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Ординатура / Хирургия / Библиотека им академика М.И. Перельмана / Книга_4437_Библиотеки_им_академика_М_И_Перельмана

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M. Sakr
13.5.4 Diagnosis
Hürthle cell neoplasms can accurately be differ­entiated from nonneoplastic disorders by FNA, but the differentiation of a benign from a malig­nant process is much more difcult. Diagnosis of HCC is based on the presence of capsular or vas­cular invasion, ETE, or distant disease—features that are not reliably determined by cytology and are more reliably determined by permanent sec­tions rather than by frozen section. The measure­ment of nuclear DNA content and ploidy patterns has also been disappointing in the differentiation of Hürthle cell adenomas and carcinomas [224]. As a result of these difculties, surgical therapy is most often required to secure a correct diagnosis.
13.5.5 Dierential Diagnosis
When confronted with thyroid FNAs containing oncocytic cells, it is important to keep in mind that oncocytic changes may be encountered also in other thyroid lesions than Hurthle cell neo­plasms. Oncocytic changes are commonly seen, at least focally, in conventional PTC; they are even more widespread in the oncocytic, Warthin­like, and tall-cell variants.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and parathyroid lesions can also exhibit oncocytic changes. Immuno-cytochemistry may be useful for resolving at least some of these differential diagnoses. For example, cells derived from MTC are positive for calcitonin but negative for thyro­globulin (Tg), whereas cells from HCC are nega­tive for calcitonin but positive for Tg [247].
13.5.6 Management
13.5.6.1 To Operate or Not toOperate?
Not all lesions with Hurthle cells (HCs) on FNA require surgical intervention. The importance of clinical context must be emphasized. Given the high incidence of malignancy in their series, Azadian etal. [248] concluded that the cytologi­cal detection of HCs in FNA was an indication for surgery after excluding HT.On the contrary,
subsequent studies suggested that the “percent­age,” rather than the mere detection, of HCs should guide the operative decision with the detection of >50% HCs being an adequate crite­rion for opting surgery [249, 250].
In general, it is conceivable that aspirates with scattered HCs, macro-follicular architecture, or abundant, watery colloid, and those seen in the context of HT without dominant nodules, as well as those that do not meet the criteria for HCN (<75% HCs) can generally be observed with sur­veillance US and repeat FNA when indicated.
13.5.6.2 If toOperate, How Much
toResect?
Given the relatively small proportion of HCCs among HCN nodules and the benign course identi­ed in most minimally invasive HCCs (miHCC), Kroeker etal. [251], in agreement with previous reports of Parikh etal. in 2013 [252], Melck etal. in 2006 [241], and McHenry etal. in 1999 [253] have advocated thyroid “lobectomy” for initial management of HCNs keeping in mind two pos­sibilities. Firstly, proceeding to TT may be decided immediately if ETE or lymphadenopathy was detected intra-operatively. Secondly, completion thyroidectomy may be planned shortly after initial surgery if HCC was revealed on parafn sections. Additionally, in their large series, Haigh et al. (2005) found no signicant association between extent of thyroidectomy and survival [254].
On the other hand, because of the difculty in differentiating benign from malignant HCNs and the potential malignant behavior of benign lesions, total thyroidectomy (TT), as an initial surgery, was supported by Mills et al. [231], Paunovic etal. [255], and Khaf etal. [256], as they noticed favorable outcomes associated with assertive resection. Moreover, a lower threshold for selecting initial radical surgery was advocated by Chen et al. [242], Sippel et al. [257], and Zhang etal. [258], in large size tumors since they detected signicant correlation with malignancy. In fact, the latter opinion is fueled by several facts such as the aggressive course identied in some reports [259, 260], the low avidity for radioactive iodine (RAI) [261], the low incidence of compli­cations in experienced hands [242, 255], which
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substantially increase in re-operative surgery, the availability of replacement therapy, the privilege of using thyroglobulin (Tg) as a marker for recur­rence, and the potential use of RAI for ablating a possible remnant [262].
