scholarly journals Intrathyroidal Branchial Cleft Cysts Presenting as Bilateral Thyroid Nodules

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A938-A938
Author(s):  
Sobia Faisal ◽  
Joseph Rosenblatt

Abstract Introduction: Intrathyroidal brachial cleft cysts are a rare entity and are usually associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Etiology is not very clear at this point, but they are thought to arise from the ultimobranchial body remnant during embryogenesis of the gland versus originating secondary to chronic inflammation as a form of squamous metaplasia. They are a common finding in the lateral neck but not with the thyroid. We present a case of a suspicious appearing bilateral thyroid nodules which were found to branchial cleft cysts on biopsy. Clinical Case: A 56-year-old woman presented to us for evaluation of thyroid nodules. Her past medical history was pertinent for endometrial cancer status post surgery and radiation, obesity, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia and hypothyroidism. She was diagnosed with hypothyroidism around 30 years ago and had been on Levothyroxine since then. She was recently noted to have a low TSH level on routine labs done by her primary care provider and therefore her Levothyroxine dose was adjusted. She also underwent a thyroid ultrasound due to exam findings of a palpable thyroid nodule. The ultrasound revealed a suspicious 2.2 cm hypoechoic solid nodule with irregular margins and micro-calcifications in the left mid thyroid lobe. Additionally, she was also noted to have a 0.8 cm hypoechoic nodule with irregular margins in the right mid thyroid lobe. No concerning cervical lymphadenopathy was identified. She was hence referred to us for further evaluation. She denied having compressive symptoms and did not have history of head/neck radiation or family history of thyroid cancer. Both nodules were biopsied but were interpreted as non-diagnostic with insufficient follicular cells and colloid. She underwent repeat biopsy of both nodules which again was interpreted as non-diagnostic. After discussion with patient, given her suspicious ultrasound findings and inconclusive biopsy results she was referred to endocrine surgery for surgical evaluation. Shortly after she underwent total thyroidectomy with pathology consistent with bilateral benign branchial cleft like cysts associated with adjacent thyroid follicles undergoing squamous metaplasia admixed with chronic inflammation. Conclusion: Pathogenesis of these intrathyroidal branchial cleft cysts is still unclear and not many similar cases have been reported in the literature so far. These commonly present as a painless mass but sometimes can also be an incidental finding. There are not a lot of specific details in the literature regarding imaging or pathology characteristics of these lesions therefore resulting in surgical intervention to reach a definitive diagnosis.

Author(s):  
Valeria Ramundo ◽  
Giorgio Grani ◽  
Rocco Bruno ◽  
Giuseppe Costante ◽  
Domenico Meringolo ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imama Naqvi ◽  
Emi Hitomi ◽  
Richard Leigh

Objective: To report a patient in whom an acute ischemic stroke precipitated chronic blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and expansion of vascular white matter hyperintensities (WMH) into regions of normal appearing white matter (NAWM) during the following year. Background: WMH are a common finding in patients with vascular risk factors such as a history of stroke. The pathophysiology of WMH is not fully understood; however, there is growing evidence to suggest that the development of WMH may be preceded by the BBB disruption in the NAWM. Methods: We studied a patient enrolled in the National Institutes of Health Natural History of Stroke Study who was scanned with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after presenting to the emergency room with an acute stroke. After a treatment with IV tPA, she underwent further MRI scanning at 2 h, 24 h, 5 days, 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, and 1-year post stroke. BBB permeability images were generated from the perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) source images. MRIs from each time point were co-registered to track changes in BBB disruption and WMH over time. Results: An 84-year-old woman presented after acute onset right hemiparesis, right-sided numbness and aphasia with an initial NIHSS of 13. MRI showed diffusion restriction in the left frontal lobe and decreased blood flow on perfusion imaging. Fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging showed bilateral confluent WMH involving the deep white matter and periventricular regions. She was treated with IV tPA without complication and her NIHSS improved initially to 3 and ultimately to 0. Permeability maps identified multiple regions of chronic BBB disruption remote from the acute stroke, predominantly spanning the junction of WMH and NAWM. The severity of BBB disruption was greatest at 24 h after the stroke but persisted on subsequent MRI scans. Progression of WMH into NAWM over the year of observation was detected bilaterally but was most dramatic in the regions adjacent to the initial stroke. Conclusions: WMH-associated BBB disruption may be exacerbated by an acute stroke, even in the contralateral hemisphere, and can persist for months after the initial event. Transformation of NAWM to WMH may be evident in areas of BBB disruption within a year after the stroke. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between chronic BBB disruption and progressive WMH in patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease and the potential for acute stroke to trigger or exacerbate the process leading to the development of WMH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S53-S53
Author(s):  
Joshua Paulton ◽  
Amanjot Gill ◽  
Joelle Prevost

