Plasma estradiol (E2) and progesterone vary markedly through the menstrual cycle. Data on whether... more Plasma estradiol (E2) and progesterone vary markedly through the menstrual cycle. Data on whether these differences in hormone levels affect gene expression in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER?) tumours are inconsistent. We wished to determine whether there are substantial changes in the expression of oestrogen-regulated genes (ERGs) in ER? breast cancer through the menstrual cycle. One hundred and seventy five paraffin-embedded ER? breast carcinomas from premenopausal patients were analysed. Timing of the ovarian cycle was confirmed using serum progesterone levels. Patients were ascribed to one of three pre-defined menstrual cycle windows: 1 (days 27-35 ? 1-6), 2 (days 7-16) and 3 (days 17-26). The RNA expression of ESR1, four ERGs (PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1), and three proliferation genes (MKI67, TOP2A and CDC20) were compared between the windows. Gene expression of the four ERGs was 53-129 % higher in window 2 than window 1 (p = 0.0013, 0.0006, 0.022 and 0.066 for PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1, respectively) and lower (9-41 %) in window 3 compared to window 2 (p = 0.079, 0.31, 0.031 and 0.065 for PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1, respectively). Their average expression (AvERG) was 64 % higher in window 2 than window 1 (p \ 0.0001) and 21 % lower in window 3 than window 2 (p = 0.0043). There were no significant differences between the windows for ESR1 and proliferation genes. In agreement with the gene expression data, progesterone receptor protein levels measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were 164 and 227 % higher in windows 2 and 3, respectively, compared to window 1 (30.7 and 37.9 % cells positive vs. 11.6 %; p = 0.0003 and 0.0004, respectively), while no difference in ER IHC score was observed. In conclusion, we observed significant differences in the expression of ERGs in ER? breast tumours across the menstrual cycle. This variability may affect the Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2014
Differentiated thyroid cancers may be associated with regional lymph node metastases in 20-50% of... more Differentiated thyroid cancers may be associated with regional lymph node metastases in 20-50% of cases. The central compartment (VIupper VII levels) is considered to be the first echelon of nodal metastases in all differentiated thyroid carcinomas. The indication for central neck dissection is still debated especially in patients with cN0 disease. For some authors, central neck dissection is recommended for lymph nodes that are suspect preoperatively (either clinically or with ultrasound) and/or for lymph node metastases detected intra-operatively with a positive frozen section. In need of a better definition, we divided the dissection in four different areas to map localization of metastases. In this study, we present the rationale for central neck dissection in the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, providing some anatomical reflections on surgical technique, oncological considerations and analysis of complications. Central neck dissection may be limited to the compa...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, is often detected in young female patients.... more Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, is often detected in young female patients. Therefore, pregnancy following thyroid cancer is not infrequent, and about 10% of thyroid cancers occurring during the reproductive years are diagnosed during pregnancy or in the early post-partum period. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in young people generally has an excellent prognosis, and disease-free survival among women with DTC diagnosed during pregnancy may not differ from that in age-matched non-pregnant women with similar disease. However, thyroid cancer detected during pregnancy may cause anxiety about the optimal timing of recommended treatments and about both maternal and neonatal morbidity, as weel as pregnancy following a diagnosis of thyroid cancer obviously needs both maternal and foetal management. The main objectives in clinical monitoring of pregnant thyroid cancer patients are: 1) to reach an adequate balance of maternal calcium and thyroid hormones that is abs...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
The evolution of new techniques for cancer surgery has led to important changes in cancer care in... more The evolution of new techniques for cancer surgery has led to important changes in cancer care in recent years. The endpoint of cancer treatment is now to treat the patient with minimum discomfort while respecting quality of life. New techniques, such as mini-invasive surgery, must respect the correct oncological indications, when technically feasible. The surgery for nodal spread or recurrence of disease, after previous surgery on T or T and N for neck cancer, can represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, especially in the neck, which is characterized by small spaces and noble structures. Often lesions become enveloped in scar tissue and can be difficult to visualize during surgery, representing a genuine problem for the surgeon. Ultrasound dye-assisted surgery is a procedure that combines ultra-sound localization of pathological nodes with the use of methylene blue to mark diseased structures to simplify their visualization (and thus removal) in the surgical field. The tec...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
