Preoperative Evaluation of Thyroid Cancer: A Review of Current Best Practices

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of thyroid cancer has significantly increased in recent decades. Although most thyroid cancers are small and carry an excellent prognosis, a subset of patients present with advanced thyroid cancer, which is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. The management of thyroid cancer requires a thoughtful individualized approach to optimize oncologic outcomes and minimize morbidity associated with treatment. Because endocrinologists usually play a key role in the initial diagnosis and evaluation of thyroid cancers, a thorough understanding of the critical components of the preoperative evaluation facilitates the development of a timely and comprehensive management plan. The following review outlines considerations in the preoperative evaluation of patients with thyroid cancer.

METHODS

A clinical review based on current literature was generated by a multidisciplinary author panel.

RESULTS

A review of considerations in the preoperative evaluation of thyroid cancer is provided. The topic areas include initial clinical evaluation, imaging modalities, cytologic evaluation, and the evolving role of mutational testing. Special considerations in the management of advanced thyroid cancer are discussed.

CONCLUSION

Thorough and thoughtful preoperative evaluation is critical for formulating an appropriate treatment strategy in the management of thyroid cancer.

Chromatin accessibility associates with protein-RNA correlation in human cancer

Although alterations in chromatin structure are known to exist in tumors, how these alterations relate to molecular phenotypes in cancer remains to be demonstrated. Multi-omics profiling of human tumors can provide insight into how alterations in chromatin structure are propagated through the pathway of gene expression to result in malignant protein expression. We applied multi-omics profiling of chromatin accessibility, RNA abundance, and protein abundance to 36 human thyroid cancer primary tumors, metastases, and patient-match normal tissue. Through quantification of chromatin accessibility associated with active transcription units and global protein expression, we identify a local chromatin structure that is highly correlated with coordinated RNA and protein expression. In particular, we identify enhancers located within gene-bodies as predictive of correlated RNA and protein expression, that is independent of overall transcriptional activity. To demonstrate the generalizability of these findings we also identify similar results in an independent cohort of human breast cancers. Taken together, these analyses suggest that local enhancers, rather than distal enhancers, are likely most predictive of cancer gene expression phenotypes. This allows for identification of potential targets for cancer therapeutic approaches and reinforces the utility of multi-omics profiling as a methodology to understand human disease.

Critical Review and Consensus Statement for Neural Monitoring in Otolaryngologic Head, Neck, and Endocrine Surgery

BACKGROUND

Enhancing patient outcomes in an array of surgical procedures in the head and neck requires the maintenance of complex regional functions through the protection of cranial nerve integrity. This review and consensus statement cover the scope of cranial nerve monitoring of all cranial nerves that are of practical importance in head, neck, and endocrine surgery except for cranial nerves VII and VIII within the temporal bone. Complete and applied understanding of neurophysiologic principles facilitates the surgeon's ability to monitor the at-risk nerve.

METHODS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) identified the need for a consensus statement on cranial nerve monitoring. An AAO-HNS task force was created through soliciting experts on the subject. Relevant domains were identified, including residency education, neurophysiology, application, and various techniques for monitoring pertinent cranial nerves. A document was generated to incorporate and consolidate these domains. The panel used a modified Delphi method for consensus generation.

RESULTS

Consensus was achieved in the domains of education needs and anesthesia considerations, as well as setup, troubleshooting, and documentation. Specific cranial nerve monitoring was evaluated and reached consensus for all cranial nerves in statement 4 with the exception of the spinal accessory nerve. Although the spinal accessory nerve's value can never be marginalized, the task force did not feel that the existing literature was as robust to support a recommendation of routine monitoring of this nerve. In contrast, there is robust supporting literature cited and consensus for routine monitoring in certain procedures, such as thyroid surgery, to optimize patient outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The AAO-HNS Cranial Nerve Monitoring Task Force has provided a state-of-the-art review in neural monitoring in otolaryngologic head, neck, and endocrine surgery. The evidence-based review was complemented by consensus statements utilizing a modified Delphi method to prioritize key statements to enhance patient outcomes in an array of surgical procedures in the head and neck. A precise definition of what actually constitutes intraoperative nerve monitoring and its benefits have been provided.

