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Objective: Outpatient thyroid surgery for thyroid lobectomy has been shown to be safe and feasible. The safety of outpatient completion thyroidectomy in patients who have previously undergone thyroid lobectomy has not been extensively evaluated in the medical literature to date. The authors sought to evaluate postoperative complications associated with completion thyroidectomy in their institution to determine if it would be safe and feasible to perform as an outpatient procedure.Study Design: Case series with chart review.Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital.Subjects and Methods: Two hundred four consecutive patients, who underwent completion thyroidectomy after previous thyroid lobectomy from January 2000 to June 2010, comprised the study population. Medical records were reviewed for preoperative and postoperative serum calcium levels, preoperative and postoperative fiber-optic laryngoscopic examination of vocal fold mobility, associated comorbidities, length of hospital stay, drain use, seroma or hematoma formation, final thyroid pathology, and postoperative follow-up.Results: Overall, 9 patients (4.4%) developed postoperative complications, including transient symptomatic hypocalcemia in 4 patients (2.0%), transient laboratory hypocalcemia in 3 patients (1.5%), seroma formation in 1 patient (0.5%), and hematoma development in 1 patient (0.5%). There were no cases with permanent or temporary vocal fold paralysis. No significant difference was found in the overall complication rate before and after 4 hours of observation (P = .50).Conclusion: Selected patients who undergo completion thyroidectomy after previous thyroid lobectomy can be safely discharged after 4 hours of postoperative observation with appropriate instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A case is reported in which Langerhans cell histiocytosis was found in the thyroid gland. Although the thyroid gland is frequently affected with multiple common diseases, a search of the English language literature suggests that Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the thyroid gland is rarely reported. Study Design: The study design was of a case report and literature review. Setting: Academic tertiary referral practice. Methods: A case was reported, and the literature was reviewed. Results: A 31-year-old woman presented with an enlarged, diffusely firm, nontender, nonmobile, and not particularly nodular thyroid gland with mild compressive symptoms. She had intermittent skin papules and 1 episode of gingival ulceration. Ultrasound showed diffusely, hypoechoic thyroid with dimensions of 36 x 20 x 16 mm on the right and 36 x 16 x 17 mm on the left. No distinct nodules were noted, and thyroid function test results were normal. Laboratory testing for autoimmune abnormalities of the thyroid was negative for antithyroid peroxidase, antiparietal cell, and anti-smooth muscle cell antibodies. She tested positive for serum antithyroglobulin antibodies. A computed tomographic scan demonstrated abnormal low attenuation of her thyroid gland without any distinct nodules or masses. A fine-needle aspiration and core biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histocytosis. Dissection was technically challenging because of the firm and nonmobile lobes. Densely adherent strap musculature was encountered bilaterally, and the rare presence of a nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve was noted on the right. Histologically, thyroid parenchyma was largely obliterated by a diffuse infiltrate of mononuclear spindled to epithelioid histiocytes with few residual thyroid follicles. These histiocytes had moderate to abundant pale to eosinophilic cytoplasm, and some had prominent nuclear grooves and indentation/clefts, consistent with Langerhans histiocytes. Plasma cells and lymphocytes were sparsely dispersed. Immunohistochemistry showed that these histiocytes were positive for S-100, and rare lesional histiocytes were also positive for CD1a. Eosinophils were not readily identified in this lesion. Conclusions: Langerhans cell histiocytosis in the thyroid gland is a rarely reported disease, with controversy over its management. This disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a diffusely irregular and firm thyroid gland, and multidisciplinary team cooperation is important for its diagnosis and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) fusion imaging in the detection and management of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 33 patients with suspected recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma who had undergone PET/CT was performed. PET/CT was compared with standard imaging techniques in each patient to determine whether PET/CT contributed to the therapeutic management plan. Histopathological findings were correlated to PET/CT in patients who underwent surgery. Methods: The senior author reviewed the charts of 33 patients with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma to determine the impact PET/CT had on management. PET/CT was compared with conventional imaging results. In surgical patients, PET/CT was compared with histopathological findings