13.5.6.3 To Use or Not toUse Radioactive Iodine (RAI)?
Although HCCs generally fail to concentrate RAI [263], its controversial role in management is fueled by the varying results published in the literature. In 2003, Lopez etal. [264] reported a survival benet when used for remnant ablation but not in metastatic disease. On the other hand, in their series, Sanders et al. [261] stated that using RAI did not improve outcome. Moreover, Mills et al. [231] reported in 2003 a worse disease- free survival conferred by RAI ablation and therapy. However, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2013 Guidelines have considered RAI ablation for sus­pected or proven thyroid bed uptake and RAI treatment for suspected or proven RAI respon­sive residual tumor in postoperative management of histologically proven HCC [265].
13.5.7 Prognosis
In general, HCCs are more aggressive than fol­licular and papillary carcinomas, with a 10-year survival of 65%. The extent of disease and hence surgery greatly inuences outcome. An aneu­ploid DNA pattern has also been shown to inde­pendently correlate with decreased patient survival [224, 227]. Unlike follicular carcinomas, lesion size, patient age, and histological grade do not seem to signicantly inuence prognosis.
13.6 Anaplastic Thyroid
Carcinoma (ATC)
13.6.1 Introduction
Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATCs) are undif­ferentiated tumors of the thyroid follicular epi­thelium, accounting for approximately 1–2% of
all thyroid malignancies with an annual incidence of about 1–2 cases/million [266, 267]. Although ATC is rare, it is one of the most aggressive human cancers, and it causes up to 40% of deaths from thyroid cancer. The average survival time of ATC is only 6–8months and the 5-year survival rate is only 0–10% [266, 268].
Approximately, 25% of patients with ATCs have a past history of a well-differentiated thy­roid cancer (WDTC), and another 25% harbors a concurrent WDTC in the resected specimen [269], which lead to the belief that early manage­ment of WDTC is essential to decrease the over­all incidence of ATC.Despite different treatment approaches, ATC grows rapidly, invades adjacent tissues, and most patients die due to uncontrolled local tumor invasion, or distant metastases. The treatment options for ATC include surgery, che­motherapy and radiotherapy.
13.6.2 Clinical Aspects
Patients with ATCs are older than those with other types, with a mean age of 65years. There is a higher incidence in women, probably due to overall higher incidence of thyroid disease in females.
Anaplastic carcinoma usually presents as a rapidly enlarging bulky neck mass (Fig.13.24). The history is generally of short duration, extending between 3 and 4 months. In most cases, the disease has already spread beyond the thyroid capsule into adjacent neck structures (Fig.13.25) or has metastasized to the lungs at the time of presentation. Symptoms related to compression and invasion, such as hoarseness of voice, dysphagia, cervical pain, and dyspnea, are common. Metastases to distant sites generally involve the lungs (75%), adrenal glands (33%), and brain (15%).
Physical examination usually reveals a rm/ hard mass in the thyroid region that appears to be xed and cannot be separated from the trachea. Vocal cord paralysis, due to direct extension to the RLN, is a common nding and LN enlarge­ment is also quite frequent (approximately 80%). In the majority of cases, mortality occurs in about
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Fig. 13.24 A 62-year-old gentleman with a large, hard, irregular, and xed thyroid swelling, involving mainly the right lobe and causing compression manifestations. It proved by histology to be anaplastic carcinoma
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Fig. 13.26 Computed tomography (CT) scan showing a large thyroid gland involving the trachea and esophagus (anaplastic carcinoma)
require, in select cases, appropriate immunohis­tochemistry (IHC).
Computed tomography (CT) scan is very helpful in evaluating the extent of the disease in the central compartment, LN metastasis, and the position of the trachea (Fig.13.26). Chest X-ray is routinely performed to rule out gross metastasis.
Fig. 13.25 A 47-year-old gentleman with a huge recur­rent thyroid carcinoma with acute inammation on top. First operation was performed for PTC. Biopsy of the recurrence proved to be anaplastic carcinoma
6–12months because of advanced local disease, distant metastases, airway problems, or cachexia.
13.6.3 Diagnosis
The presence of giant and spindle cells on FNA should trigger the diagnosis. Conrmation may be obtained by core or open biopsy, although open biopsy is best avoided to avoid tumor fun­gation. It is important to rule-out poorly differen­tiated thyroid cancer or lymphoma. This may
13.6.4 Gross Appearance
Grossly, ATC appears as a large, necrotic, and hemorrhagic mass that is typically widely inva­sive, often replacing most of the thyroid gland parenchyma with inltration of the surrounding soft tissue and adjacent structures of the neck. The cut surface of the tumor can be brownish or whitish in color, and in both cases, discrete yel­lowish areas of necrosis are usually evident.