Quality of Life After Thyroidectomy for Hashimoto Disease in Patients With Persistent Symptoms

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether thyroidectomy improves quality of life in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis with persistent symptoms despite biochemical euthyroidism.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for Hashimoto thyroiditis at our institution between 2014 and 2018. The following variables were collected: age, race, body mass index, preoperative symptoms, preoperative thyroid peroxidase antibody titer, thyroglobulin antibody titer, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, specimen weight, and histologic presence of thyroiditis. Outcomes included general health score on the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health and responses to a questionnaire addressing postoperative disease management.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients were included in the study, 18 of whom were female with a mean age of 48 years. The majority of patients were Caucasian. There were no significant differences between the postoperative general health scores of the patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and scores from a healthy control population (66.9 vs 74.1; 95% CI: -16.9 to +2.5, P = .16). There were also no differences between groups within the 7 SF-36 subscores. Elevation in preoperative thyroperoxidase antibody correlated with lower reported postoperative energy levels (r = -0.63, P = .016) and emotional well-being (r = -.55, P = .041); 87.5% of respondents reported being moderately or extremely happy with their decision to proceed with surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis who undergo thyroidectomy is equivalent to the general population, and the majority are satisfied with surgery. Thyroidectomy is a consideration for patients with persistent symptoms despite optimization on medical therapy.

SAT-430 Quality of Life After Thyroidectomy for Patients with Hashimoto’s Disease and Persistent Symptoms

Objective: To determine whether thyroidectomy improves quality of life in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with persistent symptoms despite biochemical euthyroidism.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods: Included patients underwent thyroidectomy for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis at our institution between 2014 and 2018. The following variables were collected: age, race, body mass index (BMI), pre-operative symptoms, pre-operative thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab), thyroglobulin antibody (Tg Ab) thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, specimen weight, and presence of thyroiditis or malignancy on the pathology report. The primary outcome was general health score on the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) ranging from 3–35 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included an additional questionnaire specifically addressing disease management after surgery as well as any adverse outcomes.

Results: 19 patients were included in the study. 18 of the 19 patients were female with a mean age of 48 years (SD 13.6 years). The majority of patients were Caucasian. There was no significant difference between the general health score of the Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients post-operatively compared to a healthy control population. (66.9 vs. 74.1; 95% CI [-16.9 + 2.5], p = 0.16). There were also no significant differences between groups within the 7 SF-36 subscores. Elevation in pre-operative TPO Ab correlated with lower reported post-operative energy levels (r = -0.63, p = 0.016) and emotional well-being (r = -.55, p = 0.041). 87.5% (14/16) of respondents reported to be moderately or extremely happy with their decision to proceed with surgery.

Conclusions: Quality of life in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis who undergo thyroidectomy is equivalent to the general population, and the majority of patients are satisfied with the decision to have undergone surgery. Thyroidectomy is a consideration for patients with Hashimoto’s disease and persistent symptoms despite optimization on medical therapy.

SAT-LB25 A Multi-Omics Analysis of Advanced Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Molecular profiling of papillary thyroid carcinoma has largely been confined to exome sequencing of non-aggressive cancer.^1,2 Canonical mutations in BRAF and RAS are significantly represented in thyroid tumors, but these mutations have not resulted in diagnostics and therapeutics for advanced disease. To broadly examine the molecular landscape of advanced disease, we conducted a multi-omic analysis of 34 cases of advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma, including patient-matched lymph node metastases, primary tumor, adjacent-normal thyroid and germline. Our genome-wide multi-omic analysis links the regions of activated chromatin with expressed transcripts and proteins, identifying regulatory elements at primary tumor and nodal metastases stages of thyroid cancer progression. Distal regulatory elements putatively upregulate expression of MAPK-pathway genes in both tumors and metastases (36 genes (p =0.0057) in tumors and 76 genes (p =0.0011) in metastases). Furthermore, tumors and metastases harbor accessible chromatin regions that appear to be bound by MAPK transcription factors, FOS and JUN (p-value <10^-150 for tumors and metastases). This study identifies regulatory elements that mediate MAPK activity in tumors and metastases of advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma and may ultimately lead to diagnostics and therapeutics that utilize advanced-thyroid-cancer-specific epigenetic targets. References

• Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network. Integrated genomic characterization of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cell. 2014

• Masoodi T, et al. Whole-Exome Sequencing of Matched Primary and Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid. 2020

A Thyroid Genetic Classifier Correctly Predicts Benign Nodules with Indeterminate Cytology: Two Independent, Multicenter, Prospective Validation Trials

Background: Although most thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology are benign, in most of the world, surgery remains as the most frequent diagnostic approach. We have previously reported a 10-gene thyroid genetic classifier, which accurately predicts benign thyroid nodules. The assay is a prototype diagnostic kit suitable for reference laboratory testing and could potentially avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery in patients with indeterminate thyroid cytology. Methods: Classifier performance was tested in two independent, ethnically diverse, prospective multicenter trials (TGCT-1/Chile and TGCT-2/USA). A total of 4061 fine-needle aspirations were collected from 15 institutions, of which 897 (22%) were called indeterminate. The clinical site was blind to the classifier score and the clinical laboratory blind to the pathology report. A matched surgical pathology and valid classifier score was available for 270 samples. Results: Cohorts showed significant differences, including (i) clinical site patient source (academic, 43% and 97% for TGCT-1 and -2, respectively); (ii) ethnic diversity, with a greater proportion of the Hispanic population (40% vs. 3%) for TGCT-1 and a greater proportion of African American (11% vs. 0%) and Asian (10% vs. 1%) populations for TGCT-2; and (iii) tumor size (mean of 1.7 and 2.5 cm for TGCT-1 and -2, respectively). Overall, there were no differences in the histopathological profile between cohorts. Forty-one of 155 and 45 of 115 nodules were malignant (cancer prevalence of 26% and 39% for TGCT-1 and -2, respectively). The classifier predicted 37 of 41 and 41 of 45 malignant nodules, yielding a sensitivity of 90% [95% confidence interval; CI 77-97] and 91% [95% CI 79-98] for TGCT-1 and -2, respectively. One hundred one of 114 and 61 of 70 nodules were correctly predicted as benign, yielding a specificity of 89% [95% CI 82-94] and 87% [95% CI 77-94], respectively. The negative predictive values for TGCT-1 and TGCT-2 were 96% and 94%, respectively, whereas the positive predictive values were 74% and 82%, respectively. The overall accuracy for both cohorts was 89%. Conclusions: Clinical validation of the classifier demonstrates equivalent performance in two independent and ethnically diverse cohorts, accurately predicting benign thyroid nodules that can undergo surveillance as an alternative to diagnostic surgery.

Transoral thyroidectomy with a next generation flexible robotic system: A feasibility study in a cadaveric model

Background

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy provides access via the oral vestibule and gas insufflation to provide reliable remote access surgery to perform a total thyroidectomy. The da Vinci SP (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is a next generation flexible single port system that offers unique advantages over previous robotic rigid systems. Here we sought to evaluate the feasibility of performing transoral thyroidectomy with this next generation flexible robotic system.

Methods

Cadaveric dissection with gas insufflation to test the feasibility of performing transoral thyroidectomy with the da Vinci SP.

Results

A 2 cm incision was made in the oral vestibule and the working space created with a 1cm central port and two lateral 5 mm ports. Then an extra small wound protector (Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) was placed through the central incision after closure of the 5 mm ports. The robotic system was then deployed through the wound protector while insufflation was maintained at ~6 mmHg. Three instrument arms were deployed. A fenestrated bipolar was used to grasp the thyroid gland while Maryland bipolars and monopolar scissors were used to mobilize each hemi lobe of the thyroid. The recurrent laryngeal nerves were seen and preserved bilaterally. After completion of the surgery and removal of the wound protector the vestibular incision was measured to be 3 cm. Further dissection to identify the mental nerves identified each nerve to be >1 cm from the lateral extent of the central incision.

Conclusions

In summary, it is feasible to perform a total thyroidectomy with gas insufflation utilizing this next generation flexible robotic system. Further evaluation will be needed to validate the clinical applicability of this technique.

