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Background: Left ventricular penetrating injuries are rare but often lethal. Transport times greater than 30 min have been shown to increase the injury severity; thus early recognition of cardiac tamponade, prompt pericardial decompression, and control of cardiac hemorrhage are mandatory. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our record to include patients with penetrating trauma of the heart. Results: Four hemodynamically unstable young male patients with left ventricular penetrating injury of the heart were referred to our unit between January 2007 and December 2015. Median time from trauma to surgery was 16 min (range 14-21). A cardiorrhaphy through sternotomy with no extracorporeal support was performed. We had no in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: According to our experience, in patients with hemodynamic shock and penetrating cardiac injury, a timely recognition of injuries and referral to the closest thoracic surgery unit may increase patient survival if it is located closer than a level I trauma center.

Background: Bronchoplastic procedures have become the reference standard in the lung parenchyma-sparing treatment of centrally located bronchopulmonary tumors. Two schools of thought exist regarding performing a bronchial sleeve resection: those who wrap the anastomosis with a pedicled flap and those who leave the anastomosis unprotected. We performed a study comparing these 2 methods. Methods: This study was a retrospective multicenter observational analysis of 90 consecutive patients undergoing bronchial sleeve resections for neoplastic disease between June 2009 and July 2019. Group A (60 patients) underwent bronchial wrapping and group B (30 patients) did not undergo wrapping. Results: The only difference between group A, which had 5 patients (8.3%), and group B, which had 10 patients (33.3%), regarding general characteristics was the presence of diabetes (P = .003). There were no differences in surgical, postoperative, and follow-up characteristics. There was no statistically significant difference between groups (group A, 9 patients [15%]; and group B, 6 patients [20%]) in terms of anastomotic complications at 1 year (P = .425). Diabetes was an independent predictive factor for anastomotic complications at 1 year (P = .035). The number of postoperative complications (P < .001) was an independent risk factor for length of hospital stay. Conclusions: We found no differences between groups in terms of postoperative complications and length of hospital stay, which confirmed previous reports that sleeve resections may be performed safely without bronchial wrapping.

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Pulmonary blastomas are a group of rare malignant neoplasms subdivided into three categories: classic biphasic pulmonary blastoma (CBPB), well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma (WDFA), and pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB). We report herein the cases of two men with CBPB. Both were heavy smokers and presented with a history of hemoptysis. Physical examination revealed slightly significant findings, chest radiographs showed a large pulmo-nary mass, confirmed by computed tomography, and bronchoscopic biopsies were not diagnostic. A left and right inferior lobectomy was performed and a diagnosis of CPBP was confirmed by histological examination. In the first patient, local recurrence with multiple bilateral lung metastases was found 6 months later and despite chemotherapy, he died of respiratory failure 1 year after his operation. In the second patient, a subcutaneous metastasis was found in the right subscapular region 2 months later, and a cerebral metastasis in the right posterior parietal lobe 4 months later. Partial remission was achieved by cerebral irradiation, but 6 months later the patient died of cardiac failure while in a coma. We conclude that more aggressive and multidisciplinary treatment should be adopted for CBPB, and because of its low incidence, it is important to unify individual experiences in a central registry to gather as much information as possible regarding the biological and clinical features of this unusual disease.

To re-evaluate the use of CT-guided needle biopsy and VATS, as our combined approach protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral pulmonary nodules.We describe the case of a male smoking patient, 50-year-old, who came to our service for the histological diagnosis of a right pulmonary lesion incidentally revealed. He was submitted to our diagnostic and therapeutic protocol for peripheral pulmonary nodules, that is a combined approach of CT-guided needle biopsy, anchorage of the lesion and VATS resection. Difficulties with this technique can raise when: 1. the cytological CT-guided needle biopsy is not diagnostic, 2. the anchorage is not successful, 3. the malignancy of the lesion cannot be surely determined by the extemporary histological examination. In this patient all these difficulties were encountered.We conclude that our diagnostic and therapeutic protocol for peripheral pulmonary nodules is not invalidated by this experience, even in consideration of the fact that we applied successfully the protocol in several previous cases.