13.6.5 Microscopic Appearance
Microscopically, ATCs are composed of highly anaplastic cells, with variable morphology, including (1) large spindle cells with a sarcoma­tous appearance (Fig. 13.27), (2) pleomorphic giant cells, including occasional osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells (Fig.13.28), (3) squa­moid cells resembling squamous carcinoma, occurring in solid (Fig.13.29) or nest (Fig.13.30)
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13 Malignant Thyroid Disease
Fig. 13.27 Sarcomatoid ATCs. Spindle cells are pleo­morphic and show a storiform pattern of growth
369
Fig. 13.30 Epithelioid-squamoid category, neoplastic cells showing a nested architecture
Fig. 13.28 Neoplastic giant cells, characterized by pleo­morphism and bizarre multiple hyper-chromatic nuclei
Fig. 13.29 Epithelioid-squamoid category, neoplastic cells showing a solid architecture
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Fig. 13.31 Residual foci of PTC seen in the lower right corner. The main bulk of the tumor is composed of strands of squamoid atypical cells and spindle neoplastic elements
architecture [270], and (4) mixed spindle and giant cells. Foci of papillary or follicular differ­entiation may be present in some tumors, sug­gesting an origin from a WDTC (Fig. 13.31). Metastatic anaplastic carcinoma may be also present in cervical LNs (Fig. 13.32). Immunohistochemistry reveals that the neoplas­tic cells express epithelial markers like cytokera­tine but are usually negative for markers of thyroid differentiation, like Tg. Carcino-
370
Fig. 13.32 LN metastasis of WDTC with anaplastic areas. Residual foci of PTC are present in the right upper corner, but the metastatic deposits are made mainly of spindle cells and necrotic areas
embryonic antigen (CEA) may be localized in certain areas of the tumor [271, 272]. Most of the anaplastic thyroid cancers show a high index of P53 mutation [273], which may play an impor­tant role in the progression of DTC to ATC [274]. The expression of ras mutation in WDTC reects an early event of oncogene activation, while the high expression of P53 in ATC suggests a late event.
13.6.6 Treatment
M. Sakr
respectively; P<0.0001), which showed that the important role of surgical treatment in ATC [281].
13.6.6.2 Treatment ofCervical Lymph
Nodes (LNs)
For patients with clinical or pathological cervical LNs, levels II–VI neck dissection should be per­formed. For clinical negative cervical LNs, level VI neck dissection is performed.
13.6.6.3 Patients withExtra-Thyroidal
Extension (ETE)
Patients may just undergo tracheotomy and tumor biopsy when they suffer from a wide range of tumor, severely invaded trachea (narrow diame­ter<0.5cm), or poor health status. Surgical mar­gins are classied by the pathologist as R0, R1, and others; R0 indicates that no cancerous cells seen microscopically, while R1 means that can­cerous cells can be seen microscopically.
Several studies reported that R0 (ve surgical margin), and R1 (gross resection, positive micro­scopic margin) might result in substantial improvement inlocal control and survival; how­ever, most of these studies are biased because they are retrospective and not randomized to con­trol for bias factors such as extent of disease or adjuvant treatments [282, 283].
The main treatment strategies of ATC are surgery, radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy, and biotherapy [275279], and radical surgical treatment is still a key therapeutic method affecting the prognosis.
13.6.6.1 Treatment oftheTumor andThyroid
For patients with tumor limited in unilateral thy­roid lobe, TT is performed, while thyroidectomy with extensive resection of the surrounding tis­sues is performed for patients with tumor involved the surrounding tissues.