International neuromonitoring study group guidelines 2018: Part II: Optimal recurrent laryngeal nerve management for invasive thyroid cancer-incorporation of surgical, laryngeal, and neural electrophysiologic data

The purpose of this publication was to inform surgeons as to the modern state-of-the-art evidence-based guidelines for management of the recurrent laryngeal nerve invaded by malignancy through blending the domains of 1) surgical intraoperative information, 2) preoperative glottic function, and 3) intraoperative real-time electrophysiologic information. These guidelines generated by the International Neural Monitoring Study Group (INMSG) are envisioned to assist the clinical decision-making process involved in recurrent laryngeal nerve management during thyroid surgery by incorporating the important information domains of not only gross surgical findings but also intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve functional status and preoperative laryngoscopy findings. These guidelines are presented mainly through algorithmic workflow diagrams for convenience and the ease of application. These guidelines are published in conjunction with the INMSG Guidelines Part I: Staging Bilateral Thyroid Surgery With Monitoring Loss of Signal. Level of Evidence: 5 Laryngoscope, 128:S18-S27, 2018.

AHNS Series: Do you know your guidelines? AHNS Endocrine Section Consensus Statement: State-of-the-art thyroid surgical recommendations in the era of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features

The newly introduced pathologic diagnosis of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) will result in less bilateral thyroid surgery as well as deescalation in T4 suppressive and radioactive iodine treatment. Although, NIFTP is a nonmalignant lesion that has nuclear features of some papillary malignancies, the challenge for the surgeon is to identify a lesion as possibly NIFTP before the pathologic diagnosis. NIFTP, due to its reduction of overall rates of malignancy, will result in the initial surgical pendulum swinging toward lobectomy instead of initial total thyroidectomy. This American Head and Neck Society endocrine section consensus statement is intended to inform preoperative evaluation to attempt to identify those patients whose final pathology report may ultimately harbor NIFTP and can be offered a conservative surgical plan to assist in cost-effective, optimal management of patients with NIFTP.

Improving the adoption of thyroid cancer clinical practice guidelines

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To present an overview of the barriers to the implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in thyroid cancer management and to introduce a computer-based clinical support system.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed.

REVIEW METHODS

A review of studies on adherence to CPGs was conducted.

RESULTS

Awareness and adoption of CPGs is low in thyroid cancer management. Barriers to implementation include unfamiliarity with the CPGs and financial concerns. Effective interventions to improve adherence are possible, especially when they are readily accessible at the point of care delivery. Computerized clinical support systems show particular promise. The authors introduce the clinical decision making modules (CDMMs) of the Thyroid Cancer Care Collaborative, a thyroid cancer-specific electronic health record. These computer-based modules can assist clinicians with implementation of these recommendations in clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

Computer-based support systems can help clinicians understand and adopt the thyroid cancer CPGs. By integrating patient characteristics and guidelines at the point of care delivery, the CDMMs can improve adherence to the guidelines and help clinicians provide high-quality, evidence-based, and individualized patient care in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer. Laryngoscope, 126:2640-2645, 2016.

Database and registry research in thyroid cancer: striving for a new and improved national thyroid cancer database

BACKGROUND

Health registries have become extremely powerful tools for cancer research. Unfortunately, certain details and the ability to adapt to new information are necessarily limited in current registries, and they cannot address many controversial issues in cancer management. This is of particular concern in differentiated thyroid cancer, which is rapidly increasing in incidence and has many unknowns related to optimal treatment and surveillance recommendations.

SUMMARY

In this study, we review different types of health registries used in cancer research in the United States, with a focus on their advantages and disadvantages as related to the study of thyroid cancer. This analysis includes population-based cancer registries, health systems-based cancer registries, and patient-based disease registries. It is important that clinicians understand the way data are collected in, as well as the composition of, these different registries in order to more critically interpret the clinical research that is conducted using that data. In an attempt to address shortcoming of current databases for thyroid cancer, we present the potential of an innovative web-based disease management tool for thyroid cancer called the Thyroid Cancer Care Collaborative (TCCC) to become a patient-based registry that can be used to evaluate and improve the quality of care delivered to patients with thyroid cancer as well as to answer questions that we have not been able to address with current databases and registries.

