Farley, David R.

Reoperative surgery for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is fraught with hazard. When preoperative imaging studies are inconclusive or patient comorbidities are extensive fine needle-aspiration (FNA) is helpful to confirm the presence of suspected parathyroid tissue in the neck. Some surgeons refrain from using FNA because of the concern of tissue implantation (parathyromatosis). A retrospective review (1984–1996) of all patients diagnosed with HPT undergoing FNA of suspected parathyroid tissue was performed to document whether a correlation exists between FNA of suspected parathyroid tissue and subsequent development of parathyromatosis. Parathyromatosis was considered to have occurred when proven by histology or suspected on the basis of clinical studies. Of 81 patients with HPT undergoing ultrasound-guided FNA to assess abnormalities in the neck 41 patients with confirmed parathyroid tissue were identified. The indications for FNA in these 41 patients were: prior failed cervical exploration (n = 33), prior neck surgery and/or radiation (n = 2), inconclusive noninvasive imaging studies (n = 15), and severe comorbidities (n = 8). Mean follow-up was 5.8 years. No case of FNA-induced parathyromatosis was identified. FNA is useful to confirm the presence of parathyroid tissue in very select patients with hyperparathyroidism. FNA often eliminates the need for other imaging studies, may prevent a needless or likely fruitless re-exploration, and does not cause parathyromatosis.

We sought optimal timing for heparin therapy in general surgery (GS) patients. From 2001 to 2008, 95 GS patients with documented thromboembolic events (TE) were identified and compared with matched controls (age, gender, type of operation, date of operation, malignancy, and body mass index [BMI]). Timing of heparin therapy, characteristics of TE or bleeding events, and risk factors for TE were collected. Mean age (57 years), BMI (33 kgM-2), gender (55% male), malignancy (53%), and duration of operation (204 vs 191 minutes, P = not significant) were similar in both groups. Peri-operative (within 24 hours) heparin administration (study 56% vs control 64%, P = 0.2) was no different. Preoperative therapy was more common in the control group (77% vs 51%, P = 0.001). The regression model showed a protective effect for heparin if given preoperatively (odds ratio = 0.37, P = 0.047) with no effect if started >10 hours from incision. Mean blood transfusion (97 and 106 mL) and hemorrhagic events (4.5% and 5%) were similar in both groups ( P = not significant). Median (range) length of hospital stay and mortality was higher in TE cases [19 (0-201) vs 6 (0-66) days, 11 vs 2 mortality in 100-person-years ( P < 0.05)]. Heparin administration before GS is associated with >2-fold reduction in TE. The optimal time to start heparin seems to be 1 to 10 hours before the time of incision.

Abstract Introduction: Cowden syndrome patients are at an increased risk of developing differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). There are limited studies of thyroid cancer biology within this population. We aimed to describe the frequency and progression of DTC in this population. Method: We reviewed all patients with clinically or genetically confirmed Cowden syndrome treated at our institution between 1979 and 2017. Presentation, operative details, pathology, and adjuvant treatment for all thyroid diseases were analyzed. Results: Forty-seven patients were identified. Thirty-seven received a clinical diagnosis while 10 tested positive on genetic testing for the PTEN gene. Average follow-up time was 10 years. Twenty-three patients underwent a total thyroidectomy. Nine patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, with a mean age of 28.5 years, 4 cases of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), 4 of PTC, and 1 of cystic PTC. One patient required an interval lateral neck dissection but no patients developed distant metastasis. Fourteen patients underwent thyroidectomy, 12 due to follicular adenoma, Hürthle cell adenoma, or multinodular goiter, 1 due to Graves’ disease, and 1 who elected to undergo a prophylactic thyroidectomy. No mortality was associated with thyroid cancer in these patients. Conclusion: Patients with Cowden syndrome are at a significantly increased risk of developing DTC and have a younger age of onset. In this study, 20% of the patients with Cowden syndrome were diagnosed with DTC, but distant metastasis and overall mortality were absent. Clinical features were similar to those of sporadic DTC, proving that, apart from screening, Cowden syndrome-related DTC can be treated in similar fashion.

Abstract Abstract 1088 Background: While many studies support the use of prophylactic heparin therapy around the time of operation in cancer patients, little data shows the optimal timing of such therapy in general surgery (GS) patients. Methods: From 2001–2008, 95 patients identified with thromboembolism reported in our GI/General Surgery Division and were compared with a matched control group for: age, gender, type of operation, date of operation, diagnosis of malignancy, and BMI. Timing of heparin therapy, characteristics of TE or bleeding events, driving distance from our institution, history of smoking or OCP use, anticoagulation use after operation, length of hospital stay, and mortality were collected. Peri-operative heparin therapy was defined as heparin given within a 24 hr window of incision. The McNemar's test for proportions was performed. Conditional logistic regression was used for the analysis of risk factors and survival curves were implemented for mortality comparisons. Results: mean age and BMI were similar (57 yrs, 33 kgM-2), 45% were female and 53% had malignancy in both groups. Duration of operation was similar (204 vs. 191 minutes, P=NS). peri-operative heparin administration was similar in the two groups (56%, 64%, p=0.05). But, pre-operative therapy was seen more in the control group (77% vs. 51%, p=0.01). Regression model showed a protective effect for heparin if it was given pre-operatively (OR=0.37, p=0.047) with no effect if it was given beyond 10 hours. Mean blood transfusion units (97 and 106 mL) and hemorrhagic events (4.5% and 5%) were similar (p=NS). Median (range) length of hospital stay was longer (19 days (0-201) vs. 6 (0-66), p=0.001) and two-year survival lower in the TE group (p=0.03). Conclusions: data from our institutional case-control study shows that heparin administration before GS is associated with more than 2-fold reduction in the risk of thromboembolism. The optimal period appears to be between 1–10 hours prior to the time of incision. Large prospective trials need to be desgined to more accurately determine the time of heparin therapy. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

AbstractIntroductionPatients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA) may have a solitary adenoma, unilateral hyperplasia, or multiple adenomas on final pathology. This study investigated whether the underlying pathological diagnosis was associated with differences in clinical presentation and postoperative outcomes.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing unilateral adrenalectomy for PA from 2004 to 2015 at our institution was performed. Baseline clinical and laboratory parameters, as well as postoperative biochemical and hypertension cure rates, were compared across the three aforementioned pathological groups.ResultsOf 206 patients who met criteria for inclusion, 152 (73.8%) had a single adenoma, 33 (16%) had unilateral hyperplasia, and 21 (10.2%) had multiple unilateral adenomas. Patients with unilateral hyperplasia were more likely to be male (81.2% vs 57.9%, P = .03), undergo left‐sided adrenalectomy (78.8% vs 47.4%, P < .01), and had a lower median adrenal venous sampling lateralization index (9.8 vs 19.8, P = .04) compared to those with solitary, but not multiple unilateral adenomas. No differences were seen in age, duration of hypertension, preoperative plasma aldosterone levels, plasma renin activities, 24‐h urinary aldosterone excretion, serum potassium concentrations, and the number of preoperative antihypertensive medications across all three pathological groups. All patients achieved biochemical cure following adrenalectomy, and no significant differences in the rates of hypertension cure or improvement were observed in comparisons across pathological subtype.ConclusionsClinical presentation and postoperative outcomes are similar regardless of underlying pathology in patients with PA. Because one in four patients may harbor unilateral hyperplasia or multiple adenomas, total unilateral adrenalectomy should be performed as the operation of choice over adrenal‐sparing approaches.