic vs. laparoscopic adrenalectomy) and data were analyzed and compared.

Results

A total of 124 patients underwent adrenalectomies (61.3% robotic, 22.6% open, and 16.1% laparoscopic approach). Incidentally discovered adrenal mass was reported in 67% of patients, and hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity (53%). The tendency for malignancy increased with increasing tumor size while the functioning tumors were more in the smaller tumor size. Larger tumors were more common in younger patients. The robotic approach showed shorter surgical intensive care and hospital length of stay. Patients in the open adrenalectomy group frequently presented with abdominal pain (p = 0.001), had more nonfunctional adrenal mass (p = 0.04), larger mean tumor size (p = 0.001), and were frequently operated on the right side (p = 0.03). There was no post-operative mortality; however, during follow-up, 8 patients died (3 open, 3 laparoscopic and, 2 robotic approach). The median follow-up was 746 days (range 7–5,840).

Conclusions

The study explored the three surgical adrenalectomy approaches in a dedicated center for patients with adrenal pathology. It showed that robotic adrenalectomy could be safe and effective surgical approach for patients with benign functioning adrenal tumors of a diameter <6 cm. However, the choice of a surgical approach varies according to the adrenal mass presentation, patient fitness for surgery, type and sizes of the tumor, surgeon's experience, and hospital resources. Open surgery is considered the first choice for larger, ruptured adrenal tumor or malignancy. However, the recent restructuring of the surgical department resulted in selection bias in favor of the robotic surgery. Further studies are required to address the risk factors, selection criteria for appropriate management, cost, and quality of life.

Clinical Presentation and Surgical Treatment of Retrosternal Goiter: A Case Series Study

Background: The retrosternal goiter (RSG) is a slow-growing mass often benign in nature; thyroidectomy remains the preferred standard curative treatment. This study aimed to explore the local experience of RSG with respect to the clinical presentation, classifications, management, and outcomes. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted to include all cases diagnosed with RSG and underwent thyroidectomy between January 1998 and December 2013. Results: A total of 1210 patients underwent thyroidectomy; of which 30 (2.5%) patients were diagnosed to have RSG. The commonly reported symptoms were dyspnea (40%), pain and discomfort (30%), dysphagia (26.7%), and hoarseness (20%). Thirteen patients (43.3%) were completely asymptomatic. The fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed in 22 (73.3%) patients, of whom the majority was benign (77.3%). The grading classification showed that grade 1 is the most frequent (73.3%). Total bilateral thyroidectomy was the most prevailing procedure in 57% cases followed by partial thyroidectomy. All patients underwent retrosternal thyroidectomy through a cervical incision except for one case. Postoperative histopathology showed frequent benign multinodular goiter (83.3%), followed by papillary thyroid cancer (10%) and thyroiditis (6.7%). The most common complication after thyroidectomy was tracheomalacia (13.4%), transient hypocalcemia (10%), and hypoparathyroidism (6.7%). There was no intraoperative or perioperative mortality. Conclusion: RSG is a rare entity often presented with pressure symptoms, mostly involving anterior mediastinum and had a challenging surgical procedure. A large multicenter study is needed to include more cases in order to have a consensus on the definition and classification system for such important clinical goiter presentation.

Diagnostic accuracy of preoperative palpation- versus ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the mainstay for diagnosis of malignancy, and is an integral part of current thyroid nodule assessment. The present study analyzes the diagnostic accuracy of palpation-directed versus ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration in patients who underwent surgery for thyroid nodules.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all consecutive patients who had FNA biopsy (palpation or ultrasound guided) of thyroid nodules and underwent thyroid gland surgery between 1998 and 2014 was conducted. The FNA findings of the palpation-guided and ultrasound-guided groups were compared for baseline characteristics. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of FNA findings and surgical histopathology results were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 1174 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 46.3 ± 11.7 years and the majority were females (75.5%). Among the study population, 392 (33.4%) patients underwent US-guided FNA; 570 (48.6%) had palpation-guided FNA in clinic and no FNA was done in 212 (18%) cases. Patients underwent US-guided FNA were more likely to have suspicion of malignancy (p = 0.001), and had indeterminate findings (p = 0.001). On the other hand, palpation-guided FNA group had significantly higher frequency of benign cytology (p = 0.001). With respect to the suspicion for malignancy as well as malignancy, the US-guided group had a similar diagnostic accuracy in comparison to the palpation group. The proportion of malignancy finding on US-guided FNA (8.9%) was higher than the palpation-guided FNA (6.4%) that had been confirmed on postoperative histopathological examination (p = 0.95).

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates higher sensitivity of US-guided thyroid FNA biopsies over palpation-guided FNA for the suspicion of malignancy; however, the accuracy is comparable. Moreover, both groups showed more postoperative malignancy in the benign and unsatisfactory categories than predicted in the Bethesda system. Further prospective studies are needed to underpin a realistic correlation between FNA and final histopathology reports.

Management and outcomes of hyperparathyroidism: a case series from a single institution over two decades

Background

Hyperparathyroidism is a frequent endocrine disorder with variable clinical manifestations and outcomes. We aimed to evaluate clinical presentations, management and outcomes of hyperparathyroidism.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to include all patients presented with hyperparathyroidism between 1995 and 2014 at a single tertiary hospital with an average follow-up period of 46 months. Data were reviewed for clinical presentations, diagnostic work-up, intraoperative findings, management, and outcomes.