CONCLUSION

A cancer registry that follows a specific patient, is integrated into physician workflow, and collects data across different treatment sites and different payers does not exist in the current fragmented system of healthcare in the United States. The TCCC offers physicians who treat thyroid cancer numerous time-saving and quality improvement services, and could significantly improve patient care. With rapid adoption across the nation, the TCCC could become a new paradigm for database research in thyroid cancer to improve our understanding of thyroid cancer management.

What is the gold standard for comprehensive interinstitutional communication of perioperative information for thyroid cancer patients? A comparison of existing electronic health records with the current American Thyroid Association recommendations

BACKGROUND

Appropriate management of well-differentiated thyroid cancer requires treating clinicians to have access to critical elements of the patient's presentation, surgical management, postoperative course, and pathologic assessment. Electronic health records (EHRs) provide an effective method for the storage and transmission of patient information, although most commercially available EHRs are not intended to be disease-specific. In addition, there are significant challenges for the sharing of relevant clinical information when providers involved in the care of a patient with thyroid cancer are not connected by a common EHR. In 2012, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) defined the critical elements for optimal interclinician communication in a position paper entitled, "The Essential Elements of Interdisciplinary Communication of Perioperative Information for Patients Undergoing Thyroid Cancer Surgery."

SUMMARY

We present a field-by-field comparison of the ATA's essential elements as applied to three contemporary electronic reporting systems: the Thyroid Surgery e-Form from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), the Alberta WebSMR from the University of Calgary, and the Thyroid Cancer Care Collaborative (TCCC). The MSKCC e-form fulfills 21 of 32 intraoperative fields and includes an additional 14 fields not specifically mentioned in the ATA's report. The Alberta WebSMR fulfills 45 of 82 preoperative and intraoperative fields outlined by the ATA and includes 13 additional fields. The TCCC fulfills 117 of 120 fields outlined by the ATA and includes 23 additional fields.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective management of thyroid cancer is a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary effort. The patient information that factors into clinical decisions about thyroid cancer is complex. For these reasons, EHRs are particularly favorable for the management of patients with thyroid cancer. The MSKCC Thyroid Surgery e-Form, the Alberta WebSMR, and the TCCC each meet all of the general recommendations for effective reporting of the specific domains that they cover in the management of thyroid cancer, as recommended by the ATA. However, the TCCC format is the most comprehensive. The TCCC is a new Web-based disease-specific database to enhance communication of patient information between clinicians in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant manner. We believe the easy-to-use TCCC format will enhance clinician communication while providing portability of thyroid cancer information for patients.

Improving the quality of thyroid cancer care: how does the Thyroid Cancer Care Collaborative cross the Institute of Medicine's Quality Chasm?

BACKGROUND

The current systems of healthcare delivery in the United States suffer from problems that often leave patients with inadequate quality of care. In their report entitled "Crossing the Quality Chasm," the Institute of Medicine (IOM) identified reasons for poor and/or inconsistent quality of healthcare delivery and provided recommendations to improve it. The purpose of this review is to describe features of an innovative web-based program called the Thyroid Cancer Care Collaborative (TCCC) and see how it addresses IOM recommendations to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.

SUMMARY

The TCCC addresses the three actionable IOM recommendations directed at healthcare organizations and clinicians to redesign the care process. It does so by exploiting information technology (IT) in ways suggested by the IOM, and it fits within a set of 10 rules provided by the IOM. Some features of the TCCC include: (i) automated disease staging based on three validated scoring systems; (ii) highly illustrated educational videos on all aspects of thyroid cancer care; (iii) personalized clinical decision-making modules for clinicians and physicians; (iv) portability of data to share among treating physicians; (v) virtual tumor boards, "ask the expert," and frequently asked questions modules; (vi) physician workflow integration; and (vii) data for comprehensive analysis to answer difficult questions in thyroid cancer management.

CONCLUSION

The TCCC has the potential to improve thyroid cancer care delivery and offers several benefits to patients, clinicians, and researchers. The TCCC is a valuable example of how IOM initiatives can improve the healthcare system.

American Thyroid Association statement on outpatient thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

The primary goals of this interdisciplinary consensus statement are to define the eligibility criteria for outpatient thyroidectomy and to explore preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors that should be considered in order to optimize the safe and efficient performance of ambulatory surgery.