to determine its sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results: In 67% of the cases (22 of 33), PET/CT supplied additional information that altered or confirmed the management plan. Twenty of 33 patients underwent surgery with 36 sites assessed by histopathological analysis. PET/CT correlated with histopathological findings in 25 of 36 distinct anatomical sites, with an accuracy of 70%. The sensitivity of PET/CT in identifying recurrence was found to be 66%, with a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 27%. Conclusion: Combined PET/CT fusion scanning was most useful in the detection and management of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer in patients who had average thyroglobulin levels greater than 10 ng/mL and when the tumor no longer concentrated radioactive iodine. In 100% of the cases in which PET/CT localized a region suspicious for malignancy, histopathological analysis confirmed the results. When PET/CT is positive, it is a powerful tool for predicting exact locations of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer, thus making it a reliable guide for surgical planning. PET/CT is a supplement to conventional imaging and fine-needle aspiration in the workup of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer. A negative finding on PET/CT is not sufficiently reliable to preclude further investigation and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses the heat generated by a high-frequency alternating electric current, and according to Ohm's and Joule's law, the delivered current is inversely proportional to the circuit impedance. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether tissue impedance during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules is related to the degree of volume reduction., Methods: This observational study included consecutive patients treated with RFA for benign thyroid nodules from February 2020 to August 2023. Technical effectiveness was defined as a volume reduction percentage (VRP) >75% at 6 months after the treatment. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the potential role of clinical factors and changes in tissue impedance on technique effectiveness., Results: Totally 72 patients were included with 73 benign thyroid nodules. Maximal impedance peaks reached <18 times, and mean procedural impedance ≤300 Ω were significantly associated with a volume decrease of >75% at bivariate analysis. These cutoff points were exploratory, as no existing literature suggests these variables are related to the degree of volume reduction. After adjusting for age, volume, and composition, significant associations were found for mean electrical impedance in the multivariate analysis (OR = 4.86 [confidence interval [CI] 1.29-18.26], p = 0.019). The energy adjusted by volume (delivered energy) was not associated with a VRP >75% (p = 0.7746)., Conclusions: This study suggests that a mean procedural impedance

Objective: To compare long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach (TOETVA) and transcervical approach (TCA) thyroidectomy., Study Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Tertiary referral center., Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to patients at our institution who met the criteria for TOETVA and underwent thyroidectomy by TOETVA or TCA between August 2017 and October 2021. All survey participants were at least 6 months postsurgery. Minors, non-English speakers, and patients who received concomitant neck dissection or reoperative thyroidectomy were excluded from the study. The survey assessed quality of life through 4 standardized instruments: the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)., Results: A total of 108 TOETVA and 129 TCA patients were included in the study. The median age of respondents was 44 (36, 54; 25th, 75th percentile) years and median time from surgery to survey was 35 (22, 45; 25th, 75th percentile) months. TOETVA group DLQI (0.63 vs 0.99; P = .17), VHI-10 (1.94 vs 1.67; P = .35), EAT-10 (2.14 vs 2.32; P = .29), SF-36 physical component (52.25 vs 51.00; P = .25), and SF-36 mental component (47.74 vs 47.29; P = .87) scores were all similar to those of the TCA group. Scrutinizing specific DLQI questions, individuals in the TOETVA group were less self-conscious of their skin as compared to the TCA group (Q2; 0.08 vs 0.26, P = .03)., Conclusion: Long-term HRQOL after TOETVA is similar to TCA, with significantly lower skin-related self-consciousness., (© 2024 The Authors. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Introduction: Our aim was to determine whether bacteria contamination occurred within the surgical field or on endoscopic equipment during surgery using the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA)., Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited from patients planned for TOETVA between May 2017 and December 2019. Bacterial samples were taken before and at the conclusion of the TOETVA procedure. The preoperative and postoperative samples were taken from the endoscopic materials and inferior oral vestibulum using a sterile flocked swab., Results: The study resulted in 480 samples (80 TOETVAs). No vestibular, port site, or neck infections occurred in any of the patients. Three (3.7%) out of 80 patients developed postoperative fever. Our results show different microbial communities during TOETVA. The most prevalent species detected were S treptococcus species. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the degree of contamination depended on the sampling site (inferior vestibulum > equipment) ( P =0.03). In addition, the abundance of bacteria was affected by operative time ( P =0.013). There were no significant differences observed in isolation frequencies of bacteria in malignancy ( P =0.34)., Conclusions: TOETVA surgery is categorized as a "clean-contaminated" operation. A swab identified the common colonizers of oral microbiota on the endoscopic equipment and within the surgical field., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The surgical management of thyroid and parathyroid disease has evolved considerably since the era of Theodor Kocher. We review the current trends in thyroid and parathyroid surgery concerning robotic surgery for remote access, the use of parathyroid autofluorescence detection technology to aid in the prevention of hypocalcemia as well as the use of thermal ablation to target thyroid nodules in a minimally invasive way. We also discuss how artificial intelligence is being used to improve the workflow and diagnostics preoperatively as well as for intraoperative decision-making. We also discuss potential areas where future research may enhance outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) is a widely used treatment option for cystic and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. It has several advantages over other treatment modalities. Compared to surgery, PEI is less painful, can be performed in the outpatient setting, and carries less risk of transient or permanent side effects. Compared to other minimally invasive techniques such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), PEI is less expensive and does not require specialized equipment. PEI performs well in the context of cystic nodules. PEI does not perform as well as other techniques in solid nodules, so its use as a primary treatment is limited to cystic and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. However, PEI is also being explored as an adjunct treatment to improve ablation of solid nodules with other techniques. Here, we provide a clinical review discussing the genesis, mechanism of action, and patient selection with respect to ethanol ablation, as well as the procedure itself. Predictors of operative success, failure, and common adverse events are also summarized. Altogether, PEI allows impressive volume reduction rates with minimal complications. Several recent studies have also evaluated the long-term impact of PEI up to 10 years after treatment and revealed maintenance of robust treatment efficacy with no undesirable long-term sequelae. Thus, PEI remains the treatment of choice for benign but symptomatic cystic and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://gs.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/gs-22-568/coif). The series “RFA and Recent Innovations in Endocrine Surgery” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. E.K. served as the unpaid Guest Editor of the series and serves as an Editor-in-Chief of Gland Surgery from May 2017 to April 2024. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Radiofrequency ablation for benign thyroid nodules aims to achieve a volume reduction rate of ≥50%. However, factors that predict treatment success have not been defined in a large-scale study., Methods: A prospective cohort study of biopsy-proven benign thyroid nodules treated with radiofrequency ablation at 3 institutions was performed. Patient demographics, nodule sonographic features, procedural data, and nodule volume reduction were evaluated. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify features associated with treatment response., Results: A total of 620 nodules were analyzed. The pooled median volume reduction rate at 12 months was 70.9% (interquartile range 52.9-86.6). At 1 year follow-up, 78.4% of nodules reached treatment success with a volume reduction rate ≥50%. The overall complication rate was 3.2% and included temporary voice changes (n = 14), vasovagal episodes (n = 5), nodule rupture (n = 3), and lightheadedness (n = 2). No permanent voice changes occurred. Four patients developed postprocedural hypothyroidism. Large baseline nodule volume (>20 mL) was associated with a lower rate of successful volume reduction (odds ratio 0.60 [0.37-0.976]). Large nodules achieved treatment success by 12-month follow-up at a rate of 64.5%, compared with 81.4% for small nodules and 87.2% for medium nodules., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the largest North American cohort of patients with benign thyroid nodules treated with radiofrequency ablation. Overall, radiofrequency ablation was an effective treatment option with a low risk of procedural complications. Large volume nodules (>20 mL) may be associated with a lower rate of successful reduction with radiofrequency ablation treatment., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thyroid and parathyroid