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The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a disruption of surgical care. The aim of this multi-centric, retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on surgical activity for thyroid disease among the Italian Units of Endocrine Surgery. Three phases of the pandemic were identified based on the epidemiological situation and the public measures adopted from the Italian Government (1st phase: from 9th March to 3rd May 2020; 2nd phase: from 4th May to 14th June; 3rd phase: from 15th June to 31st). The patients operated upon during these phases were compared to those who underwent surgery during the same period of the previous year. Overall, 3892 patients from 28 Italian endocrine surgical units were included in the study, 1478 (38%) operated upon during COVID-19 pandemic, and 2414 (62%) during the corresponding period of 2019. The decrease in the number of operations was by 64.8%, 44.7% and 5.1% during the three phases of COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 2019, respectively. During the first and the second phases, the surgical activity was dedicated mainly to oncological patients. No differences in post-operative complications were noted between the two periods. Oncological activity for thyroid cancer was adequately maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cholecystectomy is among surgical procedures with the longest waiting list and a significant amount of patients waiting for surgery suffer from symptoms related to complications of cholelithiasis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the economic impact caused by waiting lists.A retrospective study was performed on patients undergoing intervention of cholecystectomy. 86 patients were included in the study. A comparative analysis was carried out among patients without complications (group A) and patients who faced complications while waiting for surgery, therefore requiring unplanned hospital admissions (group B), and patients who were operated in emergency for complications (group C).The overall cost of health care amounted to 1.849,4 € for each patient of group A, 3.513,2 € for each patient of group B and 2.584,6 € for each patient of group C. Each patient of group B was about 1.9 times more expensive than an asymptomatic one (group A) and about 1.36 times more expensive than one operated in emergency (group C). The conversion rate of the groups was not statistically significant, whereas the length of hospital stays was: patients in group B had longer hospital stays compared to patients in groups A and C.Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for complicated cholelithiasis is the cheapest treatment considering the costs of health care, causing lower social costs related to absence from work and an improved perception of the quality of life.Cholecystectomy, Complications, Medical care costs, Waiting list.Lo scopo dello studio è stato valutare l’incidenza di complicanze correlate alla calcolosi della colecisti in pazienti in lista d’attesa per l’intervento di colecistectomia e quantificare le implicazioni economiche di quest’attesa in termini di costi sanitari relativi agli esami ematochimici, strumentali, alla degenza, all’intervento chirurgico e alle terapie somministrate. La popolazione oggetto dello studio è stata di 86 pazienti, 39 uomini e 47 donne, inseriti in lista d’attesa per intervento chirurgico di colecistectomia in un periodo compreso fra aprile 2007 e aprile 2010. Di tali pazienti sono stati raccolti dati anagrafici, la durata del tempo d’attesa, dettagli sugli accessi in PS ed eventuali ricoveri durante l’attesa, esami e terapie eseguite, il tipo di intervento chirurgico effettuato e i giorni di degenza. È stato fatto uno studio comparativo di natura economica tra tre gruppi di pazienti: A: asintomatici durante l’attesa, B: complicati ma non operati in urgenza, C: complicati e operati in regime d’urgenza. Utilizzando il tariffario regionale delle prestazioni di assistenza specialistica ambulatoriale e quello delle prestazioni di assistenza ospedaliera per acuti erogate in regime di ricovero diurno abbiamo stimato che un singolo paziente complicato ma non operato in regime d’urgenza abbia determinato un ingente spesa per il sistema sanitario ( gruppo B: circa 3513,2 €) circa 1.9 volte in più se paragonata a un paziente che durante l’attesa non abbia sviluppato complicanze ( gruppo A: circa 1.849,4 €) o 1.36 volte in più di un paziente precocemente operato in regime d’urgenza (gruppo c: circa 2.584,6 €). Nel nostro limitato, ma a nostro parere esplicativo, campione abbiamo stimato i costi specifici legati alla lunghezza delle liste d’attesa pari a circa 26.112 €. In questo periodo di crisi economica, che ha portato numerosi tagli anche al sistema sanitario, questo significativo ammontare di denaro, a nostro avviso, potrebbe essere usato per razionalizzare le risorse prevedendo, per esempio, sedute operatorie aggiuntive per patologie molto comuni di interesse chirurgico, come la colelitiasi, al fine di abbattere le liste d’attesa e prevenire l’insorgenza di “costose” complicanze.