Some authors reported that survival outcomes were signicantly higher in patients with resect­able tumors than in those with unresectable tumors [267, 278, 280, 281]. Sugitani’s study (2012) showed that the 1-year survival rate was signicantly higher in resectable tumors than in the unresectable tumors (39.0% and 10.0%,
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13.6.6.4 Postoperative Radiotherapy(RT)
It has been recommended that postoperative RT with a dose of >40Gy is recommended in stage IV-A and IV-B patients, and palliative doses should also be used to improve quality of life in some patients with widespread disease. Some scholars also suggested that postoperative RT might be effective in the treatment of ATC [284]. A study by Glaser SM showed that high-dose RT (>59.4Gy) resulted in improved survival in ATC, and that RT is considered a prognostic factor [285].
13.6.6.5 Chemotherapy
Chemotherapeutic drugs, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, vincristine, were used to treat ATC patients commonly; however, it is still controver­sial whether chemotherapy can prolong the sur-
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vival time and improve prognosis [286, 287]. Theoretically, chemotherapy can control the small metastatic sites around the main primary tumor, reduce tumor dissemination, or increase tumor resection rate by shrinking the tumor, or improve the effect of RT and improve the long­term curative effect. Nevertheless, strong evi­dence to prove the above opinions is lacked of [288, 289]. Liu etal. [290] also showed that che­motherapy might be an independent factor affect­ing prognosis in multivariate analysis. Busnard suggested that preoperative chemo–RT can improve tumor resection rate and improve prog­nosis [291]; however, Mclve found that it did not signicantly prolong survival time in patients who accepted a comprehensive treatment based on surgery and chemo-RT [140].
Kim and Leeper showed promising results in the mid-1980s with the use of Adriamycin-based chemotherapy and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Unfortunately, in spite of the aggressive treatment approach of chemotherapy, RT in vari­ous forms, and salvage surgery, the overall out­come has essentially remained unchanged [292].
Venkatesh etal., from MD Anderson, reported a large study of 121 patients with ATC [293]. About 25% of their patients had areas of WDTC.The mean survival for the entire group was 7.2 months. Their experience showed that younger patients lived longer and patients who presented at an earlier stage responded better than a patient with metastases at the time of presentation.
13.6.6.6 Treatment Policy
Since the average life expectancy of patients with ATC is 6–12months, the role of initial aggressive surgery is always questioned. Some studies showed that multimodal therapy combining sur­gery, chemotherapy, and RT might achieve better results in avoiding death from local invasion and improving survival in some patients; however, ATC has an extremely low cure rate even with the very best treatments, and treatment of ATC is mostly palliative [275277]. Surgical resection with adjuvant RT and chemotherapy may prolong survival or improve quality of life; however, strong evidence is needed to support this conclu-
sion [278]. The optimal multimodal therapy pol­icy is still debated and a standardized treatment strategy remains to be established. Furthermore, the rare incidence of ATC and its aggressive nature make it difcult to compare the outcomes of different treatments, especially in studies with small cohorts [275, 276].
13.6.7 Prognosis
The 5-year relative survival rate of ATCs, all of which are considered stage IV, is around 7% (based on patients diagnosed between 1985 and
1991). Independent factors affecting the prognosis of
patients who underwent treatment were (1) pri­mary tumor size (diameter < 4 cm), (2) distant metastases, (3) surgery, RT, chemotherapy, and (4) tumor residue. Multivariate analysis showed that distant metastases, surgery, radiotherapy, and tumor residue could predict the prognosis [290].
Some studies showed that white blood cell
count and whether to accept surgery plus postop­erative RT were the independent factors inuenc­ing prognosis of ATC [294]. Lo in 1999 reported that age may affect prognosis, and limited lesion means a better prognosis, while co-existence of WDTC may have nothing to do with prognosis; the size of primary tumor was related to prognosis, and the tumor resection rate was higher when the tumor diameter was <5–6cm, which leads to a good prog­nosis [295]. Thus, age and tumor size may also be prognostic factors of ATC patient [285, 296].
13.7 Medullary Thyroid
Carcinoma (MTC)
13.7.1 Introduction
Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) are neu­roendocrine neoplasms derived from the para­follicular cells or C-cells of the thyroid and account for approximately 5% of thyroid neo­plasms [297]. Similar to normal C-cells, MTCs secrete calcitonin, the measurement of which plays an important role in the diagnosis and post-
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operative follow-up. In some instances, the tumor cells elaborate other polypeptide hormones, such as serotonin, adrenocortico-trophic hormone (ACTH), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which are responsible for the para-neoplastic syndrome as a presentation of familial MTC (FMTC) (e.g., Cushing syndrome due to ACTH or diarrhea due to VIP).