Result

We identified 161 patients with hyperparathyroidism; 69% were females and the mean age was 49.4±15 years. Patients presented mainly with musculoskeletal (65.8%), renal (37.3%), gastrointestinal tract (53.8%) and neuropsychiatric (8.8%) manifestations. At presentation, mean serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were elevated while mean vitamin D level was lower. Sestamibi-^99mTc (MIBI) scintigraphy was done for 134 patients (83.2%) and was positive in 94 (70%). Primary hyperparathyroidism (67.7%) was the most frequent diagnosis followed by secondary (29.8%) and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (2.5%). The frequent indication for surgery was hypercalcemia (67.3%), bone disease (35.6%) and renal calculi (28.9%). The main postoperative pathology was parathyroid adenoma (63.1%) followed by hyperplasia (37.3%). Fourteen (8.9%) and 18 (11.4%) patients had persistent and recurrent hyperparathyroidism, respectively. Autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue was done in 36 cases.

Conclusion

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most frequent cause of the parathyroid disease. Parathyroidectomy is the effective surgical approach in symptomatic patients. Further studies are needed to establish the association between vitamin D levels, renal disorders and persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism.

Presentation, Management, and Outcome of Thyroglossal Duct Cysts in Adult and Pediatric Populations: A 14-Year Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVES

A thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) is a frequent congenital midline anomaly of the neck that usually manifests during the first decade of life. We aimed to describe the presentation, management, and outcome of TDC in pediatric and adult cases.

METHODS

A retrospective observational analysis was conducted for all patients diagnosed and treated for TDC between 2000 and 2014 in a single center in Qatar. Data included patients' demographics, presentations, preoperative investigations, anesthesia type, histopathological findings, surgical management, recurrences, and complications.

RESULTS

We identified 102 patients, of which 57% were males. The mean age of patients was 20.2±15.6 years. A bimodal distribution of TDC has been observed, which peaked between the ages of 6-13 years and at ≥19 years. The preoperative evaluation mainly includes ultrasonography (66%), thyroid function test (44%), and fine-needle aspiration cytology (10%). The median size of the cyst was 25 (2-60) mm. Patients mainly presented with an asymptomatic midline neck mass at or below the hyoid bone (82%), followed by fistula (9%), infection (2%), and dysphagia (2%). Eighty-nine cases were identified preoperatively as TDC. The histopathological findings confirmed TDC with hyoid bone in 61 cases, and TDC alone in 38 cases. Eighty patients underwent the Sistrunk procedure while excision of TDC alone was observed in 18 cases. Five cases of recurrent disease were also treated. Adults had a greater median cyst size (30 (9-60) vs. 22 (2-55) mm; p = 0.005) and required prolonged operation time (69 (1-169) vs. 32.5 (1-140) mins; 
p = 0.004) compared to the pediatric group.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of TDC shows a bimodal age distribution. Preoperative evaluation and time for surgery vary whereas clinical presentations, surgical management, and postoperative outcomes are comparable among adult and pediatric groups. Ultrasonography is the preferred diagnostic modality, and the Sistrunk procedure remains the primary choice of treatment.

Clinical presentation, management, and outcome of patients with incidental renal angiomyolipoma in qatar

OBJECTIVES

Our study aimed to analyze the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of renal angiomyolipoma patients incidentally detected upon computed tomography (CT) examination.

METHODS

Between 2004 and 2008, all patients who underwent abdominal CT examination for any reason at the radiology department at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis of renal angiomyolipoma was based on abdominal CT evaluation. Angiomyolipoma patients were followed-up by CT evaluation as per standard care for three years to observe any change in size and outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 13,115 patients were screened, of which 56 (40 females and 16 males) had renal angiomyolipoma. The mean age of patients was 52±13 years with 46% Qatar nationals. The majority (95%) of cases had unilateral tumors (52% right-sided and 43% left-sided). Twenty-six cases showed increase in tumor size and the median increase was 0.5cm (0.1-3.6). Surgical intervention was required in four (7%) cases with tumor size ≥4cm. The overall mortality on follow-up was 7%. The cause of death included metastasis, renal failure, hepatic failure and mesenteric thromboembolism.

CONCLUSION

Renal angiomyolipoma is an uncommon benign tumor with an overall prevalence of 0.4% in Qatar. It has characteristic clinical features and its recognition is often challenging for proper clinical diagnosis and treatment in asymptomatic patients. Asymptomatic patients need regular radiological surveillance. In contrast, surgical interventions are mainly required in symptomatic patients with increased tumor size (≥4cm). Timely diagnosis and treatment is necessary to avoid complications such retroperitoneal hemorrhage and renal impairment.

Incidental abdominal aneurysms: a retrospective study of 13,115 patients who underwent a computed tomography scan

We evaluated the frequency and outcomes of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in Qatar. Data were collected retrospectively between 2004 and 2008 for all adult patients who underwent abdominal computed tomographic scanning for any reason. Patients with AAA were followed up for 3 years for aneurysmal rupture and mortality. Of the 13,115 patients screened, 61 (0.5%) patients had abdominal aneurysms. Most (82%) patients with AAA were male with mean age of 67 ± 12 years. The incidence of AAA substantially increased with age. Cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent among patients with AAA. The main location of AAA was infrarenal (67%), followed by thoracoabdominal (23%). The mean AAA diameter was 5.3 ± 2.5 cm. The rate of AAA rupture was 8% with a mortality rate of 60%; 80% of these were infrarenal, and 80% of them had a diameter of ≥5.5 cm. Overall mortality was 33%. This large study addressed the impact of screening for AAA in a population with high cardiovascular burden.