Burnettebeier9060

59, 95% CI 1.38-1.83, p = 0%). Moreover, a dose-response model indicated a significant positive association between WC and risk of liver cancer (exp(b) = 1.018, p less then 0.001). Conclusions This systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis highlights WC as a significant risk factor related to the incidence of liver cancer. Copyright © 2019 by S. Karger AG, Basel.Aim Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a reliable, minimally invasive diagnostic method with high sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Our aim in this retrospective study was to determine if there was a difference in the adequacy ratio based on the number of needle passes in the thyroid FNABs in the absence of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) by the pathologist and to determine the optimal needle pass number for FNAB. Methods Between November 2018 and February 2019, thyroid FNABs of 121 (99 female, 22 male) patients were evaluated retrospectively. Samples for each biopsy were numbered according to the order of retrieval, and 4 pairs of slides were prepared by the radiologist without on-site microscopic evaluation. Cytological results were determined according to the Bethesda classification. Results The rate of adequacy in the first, second, third, and fourth passes were 76.0, 82.6, 77.7, and 71.2%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between these four groups in terms of adequacy (p = 0.21). The adequacy rates of the 1st, 1st+2nd, 1st+2nd+3rd, and cumulative evaluation of all four biopsies were 76.0, 87.6, 90.1, and 91.7%, respectively (p = 0.001). A statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of the 1st biopsy and the cumulative 1st+2nd biopsy in terms of adequacy rates (p = 0.019). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the cumulative 1st+2nd biopsy and the cumulative 1st+2nd+3rd biopsy in terms of adequacy rates (p = 0.54). Conclusions In cases where ROSE cannot be performed, we recommend a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 needle entries for FNAB adequacy with the right technique and preparation. Copyright © 2019 by S. Karger AG, Basel.Introduction Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) increases with age but target TSH is similar in younger and older hypothyroid patients on treatment. It is unknown if quality of life (QoL), hypothyroid symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors change in older hypothyroid patients treated to an age-appropriate reference range. Objective To assess if a higher target serum TSH of 4.01-8.0 mU/L is feasible in, and acceptable to, older treated hypothyroid patients. Methods A single-blind (participant) randomised controlled feasibility trial involving 48 hypothyroid patients aged ≥80 years on established and stable levothyroxine (LT4) therapy with serum TSH levels within the standard reference range (0.4-4.0 mU/L) was conducted. Standard (0.4-4.0 mU/L) or higher (4.1-8.0 mU/L) TSH target (standard TSH [ST] or higher TSH [HT] groups) LT4 for 24 weeks was administered. The outcome measures evaluated were thyroid function tests, QoL, hypothyroid symptoms, cardiovascular risk factors and serum marker of bone resorption in participants that completed the trial (n = 21/24 ST group, n = 19/24 HT group). Results At 24 weeks, in the ST and HT groups, respectively, median (interquartile range) serum TSH was 1.25 (0.76-1.72) and 5.50 (4.05-9.12) mU/L, mean (± SD) free thyroxine (FT4) was 19.4 ± 3.5 and 15.9 ± 2.4 pmol/L, and daily LT4 dose was 82.1 ± 26.4 and 59.2 ± 23.9 µg. There was no suggestion of adverse impact of a higher serum TSH in the HT group with regard to any of the outcomes assessed. Conclusions In hypothyroid patients aged ≥80 years on LT4 therapy for 24 weeks, there was no evidence that a higher target serum TSH was associated with an adverse impact on patient reported outcomes, cardiovascular risk factors or bone resorption marker over 24 weeks. Longer-term trials assessing morbidity and mortality outcomes and health-utility in this age group are feasible and should be performed. Copyright © 2019 by S. Karger AG, Basel.Objective Regional variation in thyroid cancer incidence in Belgium, most pronounced for low risk cancer, was previously shown to be related to variation in clinical practice, with higher thyroid surgery rates and lower proportions of preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in regions with high thyroid cancer incidence (period 2004-2006). The objective of this study was to investigate regional thyroid cancer incidence variation in relation with variation in thyroid surgery threshold in a more recent Belgian thyroid cancer cohort. NU7441 DNA-PK inhibitor Methods A population-based cohort of thyroid cancer patients that underwent a (near) total thyroidectomy in the period 2009-2011 (n = 2,329 patients) was identified and studied by linking data from the Belgian cancer registry and the Belgian health insurance companies, and case-by-case study of the pathology protocols. The execution of preoperative FNA and the thyroid resection specimen weight were compared between high and low thyroid cancer incidence regions. Thyroid weight in the pT1a-restricted group was studied as a proxy for surgical threshold for benign nodular goiter. Furthermore, time trend analyses were performed for the execution of FNA for the period 2004-2012. Results Although a lower proportion of FNA in the high thyroid cancer incidence region persisted in the period 2009-2011 (41.2% [31.9-50.9] vs. 72.9% [64.9-79.7] in the low-incidence region (LIR), p less then 0.001), a positive time trend was observed for the period 2004-2012. The median thyroid surgical specimen weight was lower in the high incidence region compared to the LIR (27.0 g [IQR 18.0-45.3] vs. 36.0 g [IQR 22.0-73.0], p less then 0.0001), and this finding was corroborated in the pT1a-restricted group. Conclusion Interregional differences in use of FNA and surgical thyroid specimen weight are consistent with an inverse relation between thyroid cancer incidence and thyroid surgery threshold, carrying risk for overdiagnosis. Copyright © 2019 by S. Karger AG, Basel.