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Objective Percutaneous image-guided treatments (PIGT) are performed by interventional radiologists with a minimally invasive approach. Currently, very little published data on their outcomes are available and conclusions regarding their application are cautious. The aim of the present study was to review our experience in PIGT of bone metastases from thyroid cancer. Materials and methods Institutional databases were reviewed to identify patients with differentiated thyroid cancer and bone metastases who received PIGT between October 2001 and April 2014. Complications, local evolution of the treated lesions, and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Results Twenty-five patients (12 male, 13 female) underwent 49 PIGT sessions consisting of cementoplasty (77.5%), cryoablation (14.3%) or radiofrequency ablation (8.2%). Most of the treated lesions (50/54, 92.6%) were symptomatic at the time of PIGT. Median follow-up after PIGT was 4.6 years. Local complete remission rate was 55.6%. Two complications (one major and one minor) were noted, but none of these were consistent with fractures or nervous system injuries. OS after PIGT was 71.6%, 66.8% and 60.1% at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. A difference in survival was observed between patients with metastatic bone involvement only at the time of first PIGT compared to those with multi-organ involvement (P = 0.03). Conclusions Patients with bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer may benefit from PIGT. Although patients are usually referred for PIGT due to their symptomatic status, a more relevant “curative” role may exist for PIGT. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm this perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (fNMTC) represents 3–7% of all thyroid tumours and is associated with some of the highest familial risks among all cancers, with an inheritance pattern compatible with an autosomal dominant model with reduced penetrance. We previously mapped a predisposing locus, TCO (Thyroid tumour with Cell Oxyphilia) on chromosome 19p13.2, for a particular form of thyroid tumour characterised by cells with an abnormal proliferation of mitochondria (oxyphilic or oncocytic cells). In the present work, we report the systematic screening of 14 candidate genes mapping to the region of linkage in affected TCO members, that led us to identify two novel variants respectively in exon 9 and exon 13 of TIMM44, a mitochondrial inner membrane translocase for the import in the mitochondria of nuclear-encoded proteins. These variants were co-segregating with the TCO phenotype, were not present in a large group of controls and were predicted to negatively affect the protein (exon 9 change) or the transcript (exon 13 change). Functional analysis was performed in vitro for both changes and although no dramatic loss of function effects were identified for the mutant alleles, subtler effects might still be present that could alter Timm44 function and thus promote oncocytic tumour development. Thus we suggest that TIMM44 should be considered for further studies in independent samples of affected individuals with TCO.British Journal of Cancer (2006) 95, 1529–1536. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6603455 www.bjcancer.com Published online 31 October 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bcl-2, the gene over-expressed in follicular lymphomas (FL), is able to block chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Consequently, we wondered whether bcl-2/IgH expression variations during treatment of FL could predict the outcome of patients with t(14;18)-bearing FL. For this purpose, we used a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to analyse 180 serial peripheral blood samples (PBS) during 34 treatment phases in 25 patients with t(14;18)-bearing FL. In all patients but two, bcl-2/IgH gene expression was demonstrated in pre-treatment samples. During 16 out of the 34 treatment phases (47%), bcl-2/IgH expression became negative: all but one were responders to chemotherapy. This conversion was transient in six cases. In 18 treatment phases, bcl2/IgH expression remained detectable: eight were clinically considered as treatment failures, while eight others achieved PR and two achieved CR. We observed a significant correlation between treatment response and RNA PCR results (P = 0.002). Three-year overall survival of patients with stable bcl2/IgH-negative conversion was 100% compared to 54% for the remaining patients (P = 0.069); 3-year freedom from progression was respectively 87.5% and 13% (P = 0.005). These results indicate a correlation between bcl-2/IgH expression variations and both clinical response and outcome. Whether this might predict disease outcome early remains to be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine efficacy and safety of thermal ablation (TA) for the local treatment of lung metastases of thyroid cancer., Methods: We retrospectively studied 47 patients from 10 centers treated by TA (radiofrequency, microwaves, and cryoablation) over 10 years. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), local efficacy, complications (CTCAE classification), and factors associated with survival. OS curves after first TA were built using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test., Results: A total of 107 lung metastases during 75 sessions were treated by radiofrequency (n = 56), microwaves (n = 9), and cryoablation (n = 10). Median follow-up time after TA was 5.2 years (0.2-13.3). OS was 93% at 2 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 86-94) and 79% at 3 years (95% CI: 66-91). On univariate and multivariate analysis with a Cox model, histology was the only significant factor for OS. OS at 3 years was 94% for follicular, oncocytic, or papillary follicular variant carcinomas, compared to 59% for papillary, medullary, insular or anaplastic carcinomas (P = 0.0001). The local control rate was 98.1% at 1 year and 94.8% at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years. Morbidity was low with no major complications (grade 4 and 5 CTCAE) and no complications in 29 of 75 sessions (38.7%)., Conclusions: TA is a useful, safe and effective option for local treatment of lung metastases from thyroid carcinoma. Prolonged OS was obtained, especially for lung metastases from follicular, oncocytic, or papillary follicular variant carcinomas. Achieving disease control with TA delays the need for systemic treatment.

Purpose: Surgical treatment of recalcitrant lateral epicondylitis [LE] remains difficult, with suboptimal results. This prospective study aimed to determine whether percutaneous epicondylar tenotomy combined with PRP injection under ultrasonography control would optimize the surgery results, with an early gain on pain and strength and a rapid return to professional activities at 3 months. The secondary objective was to determine whether clinical or biological risk factors (e.g., composition of the PRP) affected the outcomes., Methods: A total number of 261 Patients with recalcitrant LE underwent percutaneous epicondylar tenotomy under ultrasonography control, coupled with PRP injection. All patients were clinically assessed using VAS pain scale, the functional scores: QuickDASH [Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand], Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation [PRTEE] and MEPS [Mayo Elbow Performance Score]; Elbow Self-Assessment Score [ESAS]; grip strength; and return to work., Results: At 3-month follow-up, the VAS score decreased by 3.4 points (SD 2.2; p<0.0001), the QuickDASH decreased by 32.9 points (SD 18.9, range 56.1-23.1; p<0.0001), the PRTEE decreased by 14.8 points (SD 19.1, 49.8-26.4; p=0.017), and the MEPS increased by 19.4 points (SD 13.1, 67.4-86.9; p<0.0001); grip strength increased to 8.3kg (SD 10.7; p<0.0001) and increased by 26% (SD 0.60, 0.7-0.96; p<0.0001) as compared with the opposite side. The ESAS showed 78.3% improvement., Conclusion: Treatment of recalcitrant LE by percutaneous tenotomy combined with PRP injection under ultrasonography control provides rapid recovery in terms of pain and strength, with a high level of satisfaction and a high rate of early return to work., Study Design: Case series., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)