surgery requires careful dissection around the vascular pedicle of the parathyroid glands to avoid excessive manipulation of the tissues. If the blood supply to the parathyroid glands is disrupted, or the glands are inadvertently removed, temporary and/or permanent hypocalcemia can occur, requiring post-operative exogenous calcium and vitamin D analogues to maintain stable levels. This can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients, particularly if it results in permanent hypocalcemia. For over a decade, parathyroid tissue has been noted to have unique intrinsic properties known as "fluorophores," which fluoresce when excited by an external light source. As a result, parathyroid autofluorescence has emerged as an intra-operative technique to help with identification of parathyroid glands and to supplement direct visualization during thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. Due to the growing body of literature surrounding Near Infrared Autofluorescence (NIRAF), we sought to review the value of using autofluorescence technology for parathyroid detection during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. A literature review of parathyroid autofluorescence was performed using PubMED. Based on the reviewed literature and expert surgeons' opinions who have used this technology, recommendations were made. We discuss the current available technologies (image vs. probe approach) as well as their limitations. We also capture the opinions and recommendations of international high-volume endocrine surgeons and whether this technology is of value as an intraoperative adjunct. The utility and value of this technology seems promising and needs to be further defined in different scenarios involving surgeon experience and different patient populations and conditions., (© 2023 The Authors. Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy with vestibular approach (TOETVA) is a feasible new surgical procedure that does not require visible incisions. We describe our experience with three-dimensional (3D) TOETVA. We recruited 98 patients who were willing to undergo 3D TOETVA. Inclusion criteria were: (a) patients with a neck ultrasound (US) with an estimated thyroid diameter of 10cm or less; (b) estimated US gland volume ≤45ml; (c) nodule size ≤50mm; (d) benign tumor, such as thyroid cyst, goiter with one nodule, or goiter with multiple nodules; (e) follicular neoplasia; and (f) papillary microcarcinoma without evidence of metastases. The procedure is performed using a three-port technique at the oral vestibule, a 10mm port for the 30° endoscope, and two additional 5mm ports for dissecting and coagulation instruments. The CO2 insufflation pressure is set at 6mmHg. An anterior cervical subplatysmal space is created from the oral vestibule to the sternal notch and laterally to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Thyroidectomy is performed entirely 3D endoscopically with conventional endoscopic instruments and intraoperative neuromonitoring. There were 34% total thyroidectomies and 66% hemithyroidectomies. Ninety-eight 3D TOETVA procedures were successfully performed without any conversions. The mean operative time was 87.6 minutes (59-118 minutes) for lobectomy and 107.6 minutes (99-135 minutes) for bilateral surgery. We observed one case of transient postoperative hypocalcemia. Paralysis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve did not occur. The cosmetic outcome was excellent in all patients. This is the first case series of 3D TOETVA.

Introduction: Parathyroid glands may be compromised during thyroid surgery which can lead to hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia. Identifying the parathyroid glands relies on the surgeon's experience and the only way to confirm their presence was through tissue biopsy. Near infrared autofluorescence technology offers an opportunity for real-time, non-invasive identification of the parathyroid glands., Methods: We used a new research prototype (hANDY-I) developed by Optosurgical, LLC. It offers coaxial excitation light and a dual-Red Green Blue/Near Infrared sensor that guides anatomical landmarks and can aid in identification of parathyroid glands by showing a combined autofluorescence and colored image simultaneously., Results: We tested the imager during 23 thyroid surgery cases, where initial clinical feasibility data showed that out of 75 parathyroid glands inspected, 71 showed strong autofluorescence signal and were correctly identified (95% accuracy) by the imager., Conclusions: The hANDY-I prototype demonstrated promising results in this feasibility study by aiding in real-time visualization of the parathyroid glands. However, further testing by conducting randomized clinical trials with a bigger sample size is required to study the effect on levels of hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia., Competing Interests: Author SH was employed by i2KIE LLC. Author RC has an ownership interest in Optosurgical, LLC. Authors EO and YK were employees of Optosurgical, LLC when the study was carried out. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ali, Wolfe, Nagururu, Seo, Han, Kim, Oh, Kim, Ning, Lee, Cha, Tufano and Russell.)