Abstract Background Gut-directed hypnosis (GDH) is a complimentary therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), that can be learnt by patients to practice self-hypnosis. GDH in IBD has augmented remission and improved inflammation. GDH has a history of successful use for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). In IBD it may also improve IBS-like symptoms in remission and recovery from surgery. GDH is suitable for youth and adult IBD patients. In hypnosis, a relaxed state is inducted then suggestions to subconscious mind processes are made. In IBD, the mechanism of action of GDH is unknown but may influence the disease stress response. Aims Aims are the development of a GDH self-hypnosis protocol for IBD, with appropriate target symptoms. Patients first learn to practice with a clinician, then as complimentary psychotherapy for remission augmentation, IBS-like symptoms, and surgery recovery. Methods GDH is practiced first with a clinician, and then by patients as self-hypnosis (table 1). Patients receive psycho-education on GDH for IBD. Next, appropriate treatment goals are made, based on target symptoms. Relaxation techniques induce patient to a deeply relaxed state. Therapeutic suggestions specific to patient goals are given: verbal suggestions, visualizations, and post-hypnotic suggestions. Suggestions can focus on having a healthy digestive system, inflammation and symptoms reduction, and achievement and sustainment of remission. Patients emerge from hypnosis, are debriefed, and encouraged to practice ongoing self-hypnosis. Results In IBD, GDH self-hypnosis can be learnt from clinicians and practiced by patients as a complimentary therapy. Patients’ achievement and sustainment of remission, with clinical markers of inflammation can be monitored. Patients can monitor subjective improvement of IBS-like symptoms and post surgery, recovery progress can be monitored. Conclusions GDH has a history of use for IBS. In IBD, it has been shown to modulate remission, and may improve IBS-like symptoms, and in surgery recovery. The mechanism of action of GDH in IBD may influence the disease stress response. Clinicians trained in GDH are limited currently. Patients may learn GDH self- hypnosis to as a complimentary psychotherapy.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 717
Author(s):  
Kasper Pedersen ◽  
Charlotte Sonne Kristensen ◽  
Bertel Strandbygaard ◽  
Anette Bøtner ◽  
Thomas Bruun Rasmussen

Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) was first discovered in North America in 2015 and was later shown to be associated with congenital tremor (CT) in piglets. CT is an occasional challenge in some Danish sow herds. Therefore, we initiated an observational case control study to clarify a possible relationship between CT and APPV in Danish pig production. Blood samples were collected from piglets affected by CT (n = 55) in ten different sow herds and from healthy piglets in five sow herds without a history of CT piglets (n = 25), as well as one sow herd with a sporadic occurrence of CT (n = 5). APPV was detected by RT-qPCR in all samples from piglets affected by CT and in three out of five samples from piglets in the herd with a sporadic occurrence of CT. In the herds without a history of CT, only one out of 25 piglets were positive for APPV. In addition, farmers or veterinarians in CT-affected herds were asked about their experience of the issue. CT is most often seen in gilt litters, and a substantial increase in pre-weaning mortality is only observed in severe cases. According to our investigations, APPV is a common finding in piglets suffering from CT in Denmark.