To re-evaluate the use of 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy (Octreoscan) in the follow-up of patients operated for carcinoids, as second-step investigation, after chest X-ray, CT-scan and serological marker' levels.We describe the case of a female patient, 58-year-old, operated on for a non-secretory lung carcinoid. Five years after surgery, the CT-scan showed the enlargement of the bilateral hylo-mediastinal lymph nodes, suggestive for carcinoid recurrences. In order to confirm that, the patient was submitted to an Octreoscan that showed the presence of enlarged hylo-mediastinal adenopathies matching with the lesions observed at the CT-scan. Because the serological examination of NSE, chromogranin and serotonin, and the 5-HIIA were in the normal range, the patient was submitted to a lymph node biopsy through a mediastinoscopy. The histological examination of the specimens revealed a sarcoidosis and the patient was started on steroid therapy with good outcome.We conclude that: 1. the octreoscan scintigraphy in the follow-up of resected carcinoids can give false-positive results and 2. in consequence, the mediastinoscopy is a discriminating investigation in case of mediastinal lymph nodes disease.

Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, and accounts worldwide for 60-80% of all cases. The diagnosis is based on clinical findings, and is confirmed by the presence of TRAB, suppression of TSH, and elevation of free thyroxin (free T4), and triiodinethyronin (free T3). GD can be treated by antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery. The aim of this study was to review retrospectively the surgical management, in terms of safety and efficacy, in 50 patients operated in the Department of Surgical Sciences since 2005 through 2010 and followed up at the Endocrinology Unit A of the Experimental Medicine Department. We assessed postoperative complications, which included the presence, persistence and development of ophthalmopathy, transient hypocalcemia, permanent hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.We analyzed data from 50 patients with GD who were eligible and underwent Total Thyroidectomy (TT). Thirty-nine patients underwent TT for recurrent hyperthyroidism after medical therapy and eleven patients for severe ophtalmopathy. The mean follow up was 41 months (range: 10-70).Eleven patients had ophtalmopathy before surgery. Four patients developed an ophtalmopathy after surgery. Eleven patients presented hypocalcemia, transient in ten patients and permanent in one patient. Five patients developed a transient disphony. Conclusions. Total thyroidectomy is a safe and radical procedure in Graves' disease treatment. Complications of TT are not different than subtotal thyroidectomy if it's performed by expert surgeons.

No abstract available

Background: Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, is for progressive radioiodine-refractory-differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) patients. However, there are a lot of drug-related adverse events (AEs) that can affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate, and compared with other series, the safety of lenvatinib used in RR-DTC patients enrolled in an Italian expanded access program (EAP), and (b) to evaluate their QoL during treatment with lenvatinib. Methods: To evaluate the safety, we recorded and graded all AEs during the 6 months of lenvatinib treatment in 39 RR-DTC patients. We compared the safety profile of lenvatinib observed in our patients with that reported in the study of (E7080) levatinib in differentiated cancer of the thyroid (SELECT) and tumeurs thyroidiennes refractaires (TUTHYREF) network studies. Moreover, we evaluated the QoL in our series by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 and the pain visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: The most frequent AEs among our 39 RR-DTC patients were hypertension (80.5%), fatigue (58.3%), diarrhea (36.1%), stomatitis (33.3%), hand/foot syndrome (33.3%), and weight loss (30.5%). The most prevalent grade 3/4 AE was hypertension (25%). When compared with previous studies (i.e., SELECT and TUTHYREF), a significantly lower percentage of our patients experienced diarrhea, nausea, proteinuria, and weight loss. No statistically significant differences in the QoL of our patients evaluated before, during, and at the end of follow-up (6 months after starting the therapy) were found. However, a slight improvement of the general health and emotional and cognitive status associated with a slightly worsening of physical role and social functioning was observed during these 6 months. Pain, dyspnea, insomnia, and constipation moved toward better values, while fatigue, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and diarrhea worsened. By comparing the pain VAS, an overall reduction of the level of pain was found. Conclusions: The safety profile of the drug was similar to that already reported with some differences in the prevalence and severity of the AEs. Regarding the QoL, the EAP showed a trend of improvement of the global health status and a reduction of symptoms correlated to the disease. The clinical impact of fatigue, anorexia/weight loss and stomatitis, mainly due to the drug itself, continues to represent the major issue in the management of these patients.