Hypocalcemia is a major post-operative complication of total thyroidectomy, causing severe sympto... more Hypocalcemia is a major post-operative complication of total thyroidectomy, causing severe symptoms and increasing hospitalization time. The primary cause is secondary hypo-parathyroidism following damage to, or devascularisation of, one or more parathyroid glands during surgery. Aim of the study was to develop a simple and reliable method for predicting post-operative hypocalcemia in total thyroidectomy patients. A retrospective analysis was made of immediate pre-operative and early post-operative calcium levels in 100 patients. It was found that a marked decrease in blood calcium, immediately after surgery, was a sensitive predictor of hypocalcemia. In a subsequent prospective series of 67 patients, the efficacy was assessed of early administration of calcium plus Vitamin D in reducing symptomatic hypocalcemia in patients in whom the difference (Δ) between pre- and post-operative blood calcium was ≥ 1.1 mg/dl. This treatment was part of a protocol in which normo-calcemic patients ...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, more frequently diagnosed in young women ... more Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, more frequently diagnosed in young women during childbearing age and approximately 10% of all thyroid cancers are diagnosed during pregnancy or in the early post-partum period. Thyroid cancer in young people has generally an excellent prognosis, and survival among women with thyroid cancer diagnosed during pregnancy may not differ from that in age-matched non-pregnant women with similar cancer. Pregnancy after treatment of thyroid carcinoma requires both maternal and foetal controls. Of utmost importance is to ensure adequate maintenance of maternal levels of levothyroxine, needed by both the foetal central nervous system for its normal maturation and the mother to avoid possible recurrence or spread of the disease. In the present investigation, to confirm normal foetal growth and foetal thyroid development, an ultrasound study of the foetal thyroid was performed in 40 full term pregnancies in 32 women receiving levothyroxine t...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Some medical definitions remain the same for many years, others change due to the progress in the... more Some medical definitions remain the same for many years, others change due to the progress in the diagnostic tools, which are able to distinguish markers and symptoms until then undetectable. Occult thyroid carcinoma is a general term indicating clinically different situations, whereas the incidentally detected papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is the most important from the clinical point of view. It is fundamental, for therapeutic management, to determine biological parameters which would define a small group of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas with aggressive biological behaviour. The most promising genetic and molecular markers for papillary thyroid carcinoma risk stratification are discussed in this review. Preoperative evaluation of these markers, obtained through analysis of ultrasonography-guided fine needle biopsy specimens of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, could be very valuable in guiding treatment of this type of cancer.
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
The thyroid gland has long since been known for its self-renewal ability, mainly in cases of hype... more The thyroid gland has long since been known for its self-renewal ability, mainly in cases of hyperplastic disease such as goitre. Recently the amazing improvement in knowledge about stem cells has explained this potentiality. Some stem cell features and their clinical usefulness are summarized here, reviewing data from the literature: (1) the proven presence of adult stem cells in thyroid tissue, either normal, goitrous or neoplastic, bring with it important implications regarding tissue regeneration and oncogenesis; (2) modifying culture conditions and micro-environment stem cells have led to mature tissue with specialized functions. This has considerably changed the attitude of regenerative medicine and cancer research; (3) finally, identification of stem cells and stem cell markers in thyroid cancer, gives hope for the development of new therapeutic approaches in recurrent or treatment-resistant thyroid cancer.
