Browsing by Author "Buta, Marko (16202214500)"

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA) of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) mapped using methylene blue dye (MBD) and its usefulness for selecting patients with breast carcinomas and positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) for one-time axillary dissection. Methods: 152 female patients with T1/T2 breast carcinomas and clinically negative ALNs were selected for mapping using MBD (1%) from October 2010 to December 2011. Patients underwent FSA of mapped SLNs and ALN dissection. The accuracy of SLN-FSA was tested by comparing these findings with the definite histopathology (HP) of SLNs, as well as of other ALNs. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: There was a 98%-match between FSA and definite HP findings of SLNs, suggesting high accuracy of FSA in this series. None of 3 patients with false-negative SLNs on FSA had additional axillary nodal metastases. One out of 20 (5%) patients with metastases in other ALNs had "clear" SLNs, both on FSA and definite HP (false-negative). Accuracy reached 94.1%. Conclusions: SLN-FSA enables adequate selection of patients for one-time axillary node dissection. MBD mapping technique is cheap, feasible and enables easy and precise detection of the first draining ALNs. Using FSA of SLNs mapped with MBD, patients with breast carcinoma benefit from complete surgical treatment during one hospitalization, the risk of undergoing anaesthesia twice is reduced, as well as the treatment cost, which is important in developing countries.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA) of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) mapped using methylene blue dye (MBD) and its usefulness for selecting patients with breast carcinomas and positive axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) for one-time axillary dissection. Methods: 152 female patients with T1/T2 breast carcinomas and clinically negative ALNs were selected for mapping using MBD (1%) from October 2010 to December 2011. Patients underwent FSA of mapped SLNs and ALN dissection. The accuracy of SLN-FSA was tested by comparing these findings with the definite histopathology (HP) of SLNs, as well as of other ALNs. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: There was a 98%-match between FSA and definite HP findings of SLNs, suggesting high accuracy of FSA in this series. None of 3 patients with false-negative SLNs on FSA had additional axillary nodal metastases. One out of 20 (5%) patients with metastases in other ALNs had "clear" SLNs, both on FSA and definite HP (false-negative). Accuracy reached 94.1%. Conclusions: SLN-FSA enables adequate selection of patients for one-time axillary node dissection. MBD mapping technique is cheap, feasible and enables easy and precise detection of the first draining ALNs. Using FSA of SLNs mapped with MBD, patients with breast carcinoma benefit from complete surgical treatment during one hospitalization, the risk of undergoing anaesthesia twice is reduced, as well as the treatment cost, which is important in developing countries.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with intraoperative Tramadol for postoperative pain management after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). The primary focus was on pain intensity within the first 24 h, while secondary outcomes included the need for rescue analgesia, nausea, vomiting, and patient satisfaction. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 49 female patients (ASA I-II, aged 30–80) who underwent MRM from 2021 to 2023 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving ESPB preoperatively (25 patients) and the other receiving Tramadol during surgery (24 patients). Pain levels were measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and data on rescue analgesia, vital signs, nausea, vomiting, and patient satisfaction were collected. Results: The ESPB group reported significantly lower pain levels during the first six postoperative hours (NRS scores of 0 vs. 3; p = 0.005), along with a reduced need for rescue analgesia (88% vs. 54.2%; p = 0.010). Moreover, patient satisfaction was higher in the ESPB group (64% vs. 37.5%; p = 0.03). The intraoperative heart rate was also lower in the ESPB group (65.3 vs. 72.0 bpm; p = 0.030). No significant differences were found in nausea, vomiting, or length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Overall, ESPB demonstrates superior early postoperative pain control and improved patient satisfaction compared to Tramadol. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. © The Author(s) 2025.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with intraoperative Tramadol for postoperative pain management after modified radical mastectomy (MRM). The primary focus was on pain intensity within the first 24 h, while secondary outcomes included the need for rescue analgesia, nausea, vomiting, and patient satisfaction. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 49 female patients (ASA I-II, aged 30–80) who underwent MRM from 2021 to 2023 were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving ESPB preoperatively (25 patients) and the other receiving Tramadol during surgery (24 patients). Pain levels were measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and data on rescue analgesia, vital signs, nausea, vomiting, and patient satisfaction were collected. Results: The ESPB group reported significantly lower pain levels during the first six postoperative hours (NRS scores of 0 vs. 3; p = 0.005), along with a reduced need for rescue analgesia (88% vs. 54.2%; p = 0.010). Moreover, patient satisfaction was higher in the ESPB group (64% vs. 37.5%; p = 0.03). The intraoperative heart rate was also lower in the ESPB group (65.3 vs. 72.0 bpm; p = 0.030). No significant differences were found in nausea, vomiting, or length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Overall, ESPB demonstrates superior early postoperative pain control and improved patient satisfaction compared to Tramadol. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. © The Author(s) 2025.