Aim of this study was to evaluate bowel function after colonic resection for diverticular disease and assess its impact on patients' quality of life.47 patients who underwent urgent or elective surgery for diverticular disease were either personally contacted or interviewed by telephone and given a questionnaire. The Memorial Bowel functional index, the short form (36) health survey questionnaire, and the fecal incontinence severity index were used.Fecal Urgency was found in 4,25% of cases, Incomplete Evacuation in 17,03%, and the Lifestyle/Diet Modification Score in 23,4% of patients. Incontinence cases were not found. After surgery we found reduction of abdominal pain (p=0.017) and improved bowel function (p=0.001). The quality of life correlated to bowel function was defined good or very good in 87.2% of cases whereas 4.3% of patients reported poor bowel function. This condition was related to female patients (p=0.02), urgent surgery (p=0.05), and to post-operative complication (p=0.05).In our experience, both bowel function and abdominal pain improved after surgery and 91.4% of patients were satisfied with the choice of surgery and would agree to do it again. The presence of not recognized inflammatory bowel syndromes can occasionally be responsible for persistent disorders after surgery.Bowel function, Diverticular disease, Sigmoidectomy.Lo scopo dello studio è stato quello di valutare la funzionalità intestinale dopo resezione colica per malattia diverticolare e valutarne l’impatto sulla qualità della vita.47 pazienti sottoposti a resezione colica in urgenza o in elezione per malattia diverticolare, sono stati personalmente contattati o intervistati per telefono, ed è stato loro fornito uno specifico questionari. Per valutare funzionalità intestinale sono stati utilizzati i seguenti test: “Memorial Bowel functional Index”, “ Short Form (36) Health Survey questionnaire”, ed infine il “Fecal Incontinence Severity Index”. Risultati: Un’urgenza fecale è stata riscontrata nel 4,25% dei casi, un’evacuazione incompleta nel 17,03% dei pazienti, ed una modificazione della dieta/Lifestyle nel 23,4% dei pazienti. Non vi sono stati casi di incontinenza fecale completa. Dopo l’intervento chirurgico è stata riscontrata una riduzione della sintomatologia dolorosa addominale (p = 0.017) e una funzionalità intestinale migliorata (p = 0.001). La qualità della vita correlata alla funzionalità intestinale è stata definita buona o molto buona nel 87,2% dei casi, mentre nel 4,3% dei pazienti è stata rilevata una inadeguata funzionalità intestinale. Questa condizione è stata correlata al sesso femminile (p = 0,02), alla chirurgia d’urgenza (p = 0.05), e alla morbilità post-operatoria (p = 0,05).Nella nostra esperienza, sia la funzionalità intestinale che il dolore addominale migliorate dopo l’intervento sono migliorati e il 91,4% dei pazienti sono stati soddisfatti di essere stati sottoposti ad intervento chirurgico. La presenza di sindromi infiammatorie croniche intestinali non riconosciute a volte può essere responsabile di disturbi persistenti anche dopo l’intervento chirurgico di resezione colica.