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
The aim of curative surgical oncology is to remove the primary tumour with a wide margin of norma... more The aim of curative surgical oncology is to remove the primary tumour with a wide margin of normal tissue. What constitutes a sufficiently wide margin particularly in oral cancer is fundamentally unclear. The currently accepted standard is to remove the primary lesion with a 1.5-2 cm circumferential macroscopic margin. In the last ten years, anatomical considerations in the approach to primary, advanced and untreated tumours of the tongue led us to develop and improve a new surgical approach to their demolition and reconstruction. From July 1999 to July 2009, at the European Institute of Oncology in Milano, Italy, 155 patients were treated, while defining and refining the concept of compartmental tongue surgery (CTS) and its main components: 1) anatomical approach to the disease that requires removal of the primary lesion and all of the potential pathways of progression--muscular, lymphatic and vascular; 2) identification of a distinct territory at risk of metastatic representation ...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Prophylactic central neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer is controversial. In this retros... more Prophylactic central neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer is controversial. In this retrospective cohort study, the aim was to assess possible advantages of prophylactic central neck dissection with total thyroidectomy in cN0 papillary thyroid cancer. A total of 244 consecutive patients with papillary thyroid cancer, without clinical and ultrasound nodal metastases (cN0), were evaluated out of 1373 patients operated for a thyroid disease at the Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy from 1994 to 2006. Of these 244 patients, 126 (Group A) underwent thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, while 118 (Group B) underwent thyroidectomy alone. Demographic, clinical and pathological features were analysed. Overall recurrence rate was 6.3% (8/126) in Group A and 7.7% (9/118) in Group B, with a mean follow-up of 47 (Group A) and 64 (Group B) months. In Group A patients, 47% were pN1a and all patients with recurrence had nodal involvement (p = 0.002). Survival rate did not diff...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2005
Thyroglobulin is considered a reliable marker of recurrent disease in patients with well-differen... more Thyroglobulin is considered a reliable marker of recurrent disease in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, some patients present recurrence with no increase in serum thyroglobulin. In the attempt to identify patients who might present recurrence with no such sign of the disease, thyroglobulin levels have been determined pre-operatively in 185 consecutive patients scheduled for primary treatment for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma from June 1997 to May 2002 at the Head and Neck Division of the European Institute of Oncology. In 22 patients (11.9% of total), serum thyroglobulin was undetectable. In none of these 22 cases was thyroglobulin detected during follow-up, either during thyroxin suppressive therapy or during withdrawal for radioiodine scan. One of these low-thyroglobulin patients developed recurrent disease involving cervical lymph nodes, with positive radioiodine scan: thyroglobulin remained undetectable. On the contrary, in the patients with h...
A 22-year-old male patient with a radiologically detected right pelvic mass presented without any... more A 22-year-old male patient with a radiologically detected right pelvic mass presented without any symptoms. Two years before he underwent appendectomy due to acute appendicitis elsewhere, and a carcinoid was incidentally diagnosed. Our revised histological report confirmed a conventional carcinoid of the appendix, excluding a goblet cell carcinoid (adenocarcinoid). The tumour infiltrated the whole wall thickness without serosal invasion; margins were negative; the macroscopic size of the tumour had been omitted in the original pathology report.
About 100 cases of carcinoma arising in thyroglossal remnants have been reported in the world lit... more About 100 cases of carcinoma arising in thyroglossal remnants have been reported in the world literature. Five additional cases were discovered incidentally on histopathological examinations of specimens following Sistrunk's operation for removal of thyroglossal cysts and are now reported. The possibility of preoperative clinical diagnosis and the modalities of treatment are discussed.
To present an overview of surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer. Evaluation of the... more To present an overview of surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer. Evaluation of the thyroid nodule, assessment of indications for surgical treatment, analysis of the extent of surgical excision, and recommendations for lymph node dissection are addressed. In a patient with a thyroid nodule, certain historical information (such as prior irradiation to the head and neck or a family history of thyroid carcinoma) and physical findings (for example, a nonfunctioning, solitary thyroid nodule) increase the likelihood of a thyroid malignant lesion. Some indications for surgical intervention are a diagnosis of cancer on fine-needle aspiration biopsy, the presence of a cold nodule, or the presence of a large thyroid lesion, especially one that causes symptoms such as hoarseness or dysphagia. Although the extent of surgical excision is controversial, the presence of metastatic lesions, extrathyroidal extension, and multicentricity all are indications for total thyroidectomy. Grossly enlarged lymph nodes should be surgically excised. Probe-guided surgical resection is a promising advance in the management of persistent or recurrent thyroid carcinoma. Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis. Appropriate management is the key to minimizing morbidity and recurrences.
It is well-established that hormones have multiple effects on breast cancer. Some, but not all st... more It is well-established that hormones have multiple effects on breast cancer. Some, but not all studies indicate that the phase of the menstrual cycle (and hence hormonal status) at the time of breast surgery may influence survival. In this paper we review the literature in this area, explore how it is possible that such an association may occur, and note that randomised studies which unambiguously determined the phase of the cycle at the time of the operation are lacking. We go on to describe an ongoing self-randomised trial designed to address this problem and present preliminary results which show that only about 75% of the women ovulated during the cycle in which the operation took place, and that the established prognostic factor Ki-67 varied with the phase of the cycle in women who ovulated. It is too early to assess the significance of this finding.
ments in radiotherapy techniques and progress in endocrine diagnostics and therapy may allow bett... more ments in radiotherapy techniques and progress in endocrine diagnostics and therapy may allow better prevention and management of radiation-related thyroid injury.