Multiple cancers represent 2.42% of all human cancers and are mainly double or triple cancers. Many possible causes of multiple malignancies have been reported such as genetic alterations, exposure to anti-cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy and reduced immunologic response. We report a female patient with multiple sclerosis and quadruple cancers of different embryological origin. Patient was diagnosed with stage III (T3, N1a, MO) medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), multicentric micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, scapular and lumbar melanomas (Clark II, Breslow II), and lobular invasive breast carcinoma (T1a, NO, MO). All tumors present in our patient except micropapillary thyroid carcinomas were investigated for gene alterations known to have a key role in cancer promotion and progression. Tumor samples were screened for the p16 alterations (loss of heterozygosity and homozygous deletions), loss of heterozygosity of PTEN, p53 alterations (mutational status and loss of heterozygosity) and mutational status of RET, HRAS and KRAS. Each type of tumor investigated had specific pattern of analyzed genetic alterations. The most prominent genetic changes were mutual alterations in PTEN and p53 tumor suppressors present in breast cancer and two melanomas. These co-alterations could be crucial for promoting development of multiple malignancies. Moreover the insertion in 4th codon of HRAS gene was common for all tumor types investigated. It represents frameshift mutation introducing stop codon at position 5 which prevents synthesis of a full-length protein. Since the inactivated RAS enhances sensitivity to tamoxifen and radiotherapy this genetic alteration could be considered as a good prognostic factor for this patient.

Purpose: To register the frequency of central and lateral lymph node metastases (LNMs) from papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs), and to assess whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of the lateral compartment is an accurate technique to select patients with true positive but clinically negative lymph nodes for one-time selective lateral neck dissection (sLND). The correlation between tumor characteristics (size, multifocality, bilaterality, capsular invasion) and LNMs was analyzed. 0Methods: During a 10-year-period (2004-2013), 111 clinically NO patients with PTMCs had total thyroidectomy, central neck dissection and SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment in our institution. SLN mapping was performed by subcapsular injection of 0.2 to 0.5ml of 1% methylene blue dye. IfSLNs were positive on frozen section, one-time sLND was done. Results: Forty percent of PTMCs were multicentric. LNMs were detected in 25% of the patients and isolated central LNMs were found in 18% of the patients. Lateral LMNs were present in 7% of the patients, of which 4% were isolated, skip LNMs. All these patients had therapeutic sLND. Specificity and sensitivity of SLN biopsy were 100% and 57%, positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 97%, respectively. Method's accuracy was 97%. Conclusions: SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment is more precise than physical examination and ultrasonography for detection of lateral LNMs in clinically NO patients with PTMCs. Intraoperative assessment of lateral lymph nodes (SLNs) provides one-time therapeutic dissection for patients with occult LNMs at initial operation, reducing the need for additional operations. This method provides appropriate disease staging and optimizes treatment.