Background. The increasing sensitivity of preoperative localization methods in combination with intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTHIO) has led to the use of minimally invasive procedures in parathyroid surgery. In addition, it is usually accepted that a decrease in PTHIO values by more than 50% within 5 minutes after excision of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue can be considered as a confirmation of the adequacy of the surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of use of PTHIO on the success rate of minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy (MIVAP). Methods. From March 2005 to March 2008 a series of 13 patients with pHPT underwent MIVAP by an anterior approach in combination with preoperative ultrasound and 99Tc-SestaMIBI scintigraphy and PTHIO assay (UniCel® DxI 800 Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, California, U.S.A.). Blood drawings were routinely performed before skin incision (T0), 5 minutes (T1) and 10 minutes (T2) after the excision of the adenomatous tissue. Surgery procedures were concluded when at T1 has been reached a drop in PTHIO level >50% with respect to preoperative levels. PTH, calcemia, complications, pathologic findings, length of hospital stay, operative times, timing and number of sample collection, postoperative pain and cosmetic results, were retrospectively analyzed. Results. 13 patients (10 females, 3 males); median age: 69 years old (range: 33-86); preoperative diagnosis: 12 pts (92%) with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), one (8%) with pHPT in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). In 11 pts (85%) a drop of PTHIO value major than 50% at T1 was observed; for one pts (8%) the drop was of 19.5% (patient in MEN1) while in one pts (8%) a rise of 83.20% was reached. In all but one pts the drop was significant in T2. Only one PTHIO was necessary after 20 minutes after excision (T3). Median operative time and hospitalization was 85 minutes (range: 32-125), and 2 days (range: 2 -5) respectively. In all pts, frozen sections and final histology showed benign disease. Morbidity was 3 (23%) transient hypocalcemias (1 syntomatic) and 1 (8%) haematoma. Conclusions. Our data underline that a PTHIO reduction of more than 50%, five minutes after the resection of adenoma, is a predictor of successful surgery and becomes of fundamental importance in surgical decision making when preoperative imaging studies miss the hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue. Key-words: intraoperative parathyroid hormone, minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy, sporadic primitive hyperparathyroidism, 99Tc-sestaMIBI.

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the immediate and late outcomes of the surgical and conservative treatment of adhesive small bowel obstruction. A series of 163 consecutive patients affected by adhesive occlusion were analysed. 63 patients were submitted to emergency surgery and 100 to conservative treatment; 15 of these ones were operated on because they did not improve or deteriorated. The in-hospital mortality and morbidity, the length of the ileus, the time required for the operatori, the length of the recovery, and the late results after a median follow-up of 3.6 years (range: 1-6 years) are reported. The overall mortality was 3.26% and there was no significant difference (p = 0.764) between the treatment modalities. The patients submitted to conservative therapy had a lower morbidity, shorter length of the ileus and shorter hospital stay and a better outcome at follow-up. In the surgical group, the patients submitted to emergency surgery had a lower mortality, a shorter ileus and shorter hospital stay than the patients submitted to delayed surgery. Conservative treatment of adhesive occlusions should be opted for when the indications are correct (no intestinal ischaemia, no occlusion by a bridle). In doubtfui cases, the patient should be submitted to emergency surgery to avoid the risks of surgical delay.

Background: The Harmonic Scalpel (HS) coagulates and simultaneously cuts tissues using mechanical energy with ultrasonic frequency. Its role in minimally invasive thyroid surgery is well defined. Despite its routine use has been criticized by some, HS has been recently proposed also for conventional thyroidectomy (CT) in small series of patients. The aim of this comparative study is to verify in a large series of patients the efficiency and safety of HS for CT. Patients and methods: Between April 2004 and April 2005, 267 consecutive patients were prospectively selected to undergo total thyroidectomy (TT) with the use of HS (HS-Group). Exclusion criteria were: previous neck surgery, minimally invasive and/or video-assisted procedures, lymph node dissection or other associated procedures. A case-control study including 267 patients who underwent TT with a conventional haemostasis technique (knot tying) (KT-group) between January 2003 and March 2004 was performed. The controls were matched for age and sex. The following parameters were registered: preoperative diagnosis, operative time (from incision to skin closure), total operative room occupation time (from induction to the end of the anaesthesia), number of drains, total drainage fluid volume, complications, final histology, postoperative stay, postoperative pain, patients satisfaction with the cosmetic result and postoperative outcome. Patients of the HS-Group were compared with those of the KT-Group. Results: The two groups were well matched for age and sex (P = NS). No significant difference was found concerning preoperative diagnosis, final histology, postoperative pain, postoperative stay and complications rate (P = NS). One postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation was observed in the HS-Group; no other bleeding episodes were observed. Three transient recurrent nerve palsies were observed in each group, no permanent palsy was observed. Transient hypocalcemia was observed in 95 patients in HS-Group and in 94 in KT-Group; one patients in the KT-Group experienced permanent hypoparathyroidism (P = NS). Operative time was significantly shorter in the HS-Group (66.4 ± 17.3 vs 72.3 ± 23.6 minutes, P < 0.005), as well as the total operative room occupation time (95.0 ± 22.9 vs 103.9 ± 24.8 minutes, P < 0.001). The mean number of drains was significantly lower in the HS-Group (1.0 ± 0.4 vs 1.3 ± 0.5 minutes, P < 0.001). No significant difference was found 265 UNCORRECTED PROOF concerning drainage fluid volume in patients with drains. Patients of the HS-Group were more satisfied with the cosmetic result and the postoperative outcome (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005). Conclusion: HS is a safe and efficacious alternative to KT also for CT, allowing for a significant reduction of operative time (about 10 %) and drain utilization without increasing the complication rate. The higher patients satisfaction with the cosmetic result and the postoperative outcome could be explained by the possibility HS offers to perform TT through smaller skin incisions.