Plasma estradiol (E2) and progesterone vary markedly through the menstrual cycle. Data on whether... more Plasma estradiol (E2) and progesterone vary markedly through the menstrual cycle. Data on whether these differences in hormone levels affect gene expression in oestrogen receptor-positive (ER?) tumours are inconsistent. We wished to determine whether there are substantial changes in the expression of oestrogen-regulated genes (ERGs) in ER? breast cancer through the menstrual cycle. One hundred and seventy five paraffin-embedded ER? breast carcinomas from premenopausal patients were analysed. Timing of the ovarian cycle was confirmed using serum progesterone levels. Patients were ascribed to one of three pre-defined menstrual cycle windows: 1 (days 27-35 ? 1-6), 2 (days 7-16) and 3 (days 17-26). The RNA expression of ESR1, four ERGs (PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1), and three proliferation genes (MKI67, TOP2A and CDC20) were compared between the windows. Gene expression of the four ERGs was 53-129 % higher in window 2 than window 1 (p = 0.0013, 0.0006, 0.022 and 0.066 for PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1, respectively) and lower (9-41 %) in window 3 compared to window 2 (p = 0.079, 0.31, 0.031 and 0.065 for PGR, GREB1, TFF1 and PDZK1, respectively). Their average expression (AvERG) was 64 % higher in window 2 than window 1 (p \ 0.0001) and 21 % lower in window 3 than window 2 (p = 0.0043). There were no significant differences between the windows for ESR1 and proliferation genes. In agreement with the gene expression data, progesterone receptor protein levels measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were 164 and 227 % higher in windows 2 and 3, respectively, compared to window 1 (30.7 and 37.9 % cells positive vs. 11.6 %; p = 0.0003 and 0.0004, respectively), while no difference in ER IHC score was observed. In conclusion, we observed significant differences in the expression of ERGs in ER? breast tumours across the menstrual cycle. This variability may affect the Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2014
Differentiated thyroid cancers may be associated with regional lymph node metastases in 20-50% of... more Differentiated thyroid cancers may be associated with regional lymph node metastases in 20-50% of cases. The central compartment (VIupper VII levels) is considered to be the first echelon of nodal metastases in all differentiated thyroid carcinomas. The indication for central neck dissection is still debated especially in patients with cN0 disease. For some authors, central neck dissection is recommended for lymph nodes that are suspect preoperatively (either clinically or with ultrasound) and/or for lymph node metastases detected intra-operatively with a positive frozen section. In need of a better definition, we divided the dissection in four different areas to map localization of metastases. In this study, we present the rationale for central neck dissection in the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, providing some anatomical reflections on surgical technique, oncological considerations and analysis of complications. Central neck dissection may be limited to the compa...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, is often detected in young female patients.... more Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, is often detected in young female patients. Therefore, pregnancy following thyroid cancer is not infrequent, and about 10% of thyroid cancers occurring during the reproductive years are diagnosed during pregnancy or in the early post-partum period. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in young people generally has an excellent prognosis, and disease-free survival among women with DTC diagnosed during pregnancy may not differ from that in age-matched non-pregnant women with similar disease. However, thyroid cancer detected during pregnancy may cause anxiety about the optimal timing of recommended treatments and about both maternal and neonatal morbidity, as weel as pregnancy following a diagnosis of thyroid cancer obviously needs both maternal and foetal management. The main objectives in clinical monitoring of pregnant thyroid cancer patients are: 1) to reach an adequate balance of maternal calcium and thyroid hormones that is abs...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
The evolution of new techniques for cancer surgery has led to important changes in cancer care in... more The evolution of new techniques for cancer surgery has led to important changes in cancer care in recent years. The endpoint of cancer treatment is now to treat the patient with minimum discomfort while respecting quality of life. New techniques, such as mini-invasive surgery, must respect the correct oncological indications, when technically feasible. The surgery for nodal spread or recurrence of disease, after previous surgery on T or T and N for neck cancer, can represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, especially in the neck, which is characterized by small spaces and noble structures. Often lesions become enveloped in scar tissue and can be difficult to visualize during surgery, representing a genuine problem for the surgeon. Ultrasound dye-assisted surgery is a procedure that combines ultra-sound localization of pathological nodes with the use of methylene blue to mark diseased structures to simplify their visualization (and thus removal) in the surgical field. The tec...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2011
