ResCaps: an improved capsule network and its application in ultrasonic image classification of thyroid papillary carcinoma

Ultrasonic image examination is the first choice for the diagnosis of thyroid papillary carcinoma. However, there are some problems in the ultrasonic image of thyroid papillary carcinoma, such as poor definition, tissue overlap and low resolution, which make the ultrasonic image difficult to be diagnosed. Capsule network (CapsNet) can effectively address tissue overlap and other problems. This paper investigates a new network model based on capsule network, which is named as ResCaps network. ResCaps network uses residual modules and enhances the abstract expression of the model. The experimental results reveal that the characteristic classification accuracy of ResCaps3 network model for self-made data set of thyroid papillary carcinoma was $$81.06\%$$ 81.06 % . Furthermore, Fashion-MNIST data set is also tested to show the reliability and validity of ResCaps network model. Notably, the ResCaps network model not only improves the accuracy of CapsNet significantly, but also provides an effective method for the classification of lesion characteristics of thyroid papillary carcinoma ultrasonic images.

Pneumatosis intestinalis in a radioactive iodine-refractory metastasic thyroid papillary carcinoma with BRAFV600E mutation treated with dabrafenib–trametinib: a case report

Background Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare entity which refers to the presence of gas within the wall of the small bowel or colon which is a radiographic sign. The etiology and clinical presentation are variable. Patients with PI may present either with chronic mild non-specific symptoms or with acute abdominal pain with peritonitis. Some cases of intestinal pneumatosis have been reported as adverse events of new oncological treatments such as targeted therapies that are widely used in multiple tumors. Case presentation A 59-year-old caucasian female with radioactive iodine-refractory metastatic thyroid papillary carcinoma with BRAFV600E mutation was treated with dabrafenib and trametinib as a compassionate use. After 4 months treatment, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET–CT) showed PI. At the time of diagnosis, the patient was asymptomatic without signs of peritonitis. The initial treatment was conservative and no specific treatment for PI was needed. Unfortunately, after dabrafenib–trametinib withdrawal, the patient developed tumor progression with significant clinical worsening. Conclusions This case report is, in our knowledge, the first description of PI in a patient treated with dabrafenib–trametinib. Conservative treatment is feasible if there are no abdominal symptoms.