Author(s):  
Claudio Spinelli ◽  
Alessia Bertocchini ◽  
Gianmartin Cito ◽  
Marco Ghionzoli ◽  
Silvia Strambi

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study is to evaluate results and outcomes in a long-time follow-up period, by performing a novel testicular fixation procedure, known as “fat anchor orchidopexy” (FAO), for the treatment of palpable low inguinal undescended testis. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent scrotal orchiopexy technique, from May 2013 to May 2019, at the Pediatric Surgery Division of Department of Surgical Pathology, University of Pisa (Italy). FAO (Spinelli’s technique) consists in anchoring the testicles to sub-scrotal fat with a single trans-scrotal incision. All the patients enrolled had history of unilateral or bilateral undescended testis. Data collected included patient’s age, operative times and complications. Results A total of 150 children with cryptorchidism were treated using a single trans-scrotal orchiopexy. Of them, 130 patients (86.7%) had unilateral undescended testis and 20 (13.3%) bilateral cryptorchidism. Mean patient’s age was 21 months (range: 14–28 months). All the procedures were planned in a day-surgery setting. Trans-scrotal orchiopexy was successful in all cases and no patients required an additional groin incision. No intraoperatively and postoperatively major complications were observed. Patients’ post-operative pain was mild (mean pediatric visual analog scale = 2). In all cases, the healing process was rapid and no surgical wounds infections were reported during the post-operative period, referring excellent cosmesis results. During a mean 48-month follow-up period, no testicular retraction, recurrence or testis atrophy was reported. Conclusion The original Spinelli’s technique (FAO) proves to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of palpable or distal-to-external-inguinal-ring testes. No immediate and delayed post-surgery complications were reported. In all cases, the anchored testicle remained in the scrotal position with normal vascularization. This novel surgical technique could give better options for scrotal fixation in case of low-lying cryptorchid testes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-92
Author(s):  
Esther Diana Rossi ◽  
Philippe Vielh

Thyroid nodules are a common finding in the adult population including the fact that more than 50% of individuals, over the age of 60, have thyroid nodules. The majority have been mostly detected with ultrasonography and 10% by palpation. The majority of these nodules are benign, whereas 5–15% of them are malignant. The pre-operative diagnosis of cancer is a critical challenge in order to ensure that each patient can be treated with the best tailored management with a reduction of unnecessary surgery for benign lesions. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) represents the first and most important diagnostic tool for the evaluation of thyroid lesions. According to the literature, FNAC is able to render a conclusive diagnosis in up to 70–80% of all cases. For the remaining 20–30% of nodules, cytological diagnoses fall into the category of indeterminate lesions mostly due to the lack of specific morphological features. According to the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC), indeterminate lesions can be sub-stratified into three different subcategories including “atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance-AUS/FLUS”; “follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasm/suspicious for follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasm-FN/SFN”; and “suspicious for malignancy-SFM”. Many of these indeterminate lesions undergo repetition or diagnostic lobectomy. Nonetheless, the majority of these cases will have a benign diagnosis due to the fact that the rate of cancer ranges between 6 and 30%. It stands to reason that the application of ancillary technique, mostly molecular testing, emerged as a critical additional tool for those thyroid indeterminate lesions. Since the early 1990s, material collected from cytological samples yields sufficient and adequate cells for the detection of point mutation or gene fusions. Nonetheless, the further availability of new sequencing technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) has led to more comprehensive molecular applications adopted now in clinical use. The current review investigates the multiple advances in the field of molecular testing applied in thyroid cytology.


2003 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. e205-e208
Author(s):  
Elliot Carter ◽  
Ozlem Ulusarac

Abstract We report a case of multiple lymphoepithelial cysts of the thyroid gland in a patient with severe chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. Lymphoepithelial cysts of the thyroid gland are rare lesions that are histologically similar to branchial cleft cysts found in the lateral neck. The cysts have an epithelial lining that is usually stratified squamous epithelium but may be focally respiratory-type epithelium. Abundant lymphoid tissue is present beneath the epithelium, and lymphoid follicles with reactive germinal centers are common features in the walls of the cysts. Because of their similarity to branchial cleft cysts and the presence of intrathyroidal branchiae-derived structures such as thymus and parathyroid gland tissue in the vicinity of some cysts, lymphoepithelial cysts of the thyroid have been postulated to arise from remnants of branchial derivatives; origination from solid cell nest remnants of the ultimobranchial bodies has been raised as a possibility. A definitive origin, however, has not been established. An association with chronic thyroiditis has been noted in 8 of the previously reported 16 cases occurring in a background of Hashimoto or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.