Adequate pain control enhances patients' quality of life and allows a quick return to normal activities. Current pain management practices may contribute to the crisis of opioid addiction. We summarize the evidence that evaluates locoregional interventions to decrease pain and neck discomfort after thyroidectomy. We designed a scoping review. The search strategy was made in the Pubmed/MEDLINE and EMBASE database. We included only systematic reviews and RCTs that compared two or more strategies. Forty-nine publications including 5045 patients fulfilled criteria. Sore throat frequency is higher for endotracheal intubation and topical administration of anesthetic before intubation decreases this. Pre-incisional infiltration of the surgical wound decreases postoperative pain. Bilateral superficial plexus nerve block decreases analgesic requirements during and after thyroidectomy. Wound massage and neck exercises decrease postoperative discomfort. Locoregional interventions significantly impact postoperative pain and may reduce opioid use and improve patient outcomes., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Lymph node metastases in non-well differentiated thyroid cancer (non-WDTC) are common, both in the central compartment (levels VI and VII) and in the lateral neck (Levels II to V). Nodal metastases negatively affect prognosis and should be treated to maximize locoregional control while minimizing morbidity. In non-WDTC, the rate of nodal involvement is variable and depends on the histology of the tumor. For medullary thyroid carcinomas, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas, and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas, the high frequency of lymph node metastases makes central compartment dissection generally necessary. In mucoepidermoid carcinomas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, sarcomas, and malignant thyroid teratomas or thyroblastomas, central compartment dissection is less often necessary, as clinical lymphnode involvement is less common. We aim to summarize the medical literature and the opinions of several experts from different parts of the world on the current philosophy for managing the neck in less common types of thyroid cancer.

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency has garnered significant attention in contemporary medical research. Although the canonical biological activity of VitD manifests itself mainly in the regulation of calcium-phosphorus metabolism, recent studies show that, thanks to the presence of numerous receptors, VitD may also play an important role in regulating the immune system. VitD deficiency has been demonstrated to impact autoimmune disease, coeliac disease, infections (including respiratory/COVID-19), and patients with cancer. Recent studies also show that VitD plays a significant role in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). Many studies have shown a correlation between low VitD levels and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis - Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), Graves' disease (GD), and postpartum thyroiditis (PPT). This review article, therefore, describes the current state of knowledge on the role of VitD in AITDs, including HT, GD, and PTT.

Surgery has been historically the preferred primary treatment for patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and for selected locoregional recurrences. Adjuvant therapy with radioactive iodine is typically recommended for patients with an intermediate to high risk of recurrence. Despite these treatments, locally advanced disease and locoregional relapses are not infrequent. These patients have a prolonged overall survival that may result in long periods of active disease and the possibility of requiring subsequent treatments. Recently, many new options have emerged as salvage therapies. This review offers a comprehensive discussion and considerations regarding surgery, active surveillance, radioactive iodine therapy, ultrasonography-guided percutaneous ablation, external beam radiotherapy, and systemic therapy for well-differentiated thyroid cancer based on relevant publications and current reference guidelines. We feel that the surgical member of the thyroid cancer management team is empowered by being aware and facile with all management options.

Well differentiated thyroid cancer is a common malignancy diagnosed in young patients. The prognosis tends to be excellent, so years of survivorship is expected with low risk disease. When making treatment decisions, physicians should consider long-term quality of life outcomes when guiding patients. The implications for treating indolent, slow growing tumors are immense and warrant careful consideration for the functioning years ahead. Surgery is the standard of care for most patients, however for a subset of patients, active surveillance is appropriate. For those wishing to treat their cancer in a more active way, novel remote access approaches have emerged to avoid a cervical incision. In the era of "doing less", options have further expanded to include minimally invasive approaches, such as radiofrequency ablation that avoids an incision, time off work, a general anesthetic, and the possibility of post-treatment hypothyroidism. In this narrative review, we examine the health related quality of life effects that surgery has on patients with thyroid cancer, including some of the newer innovations that have been developed to address patient concerns. We also review the impact that less aggressive treatment has on patient care and overall wellbeing in terms of active surveillance, reduced doses of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, or minimally invasive techniques such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for low risk thyroid disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Pace-Asciak, Russell and Tufano.)