Purpose: To register the frequency of central and lateral lymph node metastases (LNMs) from papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs), and to assess whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of the lateral compartment is an accurate technique to select patients with true positive but clinically negative lymph nodes for one-time selective lateral neck dissection (sLND). The correlation between tumor characteristics (size, multifocality, bilaterality, capsular invasion) and LNMs was analyzed. 0Methods: During a 10-year-period (2004-2013), 111 clinically NO patients with PTMCs had total thyroidectomy, central neck dissection and SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment in our institution. SLN mapping was performed by subcapsular injection of 0.2 to 0.5ml of 1% methylene blue dye. IfSLNs were positive on frozen section, one-time sLND was done. Results: Forty percent of PTMCs were multicentric. LNMs were detected in 25% of the patients and isolated central LNMs were found in 18% of the patients. Lateral LMNs were present in 7% of the patients, of which 4% were isolated, skip LNMs. All these patients had therapeutic sLND. Specificity and sensitivity of SLN biopsy were 100% and 57%, positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 97%, respectively. Method's accuracy was 97%. Conclusions: SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment is more precise than physical examination and ultrasonography for detection of lateral LNMs in clinically NO patients with PTMCs. Intraoperative assessment of lateral lymph nodes (SLNs) provides one-time therapeutic dissection for patients with occult LNMs at initial operation, reducing the need for additional operations. This method provides appropriate disease staging and optimizes treatment.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) arising in pyramidal lobe (PL) is very rare. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of single PTC focus in PL and its lymphonodal metastases, as well as to present a single surgeon experience in management of PL PTC. We performed a retrospective analysis of records of all patients surgically treated for PTC in our institution from year 2003 to 2013. Only patients with single PTC focus in PL were included. Out of total 753 patients, majority (66.52%) had PTC focus in one of the lobes, while only 3 patients (0.4%) had solitary PTC focus in PL. They were all females, aged 36, 41 and 22. During surgery, methylene-blue dye was injected peritumorally. After frozen section analysis of excised PL and isthmus and confirmation of malignancy, we performed total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, as well as sentinel lymph node biopsy in both jugulo-carotid regions. Pathology showed encapsulated PTC stage T1 and solitary metastasis in Delphian lymph node of the youngest patient. All patients were disease free in the follow-up. PTC single focus in PL is very rare and only individual experiences can be discussed regarding the extent of the surgery. © The Japan Endocrine Society.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) arising in pyramidal lobe (PL) is very rare. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of single PTC focus in PL and its lymphonodal metastases, as well as to present a single surgeon experience in management of PL PTC. We performed a retrospective analysis of records of all patients surgically treated for PTC in our institution from year 2003 to 2013. Only patients with single PTC focus in PL were included. Out of total 753 patients, majority (66.52%) had PTC focus in one of the lobes, while only 3 patients (0.4%) had solitary PTC focus in PL. They were all females, aged 36, 41 and 22. During surgery, methylene-blue dye was injected peritumorally. After frozen section analysis of excised PL and isthmus and confirmation of malignancy, we performed total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, as well as sentinel lymph node biopsy in both jugulo-carotid regions. Pathology showed encapsulated PTC stage T1 and solitary metastasis in Delphian lymph node of the youngest patient. All patients were disease free in the follow-up. PTC single focus in PL is very rare and only individual experiences can be discussed regarding the extent of the surgery. © The Japan Endocrine Society.

Purpose: The incidence of multifocality of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ranges from 18 to 87.5% The mechanisms of multifocal spreading, correlation with tumor size, histology variants of PTC, lymph node metastases, and prognostic impact remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of multifocality on relapse and survival rates of patients with PTC by analyzing the correlation of multifocality with patient age, gender, tumor size, histological variants of PTC, presence of lymph node metastases and extent of surgery. Methods: 153 patients with PTC were included in this study. Patients with pT4 tumors or initially distant metastases were excluded from study. Total thyroidectomy was done in all 153 patients. Central and level III and IV lateral neck lymph node dissection was done in 76.5% of the patients, followed by modified radical neck dissection if positive. Results: Multifocality was found in 43 (28%) whole thyroid gland specimens, and was significantly more frequent in patients older than 45 years and in tumors greater than 4 cm in diameter (p<0.01). Presence of multifocality didn’t significantly correlate with gender, histology variants of PTC or lymph node metastases. In a median follow up of 84 months locoregional relapse occurred in 8.4% and 1.3% of the patients, while 7.2% patients died due to PTC. The incidence of relapse was significantly higher (p<0.01), and relapse free interval and survival were significantly shorter (p=0.0095, p=0.0004, respectively) in patients with multifocal PTC. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that multifocality was independent prognostic factor for both disease-free interval (DFI) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with PTC. Conclusion: Due to high incidence of multifocality and potential prognostic impact, total thyroidectomy should be advocated in all patients with PTC, aiming to reduce relapse rate and improve DFI and CSS. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Purpose: The incidence of multifocality of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ranges from 18 to 87.5% The mechanisms of multifocal spreading, correlation with tumor size, histology variants of PTC, lymph node metastases, and prognostic impact remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of multifocality on relapse and survival rates of patients with PTC by analyzing the correlation of multifocality with patient age, gender, tumor size, histological variants of PTC, presence of lymph node metastases and extent of surgery. Methods: 153 patients with PTC were included in this study. Patients with pT4 tumors or initially distant metastases were excluded from study. Total thyroidectomy was done in all 153 patients. Central and level III and IV lateral neck lymph node dissection was done in 76.5% of the patients, followed by modified radical neck dissection if positive. Results: Multifocality was found in 43 (28%) whole thyroid gland specimens, and was significantly more frequent in patients older than 45 years and in tumors greater than 4 cm in diameter (p<0.01). Presence of multifocality didn’t significantly correlate with gender, histology variants of PTC or lymph node metastases. In a median follow up of 84 months locoregional relapse occurred in 8.4% and 1.3% of the patients, while 7.2% patients died due to PTC. The incidence of relapse was significantly higher (p<0.01), and relapse free interval and survival were significantly shorter (p=0.0095, p=0.0004, respectively) in patients with multifocal PTC. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that multifocality was independent prognostic factor for both disease-free interval (DFI) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with PTC. Conclusion: Due to high incidence of multifocality and potential prognostic impact, total thyroidectomy should be advocated in all patients with PTC, aiming to reduce relapse rate and improve DFI and CSS. © 2018 Zerbinis Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Objective: Calreticulin is a multicompartmental protein which regulates many important cellular responses. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the intensity and location of calreticulin overexpression in tumor cells are related to the elevated humoral immunity to calreticulin in patients with benign or malignant breast disease. Methods: This study involved 27 patients with benign and 58 patients with malignant breast tumors before surgical resection and 38 healthy volunteers. Cytoplasmatic or membranous calreticulin overexpression in malignant or benign cells in paraffin-embedded tissues was determined using immunohistochemistry. Levels of the serum anti-calreticulin autoantibodies were detected by ELISA. Results: Statistically significant differences between serum levels of IgA of anti-calreticulin antibodies in controls and patients with breast tumors, and between controls and patients with nonmalignant breast diseases were found, but no statistically significant differences were found between levels of serum IgG anti-calreticulin antibodies. Humoral immunity to calreticulin developed against cytoplasmatic and co-localized membranous calreticulin was not correlated to the intensity of its overexpression and was present even in the absence of its membranous localization. Conclusions: The degree of calreticulin overexpression in lobular breast carcinoma is lower than in ductal breast carcinoma. Elevated concentrations of anti-calreticulin IgA antibodies were present more frequently in patients with metastasis in locoregional lymph nodes in comparison to anti-calreticulin IgG antibodies. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Objective: Calreticulin is a multicompartmental protein which regulates many important cellular responses. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the intensity and location of calreticulin overexpression in tumor cells are related to the elevated humoral immunity to calreticulin in patients with benign or malignant breast disease. Methods: This study involved 27 patients with benign and 58 patients with malignant breast tumors before surgical resection and 38 healthy volunteers. Cytoplasmatic or membranous calreticulin overexpression in malignant or benign cells in paraffin-embedded tissues was determined using immunohistochemistry. Levels of the serum anti-calreticulin autoantibodies were detected by ELISA. Results: Statistically significant differences between serum levels of IgA of anti-calreticulin antibodies in controls and patients with breast tumors, and between controls and patients with nonmalignant breast diseases were found, but no statistically significant differences were found between levels of serum IgG anti-calreticulin antibodies. Humoral immunity to calreticulin developed against cytoplasmatic and co-localized membranous calreticulin was not correlated to the intensity of its overexpression and was present even in the absence of its membranous localization. Conclusions: The degree of calreticulin overexpression in lobular breast carcinoma is lower than in ductal breast carcinoma. Elevated concentrations of anti-calreticulin IgA antibodies were present more frequently in patients with metastasis in locoregional lymph nodes in comparison to anti-calreticulin IgG antibodies. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women, while isolated operable liver metastases (LMs)from BC are very rare and occur in only 1-5% of the patients. Besides, positive steroid receptor (SR) status for oestrogen and/or progesterone is known as a factor which improves disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact ofSR status on DFS and OS after liver metasta-sectomy in female patients with primary BC. Methods: We analyzed 32 medical records of female patients diagnosed and treated for primary BC with LMS as the first and only site of disease progression, at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), during 2006-2009. All of them underwent primary BC surgery as well as LMs resection. Results: Patients with metachronous BC and LMs and positive SR status in both BC and LM (BC+/LM+) had a median time from BC to LM occurrence (TTLM) of 36 months, compared to BC+/LM- and BC-/LM- subgroups, whose medians for TTLM were 30.5 and 14.5 months, respectively (p<0.01). For all patients, positive SR status showed high correlation with longer DFS and OS after LM resection (medians according survival analysis for DFS/OS in subgroups BC-/LM-, BC+/LM- and BC+/LM+ were 10/19, 25/45,50/not reached months respectively; p<0.01for DFS/OS). Cox regression analysis confirmed that the subgroup of patients with BC-/LM- had 10.8 and 18.8 higher risk of events for DFS (disease relapse or death) and event for OS (death only), respectively, compared to BC+/LM+ subgroup of patients. Conclusion: Positive SR status in BC and LM has a high impact not only on time from BC to LM occurrence, but also on longer DFS and OS after LM resection.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women, while isolated operable liver metastases (LMs)from BC are very rare and occur in only 1-5% of the patients. Besides, positive steroid receptor (SR) status for oestrogen and/or progesterone is known as a factor which improves disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact ofSR status on DFS and OS after liver metasta-sectomy in female patients with primary BC. Methods: We analyzed 32 medical records of female patients diagnosed and treated for primary BC with LMS as the first and only site of disease progression, at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS), during 2006-2009. All of them underwent primary BC surgery as well as LMs resection. Results: Patients with metachronous BC and LMs and positive SR status in both BC and LM (BC+/LM+) had a median time from BC to LM occurrence (TTLM) of 36 months, compared to BC+/LM- and BC-/LM- subgroups, whose medians for TTLM were 30.5 and 14.5 months, respectively (p<0.01). For all patients, positive SR status showed high correlation with longer DFS and OS after LM resection (medians according survival analysis for DFS/OS in subgroups BC-/LM-, BC+/LM- and BC+/LM+ were 10/19, 25/45,50/not reached months respectively; p<0.01for DFS/OS). Cox regression analysis confirmed that the subgroup of patients with BC-/LM- had 10.8 and 18.8 higher risk of events for DFS (disease relapse or death) and event for OS (death only), respectively, compared to BC+/LM+ subgroup of patients. Conclusion: Positive SR status in BC and LM has a high impact not only on time from BC to LM occurrence, but also on longer DFS and OS after LM resection.

Quadruple primary malignancies occur with an incidence of less than 0.1%. Only less than hundred cases have been published until today. The number of multiple malignancies reported is gradually increasing. Here, we present a female patient with a multiple sclerosis and quadruple cancers from different embryological origin. The patient had medullary thyroid carcinoma (stage III-T3, N1a, M0) and multicentric micropapillary carcinomas, two melanomatous lesions, 1.24 and 0.85 mm thick (Clark II, Breslow II) and breast cancer (T1a, N0, M0). There were no signs of disease recurrence during the 5 years including the exam performed last month. Further genomic studies and closer clinical attention are needed to clarify the relation between secondary malignancies, applied treatments and endogenous and exogenous carcinogens in the process of carcinogenesis in quadruple malignancies.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy rates vary from 0.5 to 10 %, even 20 % in thyroid cancer surgery. The aim of this paper was to present our experience with RLN liberations and reconstructions after various mechanisms of injury. Methods: Patients were treated in our institution from year 2000 to 2015. First group (27 patients) had large benign goiters, locally advanced thyroid/parathyroid carcinomas, or incomplete previous surgery of malignant thyroid disease. Second group (5 patients) had reoperations due to RLN paralysis on laryngoscopy. Liberations and reconstructions of injured RLNs were performed. Results: Surgical exploration of central compartment enabled identification of the RLN injury mechanism. Liberations were performed in 11 patients, 2 months to 16 years after RLN injury, by removing misplaced ligations. Immediate or delayed (18 months to 23 years) RLN reconstructions were performed in 21 patients, by direct suture or ansa cervicalis-to-RLN anastomosis (ARA). RLN liberation provided complete voice recovery within 3 weeks in all patients. Patients with direct sutures had better phonation 1 month after reconstruction. Improved phonation was observed 2-6 months after ARA in 43 % of patients. Conclusions: Vocal cords do not regain normal movement once being paralyzed after RLN transection, but they restore tension during phonation by reconstruction. Nerve liberation is a useful method which enables patients with RLN paresis/paralysis a significant improvement in phonation, even complete voice recovery. Reinnervation of vocal cords, using one of the mentioned techniques, should be a standard in thyroid and parathyroid surgery, with aim to improve quality of patient's life. © 2015 The Author(s).