Introduction: Primary tumors of the small bowel is a rare and constitute about 2% of gastrointestinal neoplasms. Purpose: The authors reviewed our surgical experience of 20 patients treated at the Surgical Clinic of the Università degli Studi di Trieste, of Trieste during a 5 years period from January 2000 to December 2005. In the current study, the records of 20 patients with small bowel carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively for the presentation, treatment modalities, and outcome.Materials and Methods: There were 20 patients: 6 (30%) men and 14 (70%) women an the median age of the patients was 70.2 years (range, 43–87). Tumors originated in the ileum in 12 (60%) patients, the duodenum in 5 (25%) patients, the jejunum in 2 (10%) patients, and in the Meckel diverticulum in 1 (5%) patient. Results: Adenocarcinoma was the most common (30%) followed by carcinoid (25%), lymphoma (20%), neuroendocrine tumors (15%) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (10%). The distribution of the malignancies showed preponderance in the ileum (60%), in the duodenum (25%), in the jejunum (10%) and in the Meckel diverticulum (5%). The most common presentation was weight loss (45%) followed by abdominal pain (40%), obstruction (40%), anemia and gastrointestinal bleeding (30%). A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only 35% of the patients. All the 20 tumors were resected: in 17 patients (85%) the resection were considered as curative. Survival analysis was by the Kaplan–Meier method. The median overall survival rate was 50%. Conclusions: Performing an oncologic surgery resulted in(truncated at 250 words).

The surgical treatment of the intermediate-risk DTC (1–4 cm) remains still controversial. We analyzed the current practice in Italy regarding the surgical management of intermediate-risk unilateral DTC to evaluate risk factors for recurrence and to identify a group of patients to whom propose a total thyroidectomy (TT) vs. hemithyroidectomy (HT). Among 1896 patients operated for thyroid cancer between January 2017 and December 2019, we evaluated 564 (29.7%) patients with unilateral intermediate-risk DTC (1–4 cm) without contralateral nodular lesions on the preoperative exams, chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, familiarity or radiance exposure. Data were collected retrospectively from the clinical register from 16 referral centers. The patients were followed for at least 14 months (median time 29.21 months). In our cohort 499 patients (88.4%) underwent total thyroidectomy whereas 65 patients (11.6%) underwent hemithyroidectomy. 151 (26.8%) patients had a multifocal DTC of whom 57 (10.1%) were bilateral. 21/66 (32.3%) patients were reoperated within 2 months from the first intervention (completion thyroidectomy). Three patients (3/564) developed regional lymph node recurrence 2 years after surgery and required a lymph nodal neck dissection. The single factor related to the risk of reoperation was the histological diameter (HR = 1.05 (1.00–1-09), p = 0.026). Risk stratification is the key to differentiating treatment options and achieving better outcomes. According to the present study, tumor diameter is a strong predictive risk factor to proper choose initial surgical management for intermediate‐risk DTC. © 2021, Italian Society of Surgery (SIC).