Background: There is an increasing array of treatment options for addressing clinically significant thyroid nodules, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA). While effective, the cost compared to alternative approaches has not been well elucidated., Methods: This study involved a retrospective chart review, focusing on variable direct cost (VDC) of each procedure, from April 2016 to January 2020. We analyzed costs for 53 open lobectomies and 16 RFA procedures., Results: Cost effectiveness depended on the simulated cost of the RFA probe. In comparison to open lobectomy, the VDC to perform RFA was $597 (19%) cheaper when the simulated probe cost was $1500 and $403 (13%) more expensive for a probe cost of $2500. Statistical significance was achieved for both these differences., Conclusions: If cost per RFA probe can be less than $2100-the break-even dollar amount between open lobectomy and RFA-there would be considerable cost savings for treating thyroid nodules., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The usefulness of incorporating near-infrared autofluorescence into the surgical workflow of endocrine surgeons is unclear. Our aim was to develop a prospective registry and gather expert opinion on appropriate use of this technology., Methods: This was a prospective multicenter collaborative study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy at 7 academic centers. A questionnaire was disseminated among 24 participating surgeons., Results: Overall, 827 thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy procedures were entered into registry: 42% of surgeons found near-infrared autofluorescence useful in identifying parathyroid glands before they became apparent; 67% correlated near-infrared autofluorescence pattern to normal and abnormal glands; 38% of surgeons used near-infrared autofluorescence, rather than frozen section, to confirm parathyroid tissue; and 87% and 78% of surgeons reported near-infrared autofluorescence did not improve the success rate after parathyroidectomy or the ability to find ectopic glands, respectively. During thyroidectomy, 66% of surgeons routinely used near-infrared autofluorescence to rule out inadvertent parathyroidectomy. However, only 36% and 45% felt near-infrared autofluorescence decreased inadvertent parathyroidectomy rates and improved ability to preserve parathyroid glands during central neck dissections, respectively., Conclusion: This survey study identified areas of greatest potential use for near-infrared autofluorescence, which can form the basis of future objective trials to document the usefulness of this technology., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thyroid surgery is one of the most common head and neck procedures. The thyroid can be accessed through an anterior cervical incision, or by remote access techniques such as the transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) which is favored for its ease, safety and direct plane to the thyroid gland. Other novel approaches for targeting small-localized well-differentiated thyroid cancer are by thermal ablation, namely ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation. These innovative techniques for minimizing a cutaneous scar or for targeting small cancers directly without removal of the gland have developed alongside our realization that low risk well-differentiated thyroid cancer tends to be slow growing and indolent. Up to date, the most robust data supports offering these therapies primarily to patients who would be eligible for active surveillance protocols. In this paper, we review the traditional surgical approaches for removing well-differentiated thyroid cancer, as well as innovative remote access techniques (namely TOETVA), and minimally invasive thermal ablation (namely RFA)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal diseases known to humans with a median survival of 5 months. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recently published guidelines for the treatment of this dreadful thyroid malignancy., Areas Covered: This review presents the current therapeutic landscape of this challenging disease. We also present the results from trials published over the last five years and summarize currently active clinical trials., Expert Opinion: Recent attempts to improve the prognosis of these tumors are moving toward personalized medicine, basing the treatment decision on the specific genetic profile of the individual tumor. The positive results of dabrafenib and trametinib for ATC harboring the BRAF V600E mutation have provided a useful treatment option. For the other genetic profiles, different drugs are available and can be used to individualize the treatment, likely using drug combinations. Combinations of drugs act on different molecular pathways and achieve inhibition at separate areas. With new targeted therapies, average survival has improved considerably and death from local disease progression or airway compromise is less likely with improvement in quality of life. Unfortunately, the results remain poor in terms of survival.