Approximately, 70% of MTCs arise “sporadi­cally.” The remainder occurs in the setting of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome 2A or 2B, or as familial tumors without an asso­ciated MEN syndrome (FMTC), inherited as autosomal dominant (Table 13.15) [298]. This necessitates an integrated management approach to both the patients and their families. Activating point mutation in the RET proto-oncogene plays an important role in the development of both familial and sporadic MTC.
When MTC arises as part of a familial syn­drome, treatment of the other endocrine tumors is required. Distant metastatic spread may occur to the liver, lungs, and bone. Patients may survive for many years even with a signicant tumor bur­den. However, MTC causes death by either local complications, such as invasion of vital structures in the neck and upper mediastinum, or by com­plications of distant metastases [299].
13.7.2 Clinical Presentation
Both forms of MTC (sporadic and familial) are lesions of adulthood, with a peak incidence in the 40s and 50s. Cases associated with MEN types 2A or 2B occur in younger patients. Patients with MTC present a neck lump, metas­tasis, dysphagia, and hoarseness. The tumor fre­quently spreads to regional lymphatics, including paratracheal, jugular chain, and upper mediastinal LNs. Systemic effects may occur due to coincident secretion of calcitonin and other peptides (frequent loose stools, vasomotor ushing, and less commonly Cushing syn­drome). In all cases, a comprehensive family history must be taken to include rst- and sec­ond-degree relatives to search for features of MTC or other endocrinopathies (MEN2).
13.7.3 Gross Features
Sporadic lesions are usually solitary, rm, pale gray, and inltrative. Bilaterality and multicen­tricity are common in familial cases. Larger lesions often contain areas of necrosis and hem­orrhage and may extend through the capsule of the thyroid.
Table 13.15 Features of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Clinical setting
Sporadic MTC
MEN-2A Multifocal,
MEN-2B Multifocal,
FMTC Multifocal,
MTC medullary thyroid carcinoma, MEN multiple endocrine neoplasia, FMTC familial medullary thyroid carcinoma, AD autosomal dominant, HPT hypoerparathyoidism
Features of MTC
Unifocal None None Somatic RET mutations in
bilateral
bilateral
bilateral
Inheritance pattern Associated abnormalities Genetic defect
>20% of tumors
AD Pheochromocytomas, HPT Germ-line missense mutations
in extra-cellular cysteine condons of RET
AD Pheochromocytomas, mucosal
neuromas, megacolon, skeletal abnormalities
AD None Germ-line missense mutations
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Germ-line missense mutation in tyrosine kinase domain of RET
in extra-cellular or intra-cellular cysteine condons of RET
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13.7.4 Microscopic Picture
Microscopically, MTC is composed of polygonal to spindle-shaped cells, which may form nests, trabeculae, and even follicles [300]. Small, more anaplastic cells are present in some tumors and may be the predominant cell type. Acellular amy­loid deposits derived from calcitonin polypep­tides are present in the stroma in many cases (Fig.13.33), although it is not necessary for the diagnosis. About 25% of medullary carcinomas do not contain amyloid [301] and calcications are usually noted in areas of amyloid deposition. Calcitonin is readily demonstrable within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells.
Electron microscopy reveals variable numbers of membrane-bound electron-dense granules within the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells. One of the features of FMTC is the presence of multi­centric C-cell hyperplasia in the surrounding thy­roid parenchyma, a feature that is usually absent in sporadic lesions. Thus, the presence of multi­ple prominent clusters of C-cell hyperplasia throughout the gland should raise the specter of inherited predisposition, even if a family history is not present.
– A baseline value of calcitonin [302]. – A 24-h urine sample assayed for catechol-
amines and metanephrines to rule out phaeo­chromocytoma and serum calcium (Ca) to exclude hyperparathyroidism (HPT). These tests should be performed in all MTC patients prior to neck surgery even in the absence of a positive family history or symptoms.
RET mutation analysis to establish the possi-
ble genetic basis for the disease.