2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-310
Author(s):  
Adina Ghemigian ◽  
◽  
Ana Valea ◽  
Nicoleta Dumitru ◽  
Mara Carsote ◽  
...  

Endocrine morbidities are a vast panel of conditions; the most frequent diseases in daily endocrine practice are typically thyroid nodules or primary osteoporosis. We aim to introduce two cases who underlined a hematologic malignancy in association with apparently low risk endocrine conditions involving thyroid, respective osteoporosis field. A 24-year female is admitted for anterior cervical lumps which she self-detected one month ago. Normal thyroid blood assays are associated with neck ultrasound anomalies as: 2 thyroid nodules of 0.5/0.3 cm, respective of 0.5/0.2 cm; 5 left cervical lumps (largest at supraclavicle level of 1.5/ 0.7/1.5 cm); 4 right lateral cervical lymph nodes; multiple similar lesions were also revealed at others neck areas – largest at submandible level of 1.3/0.9/1.2 cm (right), respective 1.1/0.9/2.4 cm (left). Evaluation at oto-rhino-laringology, infectious disease was unrevealing; diagnosis of stage IIA Hodgkin lymphoma was established starting from ganglion biopsy. This is 78-year female, admitted for evaluation of bone loss under densumab for the latest year after a decade history of bisphosphonates. Secondary causes of osteoporosis or hypovitaminosis D were ruled out; computed tomography detected a small adrenal incidentaloma, whole body bone scintigrame did not reveal metastasis while flow cytometry of peripheral lymphocytes identified B monoclonal lymphocytosis/chronic lymphatic leukaemia with B cell starting from a mild elevation of white blood cells in routine hemogram. Behind classical endocrine conditions as goitre or osteoporosis, severe diagnosis might be found in situations as associated cervical nodes involvement, respective non-response to specific anti-osteoporotic therapy if active case finding strategies in a multidisciplinary manner are performed.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC Roy ◽  
R Tantravahi ◽  
C Murray ◽  
K Dear ◽  
B Gorgone ◽  
...  

Mixed hematopoietic chimerism (MC) is a common finding after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but the natural history of this phenomenon remains unclear. To understand the evolution and the implications of this finding, we performed a prospective analysis of the development of mixed chimerism in 43 patients with hematologic malignancies who received bone marrow (BM) from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors. T-cell depletion in vitro with anti-T12 (CD6) monoclonal antibody and rabbit complement was used as the only method of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Overall, MC was identified in peripheral blood (PB) and BM in 22 of 43 (51%) patients evaluated. MC was found by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in 21 of 40 (53%) patients, by cytogenetic analysis in 6 of 29 (21%) patients, and by red blood cell phenotyping in 4 of 9 (44%) patients. RFLP studies were performed at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-BMT and then every 6 months, and showed a high probability of developing MC in the first 6 months after BMT followed by stabilization after 12 months. Cytogenetic analysis was less sensitive in detecting MC. Once MC was detected after BMT, the percentage of recipient cells increased very slowly over more than 3 years of follow- up, and no patient reverted to complete donor hematopoiesis (CDH). Thus, recipient and donor cells remained in a relative state of equilibrium for prolonged periods that seemed to favor recipient cells over donor cells. Patient's disease, remission status, or intensity of the transplant preparative regimen did not influence the subsequent development of mixed chimerism. Early immunologic reconstitution was the only factor that correlated with the subsequent chimeric status of the patients. The percentage and absolute number of T3 (CD3) and T4 (CD4) positive cells at day 14 after BMT were significantly higher in the patients who maintained CDH but NK cell reconstitution was similar in both groups, suggesting that early reconstitution with T cells may play a role in preventing recovery of recipient cells after BMT. GVHD was also associated with maintenance of CDH, but the probability of relapse, survival, and disease-free survival was identical in patients with MC and CDH.


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