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recently adopted into the practice of thyroidology in the United States, although its use as an alternative to traditional thyroid surgery in Asia and Europe came near the turn of the 21st century. In the United States, only a few studies with small sample sizes have been published to date. We examined outcomes of benign thyroid nodules treated with RFA from 2 North American institutions., Methods: We performed a prospective, multi-institutional cohort study of thyroid nodules treated with RFA between July 2019 and January 2022. Demographics, sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules, thyroid function profiles, procedural details, complications, and nodule volume measurements at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up were evaluated. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify sonographic features associated with treatment failure., Results: A total of 233 nodules were included. The median and interquartile range of volume reduction rate (VRR) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 54% [interquartile range (IQR): 36%-73%], 58% (IQR: 37%-80%), 73% (IQR: 51%-90%), and 76% (IQR: 52%-90%), respectively ( P <0.001). Four patients presented with toxic adenomas. All patients were confirmed euthyroid at 3-month postprocedure follow-up. Two patients developed temporary hoarseness of voice, but no hematoma or nodular rupture occurred postprocedure. Elastography was significantly associated with VRR. Compared with soft nodules, stiff nodules were more likely to have a lower VRR (odds ratio: 11.64, 95% confidence interval: 3.81-35.53, P <0.05), and mixed elasticity was also more likely to have a lower VRR (odds ratio: 4.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.62-14.85, P <0.05)., Conclusions: This is the largest multi-institutional North American study examining thyroid nodule treatment response to RFA. RFA is a safe and effective treatment option that allows preservation of thyroid function with minimal risk of procedural complications., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Early and precise detection of parathyroid glands (PGs) is a challenging problem in thyroidectomy due to their small size and similar appearance to surrounding tissues. Near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) has stimulated interest as a method to localize PGs. However, high incidence of false positives for PGs has been reported with this technique. We introduce a prototype equipped with a coaxial excitation light (785 nm) and a dual-sensor to address the issue of false positives with the NIRAF technique. We test the clinical feasibility of our prototype in situ and ex vivo using sterile drapes on 10 human subjects. Video data (1287 images) of detected PGs were collected to train, validate and compare the performance for PG detection. We achieved a mean average precision of 94.7% and a 19.5-millisecond processing time/detection. This feasibility study supports the effectiveness of the optical design and may open new doors for a deep learning-based PG detection method., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Pain management is an important consideration for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients as they are at an increased risk of developing chronic opioid use, which can negatively impact both quality of life and survival outcomes. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate pain, opioid use and opioid prescriptions following HNC surgery. Participants included patients undergoing resection of a head and neck tumor from 2019-2020 at a single academic center with a length of admission (LOA) of at least 24 h. Exclusion criteria were a history of chronic pain, substance-use disorder, inability to tolerate multimodal analgesia or a significant post-operative complication. Subjects were compared by primary surgical site: Neck (neck dissection, thyroidectomy or parotidectomy), Mucosal (resection of tumor of upper aerodigestive tract, excluding oropharynx), Oropharyngeal (OP) and Free flap (FF). Average daily pain and total daily opioid consumption (as morphine milligram equivalents, MME) and quantity of opioids prescribed at discharge were compared. A total of 216 patients met criteria. Pain severity and daily opioid consumption were comparable across groups on post-operative day 1, but both metrics were significantly greater in the OP group on the day prior to discharge (DpDC) (5.6 (1.9-8.6), p < 0.05; 49 ± 44 MME/day, p < 0.01). The quantity of opioids prescribed at discharge was associated with opioid consumption on the DpDC only in the Mucosal and FF groups, which had longer LOA (6-7 days) than the Neck and OP groups (1 day, p < 0.001). Overall, 65% of patients required at least one dose of an opioid on the DpDC, yet 76% of patients received a prescription for an opioid medication at discharge. A longer LOA (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.63-0.98) and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.48) were negatively associated with receiving an opioid prescription at the time of discharge despite no opioid use on the DpDC, respectively. HNC patients, particularly those with shorter LOA, may be prescribed opioids in excess of their post-operative needs, highlighting the need the for improved pain management algorithms in this patient population. Future work aims to use prospective surveys to better define post-operative and outpatient pain and opioid requirements following HNC surgery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Trakimas, Perez-Heydrich, Mandal, Tan, Gourin, Fakhry, Koch, Russell, Tufano, Eisele and Vosler.)