– A stimulation test with Ca/pentagastrin may
be indicated to conrm a diagnosis of MTC preoperatively in relatives of patients with FMTC, to exclude the rare causes of false­positive basal calcitonin elevation, or when calcitonin levels are only mildly elevated [302].
– Routine preoperative staging of MTC with
US, CT/MRI (chest, thorax, and abdomen) is not essential prior to rst-time intervention as it does not alter the need for neck surgery. These investigations, however, may provide the surgeon with information to guide the extent of surgery in the central neck compart­ment and superior mediastinum.
13.7.5 Investigations
Preoperative investigations should include the following:
Fig. 13.33 MTC (at the center and to the right), which is much more cellular than the adjacent normal thyroid fol­licles (at the left). Note the pink hyaline material with the appearance of amyloid (arrow)
13.7.6 Staging ofMTC
Medullary thyroid cancer is classied differently from WDTC as shown in Table13.16. The TNM stage “grouping” of MTC is summarized in Table13.17.
13.7.7 Treatment
13.7.7.1 Surgical Treatment
Surgical treatment of MTC is inuenced by sev­eral factors: (1) ineffectiveness of RAI because MTC cells do not take up iodine, (2) multicen­tricity of MTC in 90% of patients with the hered­itary forms of the disease and in 20% of patients with the sporadic form, (3) Nodal spread in about 50% of MTC patients (with the exception of chil­dren whose MTC is discovered as part of a genetic or biochemical screening program), and (4) the availability of assessment of the adequacy
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Table 13.16 TNM staging of MTC
Stage Description I T1 tumor, <10mm, with no LNs (N0) or
metastases (M0)
II Larger tumors (T2), also without LNs (N0) or
metastases (M0) III Classication involves LNs IV Indicates the presence of distant metastases
Table 13.17 Stage grouping of MTC
Stage TNM stage grouping I T1, N0, M0 II T2–3, N0, M0 III T1–3, N1a, M0 I VA T4a, N0-1a, M0 or T1-4a, N1b, M0 IVB T4b, any N, M0 IVC Any T, any N, M1
of surgical extirpation by measuring postopera­tive stimulated-calcitonin levels.
The aims of rst-time surgical treatment of MTC are loco-regional control (neck and supe­rior mediastinum), and in some patients, to obtain a biochemical and clinical cure. Therefore, as an appropriate treatment, it is widely accepted that all patients with established MTC should undergo “total thyroidectomy (TT) and central LN dissec­tion “(level VI).
Patients with pT2–4 tumors, or palpable LNs in the central or lateral compartment should in addi­tion undergo “bilateral selective neck dissection” of levels IIa–Vb. In the absence of direct invasion, the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), internal jugular vein (IJV), and spinal accessory nerve (SAN) should be conserved. Routine dissection of levels I, IIb and Va is not required unless there are palpable/suspicious nodes at these sites. When there is strong suspicion or evidence of level VII, the patient should be considered for further sur­gery, which will require a sternotomy [303].
Patients with distant metastases at presenta­tion often have prolonged survival. Even in the presence of disseminated disease, surgery (TT and central compartment node dissection) should be considered to prevent subsequent compromise of the trachea, esophagus, and RLNs.
“Prophylactic surgery” should be offered to “disease-free carriers” of germ line RET muta-
tions, identied by genetic screening programs [304]. Ideally, these patients would be expected to have C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) rather than MTC but, in many cases, by the time of presenta­tion the transition from CCH to MTC will have occurred. It is important to distinguish the need for therapeutic surgery from prophylactic sur­gery. This will depend upon genotype, age, and basal calcitonin.
Children with MEN-2B should undergo “pro­phylactic thyroidectomy” within the rst year of life. Children with MEN-2A should undergo pro­phylactic thyroidectomy before the age of 5years [305, 306]. In children with MEN-2A under 10years, it may be unnecessary to perform LN dissection. In older children and those with MEN-2B, central lymphadenectomy should probably be performed at the time of thyroidec­tomy. Gene carriers from kindred with FMTC should undergo prophylactic thyroid surgery after the age of 10 years; LN dissection is not indicated before the age of 20years.