It is unclear whether the site of origin of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (mPTC) with respect to the thyroid surface has an influence on clinicopathologic parameters. The objectives of the study were to: (i) Accurately measure the mPTC distance from the thyroid surface, (ii) analyze whether this distance correlates with relevant clinicopathologic parameters, and (iii) investigate the impact of the site of origin of the mPTC on risk stratification. Clinicopathologic features and BRAF mutational status were analyzed and correlated with the site of origin of the mPTC in a multicenter cohort of 298 mPTCs from six Italian medical institutions. Tumors arise at a median distance of 3.5 mm below the surface of the thyroid gland. Statistical analysis identified four distinct clusters. Group A, mPTC: size &ge, 5 mm and distance of the edge of the tumor from the thyroid capsule = 0 mm, group B, mPTC: size &ge, 5 mm and distance of the edge of the tumor from the thyroid capsule &gt, 0 mm, group C, mPTC: size &lt, and group D, mPTC: size &lt, 0 mm. Univariate analysis demonstrates significant differences between the groups: Group A shows the most aggressive features, and group D the most indolent ones. By multivariate analysis, group A tumors are characterized by tall cell histotype, BRAF V600E mutation, tumor fibrosis, aggressive growth with invasive features, vascular invasion, lymph node metastases, and intermediate ATA risk. The mPTC clinicopathologic features vary according to the tumor size and distance from the thyroid surface. A four-group model may be useful for risk stratification and to refine the selection of nodules to be targeted for fine needle aspiration.

The goal of evidence-based practice guidelines is to optimize the management of emerging diseases, such as differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of this study was to assess therapeutic approaches for DTC in Italy and to see how closely these practices conformed to those recommended in the 2009 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines.The Italian Thyroid Cancer Observatory was established to collect data prospectively on thyroid cancers consecutively diagnosed in participating centers (uniformly distributed across the nation). Data on the initial treatment of all pathologically confirmed DTC cases present in the database from January 1, 2013 (database creation) to January 31, 2016, were analyzed.A total of 1748 patients (77.2% females; median age 48.1 years [range 10-85 years]) were enrolled in the study. Most (n = 1640; 93.8%) were papillary carcinomas (including 84 poorly differentiated/aggressive variants); 6.2% (n = 108) were follicular and Hürthle cell carcinomas. The median tumor diameter was 11 mm (range 1-93 mm). Tumors were multifocal in 613 (35%) and presented extrathyroidal extension in 492 (28%) cases. Initial treatments included total thyroidectomy (involving one or two procedures; n = 726; 98.8%) and lobectomy (n = 22; 1.2%). A quarter of the patients who underwent total thyroidectomy had unifocal, intrathyroidal tumors ≤1 cm (n = 408; 23.6%). Neck dissection was performed in 40.4% of the patients (29.5% had central compartment dissection). Radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) was performed in 1057 (61.2%) of the 1726 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy: 460 (41.2%) of the 983 classified by 2009 ATA guideline criteria as low-risk, 570 (87.1%) of the 655 as intermediate-risk, and 82 (93.1%) of the 88 as high-risk patients (p 0.001). RRA was performed in 44% of the cases involving multifocal DTCs measuring ≤1 cm.The treatment approaches for DTCs used in Italy display areas of inconsistency with those recommended by the 2009 ATA guidelines. Italian practices were characterized by underuse of thyroid lobectomy in intrathyroidal, unifocal DTCs ≤1 cm. The use of RRA was generally consistent with risk-stratified recommendations. However, its frequent use in small DTCs (≤1 cm) that are multifocal persists, despite the lack of evidence of benefit. These data provide a baseline for future assessments of the impact of international guidelines on DTC management in Italy. These findings also illustrate that the dissemination and implementation of guideline recommendations, and the change in practice patterns, require ongoing education and time.