Recent Publications by CFE Educators

Thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology pose management challenges in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of ultrasound features in navigating clinical decision making in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology. We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound imaging from 186 adult patients with thyroid nodules and indeterminate cytology who underwent thyroidectomy at a quaternary hospital from 2010-2017. All nodules were classified based on the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and 2017 American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS). Nodules were included if good quality pre-operative ultrasound imaging and surgical pathology were available. A total of 202 thyroid nodules were included. The median age was 57 years; 82.8% were female. Risk of malignancy (ROM) in resected nodules with Bethesda 3 and 4 cytology was 19.4% and 30.3%, respectively. ATA high-suspicious and TI-RADS 5 nodules had high ROM, 100% in both systems for Bethesda 3 nodules; 66.7% and 50.0%, respectively, for Bethesda 4 nodules. For ATA very-low suspicious/TI-RADS 1 and 2, ROM was 0%. ROM in ATA low-suspicious/TI-RADS 3 nodules with Bethesda 3 cytology was lower (15.2% and 16.0%, respectively) than Bethesda 4 cytology (33.8% and 34.3%, respectively). ATA intermediate-suspicious/TI-RADS 4 nodules with Bethesda 4 cytology had a lower ROM (11.1% and 18.2%, respectively) than Bethesda 3 cytology (28.6 % and 31.6%, respectively). Using either the ATA or the TI-RADS system to risk-stratify nodules with indeterminate cytology may help clinicians plan better for additional diagnostic testing and treatment. = American College of Radiology; = American Thyroid Association; = atypia of undetermined significance; = follicular lesion of undetermined significance; = follicular neoplasm; = positive predictive value; = risk of malignancy; = suspicious for follicular neoplasm; = Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a magnetic seed system for preoperative localization of axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer. We performed a retrospective analysis that included patients with breast cancer who underwent preoperative magnetic seed localization of axillary lymph nodes at our institution between January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2019. Magseed (Endomag) is a nonradioactive inducible magnetic seed that is induced to become a magnet when under the influence of its detector in the operating room. Clinical history, prior axillary sampling and clip placement, and procedure details and surgical outcomes were determined from a search of our PACS and electronic medical records. Thirty-five patients (34 women and one man) composed our study cohort. The mean patient age was 56 years (range, 32-78 years). One patient underwent two separate consecutive localizations for two separate operations, and another patient had bilateral lesions, for a total of 37 axillary lymph node localizations. One case of seed misplacement occurred during the ultrasound-guided localization procedure, resulting in immediate placement of a second seed, for a total of 38 Magseeds placed. All seeds were placed under ultrasound guidance. The mean number of days from seed placement to surgery was 5 days (range, 0-31 days). Thirty-seven of 38 Magseeds (97%) were documented to be successfully retrieved in the operating room. Magseed localization appears to be a safe, nonradioactive way to accurately localize axillary lymph nodes preoperatively.

BACKGROUND

The transoral endoscopic approach to thyroidectomy aims to eliminate a visible neck incision. Early experience has demonstrated promising safety and efficacy results but has uncovered unique drawbacks from the middle oral incision. We present a case series of our institutional experience with a technical innovation called the TransOral and Submental Technique (TOaST) designed to address these limitations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed all patients who successfully underwent TOaST thyroidectomy at our institution from November 2017 to November 2018. Demographics, surgical indications, technical details, and perioperative outcomes were recorded in a prospective database and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients underwent TOaST thyroidectomy, with mean follow-up of 17 wk. Mean age was 38 y, and all but one was female. Most cases were cytologically benign or indeterminate nodules. There were no injuries to the recurrent laryngeal or mental nerves. TOaST had no instances of chin pain or specimen disruption, two complications that have been associated with the standard transoral approach. The cosmetic outcomes remained excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study of TOaST indicates that it is a technically feasible and safe approach to thyroidectomy for selected patients.

OBJECTIVES

Determine whether adults with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) are at increased risk for disease- and steroid-related damage as compared to individuals with adult-onset SLE (aSLE), and whether they continue to accumulate disease damage in adulthood.

METHODS

Data derive from the 2007-2015 cycles of the Lupus Outcomes Study, a longitudinal cohort of adults with confirmed SLE. The Brief Index of Lupus Damage (BILD), a validated, patient-reported measure, was used to assess SLE-associated damage. Participants with baseline BILD were included (N = 1035). Diagnosis at age  18 years was defined as cSLE (N = 113). Outcome variables included BILD score at baseline and follow-up, clinically significant change in BILD score over follow-up period, and presence of steroid-related damage (cataracts, osteoporosis-related fracture, avascular necrosis or diabetes mellitus).

RESULTS

Mean time between baseline and follow up BILD assessment was 6.3 ± 1.7 years. In adjusted analyses, participants with cSLE and aSLE had similar levels of disease-related damage, and accumulated damage at similar rates. Participants with cSLE were more likely to report steroid-related damage (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8) in the adjusted analysis as compared to those with aSLE. Likelihood of steroid-related damage increased with disease duration for both groups, but was consistently higher among cSLE participants.

CONCLUSION

In this longitudinal cohort of adults with SLE, participants continued to accumulate damage at similar rates over time, regardless of age at onset or disease duration. Childhood-onset predicted increased risk of steroid-related damage. Aggressive use of steroid-sparing treatment strategies during childhood may be important to prevent steroid-related damage in adulthood.

INTRODUCTION

Theoretical risks of biologic agents remain under study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to integrate 1-year safety data from 12 ustekinumab registrational trials.

METHODS

Patients had moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (± methotrexate), or moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD; failed/intolerant of immunomodulators/corticosteroids). Psoriatic patients received subcutaneous ustekinumab 45/90 mg or placebo, generally at week 0, week 4, then every 12 weeks thereafter, while those with CD received a single intravenous ustekinumab dose (130 mg or weight range-based dosing of approximately 6 mg/kg) or placebo induction dose at week 0, followed by subcutaneous ustekinumab 90 mg at week 8 and every 8/12 weeks thereafter. The incidence rates of a priori-defined safety events were integrated post hoc (adjusted for duration of follow-up, reported per 100 patient-years [PYs]).

RESULTS

Among 6280 enrolled patients, 5884 ustekinumab-treated patients (psoriasis: 3117; PsA: 1018; CD: 1749) contributed 4521 PYs versus 674 PYs in placebo-treated patients through year 1 (829 PYs and 385 PYs during 8- to 16-week controlled periods). Combined across diseases among ustekinumab- versus placebo-treated patients, respective incidences/100 PYs (95% confidence intervals) of infections were 125.4 (122.2-128.7) versus 129.4 (120.9-138.3) through year 1, and not meaningfully increased in patients who did versus those who did not receive methotrexate (92.5 [84.2-101.5] vs. 115.3 [109.9-121.0]), or significantly increased in patients who did versus those who did not receive corticosteroids (116.3 [107.3-125.9] vs. 107.3 [102.0-112.8]) at baseline. Major adverse cardiovascular events (0.5 [0.3-0.7] vs. 0.3 [0.0-1.1]), malignancies (0.4 [0.2-0.6] vs. 0.2 [0.0-0.8]), and deaths (0.1 [0.0-0.3] vs. 0.0 [0.0-0.4]) were rare across indications.

CONCLUSIONS

Ustekinumab demonstrated a favorable and consistent safety profile across registrational trials in approved indications.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONS

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00320216, NCT00267969, NCT00307437, NCT00454584, NCT00267956, NCT01009086, NCT01077362, NCT00265122, NCT00771667, NCT01369329, NCT01369342, and NCT01369355.