Investigation of persistent or increasing hyper-calcitoninemia: postoperative samples
should be measured no earlier than 10days after thyroidectomy [302]. Plasma calcitonin levels are most informative 6 months after surgery [302]. There is good evidence that meticulous initial surgery reduces the risk of postoperative hyper-calcitoninemia, but high calcitonin levels after surgery are a common nding. This will depend upon the preoperative basal calcitonin, stage of the tumor at presentation, and adequacy of initial surgery.
True local recurrence is unusual after adequate initial surgery. When initial surgery was incom­plete, re-operation on the neck (lymphadenec­tomy of the central and/or lateral compartments) with curative intent should be considered. Mediastinal lymphadenectomy may be necessary when there is a strong suspicion of, or proven nodal disease at this site.
It is important to distinguish loco-regional, persistent/recurrent disease from distant micro­or macro-metastases as the cause of hyper­calcitoninemia. Noninvasive imaging (chest and abdominal CT or MRI and cervical and/or abdominal US, bone scan) should be performed
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375
but may not be helpful because of the morpho­logical pattern of metastatic MTC in the lung and liver (miliary disease). Laparoscopy or selective arteriography may identify occult hepatic metas­tases. Other less invasive options to detect meta­static MTC in patients with rising calcitonin and negative whole-body CT or MRI include pen­tavalent
131
99m
I-MIBG,
Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA),
111
In-octreotide, and 18FDG-PET
scans.
Re-operative surgery in the neck and mediasti­num should be considered in persistent or recur­rent MTC, even when there are known distant metastases, to prevent the complications of large volume disease affecting the airway, esophagus, or laryngeal nerves. Reoperation, at present, appears to offer the most consistent improvement in calci­tonin levels, compared to other treatments [307].
13.7.7.2 Radiotherapy
andChemotherapy
Routine adjuvant external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) has not been shown to improve survival but may improve the relapse-free rate if there is gross residual disease or extensive nodal disease [308]. Chemotherapy is generally ineffective but may be tried for progressive and symptomatic disseminated disease. Radiolabeled-somatostatin analogue and/or
131
I-MIBG treatment may be useful in some cases but have not been evaluated in clinical trials. Alpha-interferon may also have a role; however, the evidence base is scanty at present.
13.7.9 Molecular Genetics: Genetic Investigation ofaPatient withMTC
About 25% of MTCs are hereditary, as part of MEN2/FMTC syndrome. Lack of family does not exclude heritable disease. The disease may not be apparent in relatives because of ‘skipped’ generations, or an isolated case may be the start of a new family. Inherited MTC without other endocrinopathies also occurs. It is inherited in similar ways but tends to be more indolent than other forms of MTC [309]. Because of the rarity of MTC and the complexity of genetic investiga­tion and management, cases should be managed by a specialist clinical service in close liaison with a regional genetics center.
13.7.9.1 Clinical History
A clinical history suggestive of MEN-2 syn­drome would include (1) symptoms/history of phaeochromocytoma and parathyroid disease, (2) features of MEN-2B such as facies, constipa­tion/diarrhea, mucosal neuromas, medullated corneal nerve bres, marfanoid habitus, colonic ganglioneuromatosis, Hirschsprung’s disease (may be associated with MEN-2), and (3) family history including all rst- and second-degree relatives, with attention to features suggestive of MEN-2 (thyroid, adrenal, and parathyroid disease).
13.7.9.2 Genetic Testing
13.7.8 Follow-Up
Lifelong follow-up is recommended. Response to primary surgery can be assessed clinically and by the measurement of serum calcitonin and tumor markers, usually 6 months after surgery [302]. Elevated but stable calcitonin postoperatively may be treated conservatively, provided treatable disease has been excluded radiologically. Progressively rising levels should trigger imag­ing for further staging. In the absence of recur­rent symptoms, appropriate follow-up intervals are 6–12months.
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Before Testing
The patient should be referred to the clinical genetics service. Because of the possibility of heritable disease, every case of MTC should be offered genetic testing unless there are good rea­sons for not undertaking this. Testing should always begin with the affected individual, if available. If the affected individual is not avail­able then decision and strategy for testing should be discussed with the clinical genetics service. Before blood is taken, a clear explanation must be given of the nature of the test, the possible out­comes, and the implications of a positive or nega­tive result for the individual and the family.