SUMMARY

A series of criteria was developed that may represent relative contraindications to outpatient thyroidectomy, and these fell into the following broad categories: clinical, social, and procedural issues. Intraoperative factors that bear consideration are enumerated, and include choice of anesthesia, use of nerve monitoring, hemostasis, management of the parathyroid glands, wound closure, and extubation. Importantly, postoperative factors are described at length, including suggested discharge criteria and recognition of complications, especially bleeding, airway distress, and hypocalcemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Outpatient thyroidectomy may be undertaken safely in a carefully selected patient population provided that certain precautionary measures are taken to maximize communication and minimize the likelihood of complications.

Electrophysiologic recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroid and parathyroid surgery: international standards guideline statement

Intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) during thyroid and parathyroid surgery has gained widespread acceptance as an adjunct to the gold standard of visual nerve identification. Despite the increasing use of IONM, review of the literature and clinical experience confirms there is little uniformity in application of and results from nerve monitoring across different centers. We provide a review of the literature and cumulative experience of the multidisciplinary International Neural Monitoring Study Group with IONM spanning nearly 15 years. The study group focused its initial work on formulation of standards in IONM as it relates to important areas: 1) standards of equipment setup/endotracheal tube placement and 2) standards of loss of signal evaluation/intraoperative problem-solving algorithm. The use of standardized methods and reporting will provide greater uniformity in application of IONM. In addition, this report clarifies the limitations of IONM and helps identify areas where additional research is necessary. This guideline is, at its forefront, quality driven; it is intended to improve the quality of neural monitoring, to translate the best available evidence into clinical practice to promote best practices. We hope this work will minimize inappropriate variations in monitoring rather than to dictate practice options.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks of Temporal Bone Origin: Etiology and Management

BACKGROUND

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks of the temporal bone region require surgical treatment as they pose life-threatening risks such as meningitis.

AIM

The aim of the study was to determine the surgical outcome depending on different operation techniques and grafts.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective review of 28 cases of CSF leaks, operated in our department from 1983 to 2002. After a mean follow-up of 8 years, patients were interviewed concerning otorrhea or rhinorrhea and meningitis. In this context, our management of CSF leaks is presented.

RESULTS

The CSF leak had arisen spontaneously (n = 3), traumatically (n = 6) or postoperatively (n = 19). The surgical CSF leak repairs were performed via a transmastoid (n = 13), a middle fossa (n = 11) or a combined (n = 4) approach. Surgical outcome was independent on the used graft. CSF leak could be sealed in 25 of 28 cases. Only 3 patients suffered from recurrences. Meningitis or other complications did not occur.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing different techniques and grafts, there were no differences in the surgical outcome.

Perivascular delivery of heparin for the reduction of smooth muscle cell proliferation after endothelial injury

Thin flexible sheets composed of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) laminated polyanhydride, poly(erucic acid dimer-sebacic anhydride) (P(EAD-SA)), loaded with heparin were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. PLA was used for coating the polyanhydride to improve the release profile and improve the strength of the films. Heparin was released constantly for 20 days from PLA-coated 2% loaded P(EAD-SA). The uncoated film of P(EAD-SA) released heparin for only 4 days. The localized delivery of heparin around the carotid artery was investigated by implanting polymer loaded with [3H]heparin around the carotid artery of rats and the heparin release and tissue distribution was monitored. The maximum heparin concentration in the artery exposed to the drug was on day 4 for the P(EAD-SA) uncoated device (fast releasing system) and day 11 for the coated devices. The control artery, the uncovered segments of the artery, and the surrounding tissue contained negligible amounts of radioactivity. These data confirm that heparin was delivered locally without systemic exposure. Two independent animal studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these heparin-releasing devices. In both studies the balloon catheter injury in a rat model was used. After inflicting an injury to the common carotid, a matrix oriented with its long axis along the artery was placed under the injured portion of the vessel. In both studies the treated rats showed a very thin layer of neointima where the control group showed a significant reduction of the artery internal diameter with SMC neointima ratio greater than 1.

A novel organ preservation protocol for advanced carcinoma of the larynx and pharynx

OBJECTIVE

To pilot a targeted chemoradiation protocol for patients with advanced carcinoma of the larynx and pharynx that would circumvent upper aerodigestive tract dysfunction related to major oncologic surgery.