Importance: The transoral vestibular approach for thyroid and parathyroid surgery is being adopted rapidly world-wide. Currently there is a paucity of information on this approach for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPTH). If this approach is safe and efficacious it would provide patients a completely scarless option for parathyroidectomy., Objective: To determine whether parathyroidectomy via the transoral vestibular approach can be successfully done in a safe and efficient manner., Design: Consecutive case series of 101 transoral parathyroidectomies performed over a two-year period., Setting: Multi-institutional, academic, high-volume transoral thyroidectomy centers from the USA, Israel, and Thailand., Participants: A consecutive series of adult patients with a biochemical diagnosis of classic PHPTH and who met criteria for parathyroidectomy based on established international consensus for surgery for PHPTH. All patients also had well-localized single adenomas on at least two preoperative imaging studies., Intervention: Transoral endoscopic parathyroidectomy vestibular approach., Main Outcomes and Measures: Surgical success rate defined by immediate intra or post-operative return to normal PTH values. Surgical complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, permanent hypoparathyroidism, and infection., Results: Of the 101 consecutive transoral parathyroidectomy patients 84% were female with an average age of 54.23 ± 11.0 years and an average BMI of 27.35 ± 6.19. Ninety-nine out of the 101 patients had immediate return to normal PTH after resection for a surgical success rate of 98%. There were no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, one temporary nerve palsy, and no permanent hypoparathyroidism. The median operative time dropped from 130.5 min (IQR 86) to 66.5 min (IQR 56) between the first- and second-half of cases., Conclusion and Relevance: Transoral endoscopic parathyroidectomy via the vestibular approach is a scarless method of removing parathyroids that is clinically feasible, safe, and efficacious and is a reasonable option for focused minimally invasive parathyroidectomy that can be offered to select patients with PHPTH., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In the past decade, there has seen been a shift from treating all thyroid cancer surgically, to favoring less aggressive approaches for low-risk thyroid cancer. Surgery was historically the treatment of choice for most thyroid cancer. Active surveillance has emerged as an alternative for low-risk thyroid cancer in select patients. This approach has been accepted worldwide, and sound evidence supports its oncological safety in carefully selected patients. However, not all patients want to undergo lifelong monitoring, and some patients may wish to treat their cancer in a minimally invasive manner. Thermal ablation has developed as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and active surveillance for well selected patients with thyroid malignancy. Herein, we review the role of thermally ablative techniques, specifically radiofrequency ablation, for the treatment of small primary thyroid cancers, recurrent thyroid cancer, and lymph node metastases., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Graves' disease (GD) can be managed by antithyroid drugs (ATD), radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery. Thyroidectomy offers the highest success rates for both primary and persistent disease, yet it is the least recommended or utilized option reaching <1% for primary disease and <25% for persistent disease. Several surveys have found surgery to be the least recommended by endocrinologists worldwide. With the development of remote access thyroidectomies and intraoperative nerve monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, combined with current knowledge of possible risks associated with RAI or failure of ATDs, revaluation of the benefit to harm ratio of surgery in the treatment of GD is warranted. The aim of this review is to discuss possible reasons for the low proportion of surgery in the treatment of GD, emphasizing an evidence-based approach to the clinicians' preferences for surgical referrals, surgical indications and confronting traditional reasons and concerns relating to the low referral rate with up-to-date data., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The field of endocrine surgery has expanded from the traditional open neck approach to include remote access techniques as well as minimally invasive approaches for benign and malignant thyroid nodules. In experienced hands and with careful patient selection, each approach is considered safe, however complications can and do exist. Post-operative dysphonia can have serious consequences to the patient by affecting quality of life and ability to function at work and in daily life. Given the significance of post-procedural dysphonia, we review the surgical and non-surgical techniques for minimizing and treating recurrent laryngeal nerve injury that can be utilized with the traditional open neck approach, remote access thyroidectomy, or minimally invasive thermal ablation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Pace-Asciak, Russell and Tufano.)

Background: Thyroid cancer is very rarely observed in children and adolescents, some reports have shown that the long-term outcome of treatment is better than that of adult patients, despite many treatment failures or a high risk of recurrence. This study considers whether it is appropriate to treat pediatric thyroid cancer patients aggressively, as per the ATA guidelines, based on the balance between the fundamental treatment of thyroid cancer and the improvement of the long-term quality of life of pediatric patients., Methods: A total of 1,950 patients were recruited, including 83 pediatric and 1,867 adult patients, who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent surgical treatment at one of our medical center hospitals from March 2000 to January 2020., Results: Sixty-nine pairs of pediatric and adult patients were matched in a ratio of 1:2 through propensity score matching. When compared through propensity score matching, there was no significant difference in prognosis such as recurrence rate in children and adults at the same stage., Conclusion: This study showed that the prognosis of both pediatric and adult patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy and lobectomy was not significantly different. If more pediatric patients can be considered for the less-aggressive lobectomy than a total thyroidectomy through various preoperative examinations and meticulous pre-diagnosis, it may be possible to properly determine the balance between improving long-term quality of life while providing fundamental cancer treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 You, An, Kim, Park, Byeon, Patroniti, Dionigi and Tufano.)