Hypocalcemia is a major post-operative complication of total thyroidectomy, causing severe sympto... more Hypocalcemia is a major post-operative complication of total thyroidectomy, causing severe symptoms and increasing hospitalization time. The primary cause is secondary hypo-parathyroidism following damage to, or devascularisation of, one or more parathyroid glands during surgery. Aim of the study was to develop a simple and reliable method for predicting post-operative hypocalcemia in total thyroidectomy patients. A retrospective analysis was made of immediate pre-operative and early post-operative calcium levels in 100 patients. It was found that a marked decrease in blood calcium, immediately after surgery, was a sensitive predictor of hypocalcemia. In a subsequent prospective series of 67 patients, the efficacy was assessed of early administration of calcium plus Vitamin D in reducing symptomatic hypocalcemia in patients in whom the difference (Δ) between pre- and post-operative blood calcium was ≥ 1.1 mg/dl. This treatment was part of a protocol in which normo-calcemic patients ...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, more frequently diagnosed in young women ... more Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, more frequently diagnosed in young women during childbearing age and approximately 10% of all thyroid cancers are diagnosed during pregnancy or in the early post-partum period. Thyroid cancer in young people has generally an excellent prognosis, and survival among women with thyroid cancer diagnosed during pregnancy may not differ from that in age-matched non-pregnant women with similar cancer. Pregnancy after treatment of thyroid carcinoma requires both maternal and foetal controls. Of utmost importance is to ensure adequate maintenance of maternal levels of levothyroxine, needed by both the foetal central nervous system for its normal maturation and the mother to avoid possible recurrence or spread of the disease. In the present investigation, to confirm normal foetal growth and foetal thyroid development, an ultrasound study of the foetal thyroid was performed in 40 full term pregnancies in 32 women receiving levothyroxine t...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Some medical definitions remain the same for many years, others change due to the progress in the... more Some medical definitions remain the same for many years, others change due to the progress in the diagnostic tools, which are able to distinguish markers and symptoms until then undetectable. Occult thyroid carcinoma is a general term indicating clinically different situations, whereas the incidentally detected papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is the most important from the clinical point of view. It is fundamental, for therapeutic management, to determine biological parameters which would define a small group of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas with aggressive biological behaviour. The most promising genetic and molecular markers for papillary thyroid carcinoma risk stratification are discussed in this review. Preoperative evaluation of these markers, obtained through analysis of ultrasonography-guided fine needle biopsy specimens of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, could be very valuable in guiding treatment of this type of cancer.
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
The thyroid gland has long since been known for its self-renewal ability, mainly in cases of hype... more The thyroid gland has long since been known for its self-renewal ability, mainly in cases of hyperplastic disease such as goitre. Recently the amazing improvement in knowledge about stem cells has explained this potentiality. Some stem cell features and their clinical usefulness are summarized here, reviewing data from the literature: (1) the proven presence of adult stem cells in thyroid tissue, either normal, goitrous or neoplastic, bring with it important implications regarding tissue regeneration and oncogenesis; (2) modifying culture conditions and micro-environment stem cells have led to mature tissue with specialized functions. This has considerably changed the attitude of regenerative medicine and cancer research; (3) finally, identification of stem cells and stem cell markers in thyroid cancer, gives hope for the development of new therapeutic approaches in recurrent or treatment-resistant thyroid cancer.
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
The aim of curative surgical oncology is to remove the primary tumour with a wide margin of norma... more The aim of curative surgical oncology is to remove the primary tumour with a wide margin of normal tissue. What constitutes a sufficiently wide margin particularly in oral cancer is fundamentally unclear. The currently accepted standard is to remove the primary lesion with a 1.5-2 cm circumferential macroscopic margin. In the last ten years, anatomical considerations in the approach to primary, advanced and untreated tumours of the tongue led us to develop and improve a new surgical approach to their demolition and reconstruction. From July 1999 to July 2009, at the European Institute of Oncology in Milano, Italy, 155 patients were treated, while defining and refining the concept of compartmental tongue surgery (CTS) and its main components: 1) anatomical approach to the disease that requires removal of the primary lesion and all of the potential pathways of progression--muscular, lymphatic and vascular; 2) identification of a distinct territory at risk of metastatic representation ...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2009
Prophylactic central neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer is controversial. In this retros... more Prophylactic central neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer is controversial. In this retrospective cohort study, the aim was to assess possible advantages of prophylactic central neck dissection with total thyroidectomy in cN0 papillary thyroid cancer. A total of 244 consecutive patients with papillary thyroid cancer, without clinical and ultrasound nodal metastases (cN0), were evaluated out of 1373 patients operated for a thyroid disease at the Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy from 1994 to 2006. Of these 244 patients, 126 (Group A) underwent thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, while 118 (Group B) underwent thyroidectomy alone. Demographic, clinical and pathological features were analysed. Overall recurrence rate was 6.3% (8/126) in Group A and 7.7% (9/118) in Group B, with a mean follow-up of 47 (Group A) and 64 (Group B) months. In Group A patients, 47% were pN1a and all patients with recurrence had nodal involvement (p = 0.002). Survival rate did not diff...
Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2005
Thyroglobulin is considered a reliable marker of recurrent disease in patients with well-differen... more Thyroglobulin is considered a reliable marker of recurrent disease in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, some patients present recurrence with no increase in serum thyroglobulin. In the attempt to identify patients who might present recurrence with no such sign of the disease, thyroglobulin levels have been determined pre-operatively in 185 consecutive patients scheduled for primary treatment for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma from June 1997 to May 2002 at the Head and Neck Division of the European Institute of Oncology. In 22 patients (11.9% of total), serum thyroglobulin was undetectable. In none of these 22 cases was thyroglobulin detected during follow-up, either during thyroxin suppressive therapy or during withdrawal for radioiodine scan. One of these low-thyroglobulin patients developed recurrent disease involving cervical lymph nodes, with positive radioiodine scan: thyroglobulin remained undetectable. On the contrary, in the patients with h...
A 22-year-old male patient with a radiologically detected right pelvic mass presented without any... more A 22-year-old male patient with a radiologically detected right pelvic mass presented without any symptoms. Two years before he underwent appendectomy due to acute appendicitis elsewhere, and a carcinoid was incidentally diagnosed. Our revised histological report confirmed a conventional carcinoid of the appendix, excluding a goblet cell carcinoid (adenocarcinoid). The tumour infiltrated the whole wall thickness without serosal invasion; margins were negative; the macroscopic size of the tumour had been omitted in the original pathology report.
About 100 cases of carcinoma arising in thyroglossal remnants have been reported in the world lit... more About 100 cases of carcinoma arising in thyroglossal remnants have been reported in the world literature. Five additional cases were discovered incidentally on histopathological examinations of specimens following Sistrunk's operation for removal of thyroglossal cysts and are now reported. The possibility of preoperative clinical diagnosis and the modalities of treatment are discussed.
To present an overview of surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer. Evaluation of the... more To present an overview of surgical management of differentiated thyroid cancer. Evaluation of the thyroid nodule, assessment of indications for surgical treatment, analysis of the extent of surgical excision, and recommendations for lymph node dissection are addressed. In a patient with a thyroid nodule, certain historical information (such as prior irradiation to the head and neck or a family history of thyroid carcinoma) and physical findings (for example, a nonfunctioning, solitary thyroid nodule) increase the likelihood of a thyroid malignant lesion. Some indications for surgical intervention are a diagnosis of cancer on fine-needle aspiration biopsy, the presence of a cold nodule, or the presence of a large thyroid lesion, especially one that causes symptoms such as hoarseness or dysphagia. Although the extent of surgical excision is controversial, the presence of metastatic lesions, extrathyroidal extension, and multicentricity all are indications for total thyroidectomy. Grossly enlarged lymph nodes should be surgically excised. Probe-guided surgical resection is a promising advance in the management of persistent or recurrent thyroid carcinoma. Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have an excellent prognosis. Appropriate management is the key to minimizing morbidity and recurrences.
It is well-established that hormones have multiple effects on breast cancer. Some, but not all st... more It is well-established that hormones have multiple effects on breast cancer. Some, but not all studies indicate that the phase of the menstrual cycle (and hence hormonal status) at the time of breast surgery may influence survival. In this paper we review the literature in this area, explore how it is possible that such an association may occur, and note that randomised studies which unambiguously determined the phase of the cycle at the time of the operation are lacking. We go on to describe an ongoing self-randomised trial designed to address this problem and present preliminary results which show that only about 75% of the women ovulated during the cycle in which the operation took place, and that the established prognostic factor Ki-67 varied with the phase of the cycle in women who ovulated. It is too early to assess the significance of this finding.
ments in radiotherapy techniques and progress in endocrine diagnostics and therapy may allow bett... more ments in radiotherapy techniques and progress in endocrine diagnostics and therapy may allow better prevention and management of radiation-related thyroid injury.
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Papers by GIBELLI Bianca