DESIGN

Weekly intra-arterial infusions of supradose cisplatin (150 mg/m2 per week x 4) rapidly delivered to the tumor bulk, simultaneous intravenous sodium thiosulfate for systemic drug neutralization, and conventional external-beam irradiation (1.80-2.00 Gy per fraction x 35) were used. Between February 1991 and April 1994, 42 patients were treated who would otherwise have required a major resection of the tongue base, pharyngeal wall, or larynx.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Tumor response, toxic effects, disease control above the clavicle, preservation of the larynx, maintenance of oral nutrition, and overall and disease-related 2-year survival.

RESULTS

Three complications were related to the weekly transfemoral superselective intra-arterial procedures performed 160 times. Grade 3 to 4 chemotoxic effects were infrequent, occurring in 9 (5.5%) of 160 cycles, and only 1 patient required a radiotherapy break because of severe mucositis. A complete response in the primary site was obtained in 36 (86%) of 42 patients, 2 of whom had residual disease in the neck. Median follow-up was 13 months (range, 3-46 months). To date, there have been 5 recurrences: 2 regional and 3 distant. The 2-year overall and disease-related survival was 64% and 76%, respectively. The rate of disease control above the clavicle at 2 years was 86%.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe this chemoradiation protocol represents an effective management scheme for patients with advanced head and neck cancer while minimizing dysfunction and possibly improving survival.

A targeted supradose cisplatin chemoradiation protocol for advanced head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Hypothesizing that cisplatin (DDP) drug resistance is dose dependent and the radiosensitizing effect of DDP is clinically beneficial, we conducted a chemoradiation protocol using extremely high doses of DDP delivered intra-arterially (IA) to locally advanced head and neck tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with untreated stage IV disease received 4 weekly infusions of 150 mg/m2, simultaneous systemic DDP neutralization with intravenous (IV) bolus sodium thiosulfate, and concomitant radiotherapy (180 to 200 cGy/day x 35 fractions).

RESULTS

The complete response rate of the 24 evaluable patients as determined with repeat biopsies was 23/24 (96%). Of the 29 patients evaluable for toxicity, central nervous system complications related to the infusion technique occurred with 2/110 infusions, both of which were reversible. The rate of grade III to IV chemotoxicity was 13%. The median length of follow-up was 22 months. There have been 6 recurrences: 1 local; 3 regional; and 2 at distant sites. The projected overall and disease-free 3-year survival was 88% and 53%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the combination of rapid selective delivery of supradose DDP/IV thiosulfate neutralization and concomitant radiotherapy can be safely and effectively applied to patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Preliminary survival analysis indicates that this approach may improve the prognosis for patients with an otherwise devastating disease.

Advances in documentation: the impact of service and empowerment

Chart completion is a controversial issue in most health care facilities, impacting chart availability for both patient care and timely billing purposes. A collaborative approach empowering HIS and medical staff professionals yielded significantly better service for patients, physicians, and the billing department at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania. The result is the beginning of a trend in team empowerment that continues to improve patient care and financial performance.

An education model for otitis media care field-tested in Latin America

The World Health Organization has designated the teaching of otitis media management skills a "priority" status. Effective treatment of ear disease requires that the physician be both informationally educated as well as physically trained to use otoscopy. Little is known about how well this education can be provided in a short time and in a foreign country. To more objectively assess teaching effect, results of an education session for rural Mexican pediatric primary-care providers who were given an intensive otitis media lecture and otoscopy skills workshop in 1990 were evaluated. To test immediate cognitive impact, an anonymous written examination was given both before and after the teaching session. Average test scores after the educational sessions improved 24% (p < 0.001) over baseline scores before the sessions. To evaluate long-term impact on clinical practice, a follow-up telephone survey 2 years later was conducted. The use of an otoscope to diagnose otitis media had increased from 40% to 93% of respondents. We conclude that pediatric primary-care providers in rural Mexico possess a baseline level of knowledge about otitis media that can be significantly enhanced with one educational session. Further, this teaching effort produces an impact on practice pattern that lasts at least 2 years.