Purpose: The incidence of histologically proven lymph node metastases (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) reaches 80%. According to different guidelines surgical management in clinically N0 (cN0) patients with PTC remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate if sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNb) using methylene blue dye is accurate in the detection of LNM in the lateral neck compartment in cN0 patients with PTC. Methods: Enrolled were 153 cN0 patients with PTC. All underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection and SLNb in the lateral neck compartment, using methylene blue dye as marker. Selective modified radical neck dissection was performed in cases of metastatic SLNs. Results: Neck LNMs were histologically verified in 40.9% of the cases. Predictive factors for LNM were: males, younger than 45 years, tumors greater than 1cm, capsular and vascular invasion. The central neck compartment of LNM was predictive for lateral LNM in 80.5% of the cases. LNM were confirmed in 24% of SLNs in the lateral neck compartment, which were over 56% predictive of LNM to other dissected lateral LN. SLN identification rate (IR) was 91.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 85.7, 96.7, 88.3 and 95.9%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the method was 94.3%, with probability of 91.2% (ROC AUC, 95% CI; 84.2-98.3). Conclusion: The proposed method of SLN biopsy using methylene blue dye is feasible, safe and accurate in the detection of LNM in the lateral neck compartment and may help in the decision to perform selective modified radical neck dissection in cN0 patients with PTC. © This work by JBUON is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Purpose: The incidence of histologically proven lymph node metastases (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) reaches 80%. According to different guidelines surgical management in clinically N0 (cN0) patients with PTC remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate if sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNb) using methylene blue dye is accurate in the detection of LNM in the lateral neck compartment in cN0 patients with PTC. Methods: Enrolled were 153 cN0 patients with PTC. All underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection and SLNb in the lateral neck compartment, using methylene blue dye as marker. Selective modified radical neck dissection was performed in cases of metastatic SLNs. Results: Neck LNMs were histologically verified in 40.9% of the cases. Predictive factors for LNM were: males, younger than 45 years, tumors greater than 1cm, capsular and vascular invasion. The central neck compartment of LNM was predictive for lateral LNM in 80.5% of the cases. LNM were confirmed in 24% of SLNs in the lateral neck compartment, which were over 56% predictive of LNM to other dissected lateral LN. SLN identification rate (IR) was 91.8%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 85.7, 96.7, 88.3 and 95.9%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the method was 94.3%, with probability of 91.2% (ROC AUC, 95% CI; 84.2-98.3). Conclusion: The proposed method of SLN biopsy using methylene blue dye is feasible, safe and accurate in the detection of LNM in the lateral neck compartment and may help in the decision to perform selective modified radical neck dissection in cN0 patients with PTC. © This work by JBUON is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The aim of this prospective study was to analyze accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy with methylene blue dye for intraoperative detection of lateral metastases in clinically N0M0 medullary microcarcinomas with calcitonin <1,000 pg/mL and selection of true-positive patients for one-time therapeutic lateral dissection. In addition to total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, all patients had bilateral sentinel biopsy of jugulo-carotid regions after methylene blue injection to decide upon necessity for lateral dissection. If sentinels were benign on frozen section, additional non-sentinels were extirpated, with no further lateral dissection. If sentinels were malignant, one-time lateral dissection was performed. 20 patients were included in this study. Hereditary disease form was observed in 3/20 (15%) of patients with RET proto-oncogene mutation C634F; remaining 17/20 (85%) were negative for germline mutations. There were no allergic reactions to methylene blue and identification rate of sentinels was 100%. In total, 2/20 (10%) cN0 patients had lymphonodal metastases, thus were reclassified as pN1b. Remaining 18/20 (90%) were classified pN0 based on standard pathohistology. Frozen section findings on sentinels were 100% match with standard pathohistology, and there were no skip metastases in lateral compartments. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of sentinel biopsy method with methylene dye and frozen section were 100%. Dzodic’s sentinel lymph node biopsy method can be used for intraoperative assessment of lateral compartments and optimization of initial surgery of medullary microcarcinomas with calcitonin <1,000 pg/mL. This way, cN0 patients with sentinel metastases can receive one-time lateral dissection, and those without benefit from less extensive surgery. © The Japan Endocrine Society.