Purpose: Accidental injury to the parathyroid glands (PTGs) is common during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. To overcome the limitation of naked eye in identifying the PTGs, intraoperative autofluorescence imaging has been embraced by an increasing number of surgeons. The aim of our study was to describe the technique and assess its utility in clinical practice. Methods: Near-infrared (NIR) autofluorescence imaging was carried out during open parathyroid and thyroid surgery in 25 patients (NIR group), while other 26 patients underwent traditional PTG detection based on naked eye alone (NO-NIR group). Primary variables assessed for correlation between traditional approach and autofluorescence were number of PTGs identified and incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT). Results: 81.9% of PTGs were detected by means of fluorescence imaging and 74.5% with visual inspection alone, with an average of 2.72 PTGs visualized per patient using NIR imaging versus approximately 2.4 per patient using naked eye (p = 0.38). Considering only the more complex total thyroidectomies (TTs), the difference was almost statistically significant (p = 0.06). Although not statistically significant, the observed postoperative hypoPT rate was lower in the NIR group. Conclusion: Despite the limitations and technical aspects still to be investigated, fluorescence seems to reduce this complication rate by improving the intraoperative detection of the PTGs.

Context Aortic stiffness is an emerging predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Current data about the effect of subclinical and overt thyroid hormone disorders on aortic stiffness are often conflicting. Objective Primary outcome was to investigate if subclinical and overt thyroid hormone disorders were associated with aortic stiffness. Secondary outcome was to identify disease effect modifiers. Methods Data sources were PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included reports of pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is the gold standard method for measuring aortic stiffness, in patients with subclinical and overt thyroid disorders. Two investigators independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. Pooled mean difference was the summary effect measure. Data were presented in forest plots with outlier and influential case diagnostics. Univariate meta-regression analysis was used to identify effect modifiers. Results Eleven observational studies were selected, including 1239 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, 81 patients with overt hypothyroidism, 338 patients with thyrotoxicosis, and 12 715 controls. PWV was significantly higher in subclinical (P Conclusion This study shows that both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism as well as thyrotoxicosis were associated with an increase of aortic stiffness. The impact of treatment of these conditions on aortic stiffness should be assessed in clinical trials.

Background Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a common endocrine disorder, due to an excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) from one or more parathyroid gland(s), where the only cure remains surgery. The surgical approach has become less invasive over the years, thanks to the advances in the preoperative localization of the enlarged parathyroid gland, as well as to the possibility to measure intra-operative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH). After the targeted removal of a parathyroid gland, IOPTH can confirm biochemically the cure of pHPT, such that it helps the surgeon to judge if the parathyroidectomy has been successful and there is no need of additional dissection. As with all laboratory tests, the quality of IOPTH total testing process is essential to the best utilization of patients' results. However, this can be affected by errors occurring in different phases. This review aims to describe the total testing process of IOPTH. Methods We performed a search in Pubmed and a review of the literature on the current management of pHPT and the total testing process of IOPTH measurement. Results Compared to previous studies focusing on single aspects of the IOPTH testing process, here we have analyzed all the steps crucial for the quality of IOPTH from the "pre-pre" to the "post-post" analytical phase. Conclusions Clinicians and laboratory scientists should be aware of all the potential sources of errors in IOPTH measurement in order to improve their daily management of pHPT.

Purpose. Aim of the study was to assess the impact of the Italian Society of Anatomic Pathology and Diagnostic Cytology (SIAPEC) classification of 2014, on the treatment of indeterminate thyroid lesions (TIR3). Methods. We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing thyroid surgery for TIR3 lesions between 2013 and 2018, at the General Surgery Department of Trieste University Hospital. According to the SIAPEC classification, patients were divided into TIR3A and TIR3B groups. All patients treated before 2014 underwent surgical treatment, and surgical specimens were retrospectively classified after revision of fine-needle aspiration cytology. Starting 2014, TIR3A patients were treated only when symptomatic (i.e., coexistent bilateral thyroid goiter or growing TIR3A nodules), whereas TIR3B patients always received surgical treatment. Hemithyroidectomy (HT) was the procedure of choice. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was performed in case of concurrent bilateral goiter, autoimmune thyroid disease, and/or presence of BRAF and/or RAS mutation. Lastly, we analyzed the malignancy rate in the two groups. Results. 29 TIR3A and 90 TIR3B patients were included in the study. HT was performed in 10 TIR3A patients and 37 TIR3B patients, respectively, with need for reoperation in 4 TIR3B (10.8%) patients due to histological findings of follicular thyroid carcinoma >1 cm. The malignancy rates were 17.2% in TIR3A and 31.1% in TIR3B, (p=0.16). Predictability of malignancy was almost 89% in BRAF mutation and just 47% in RAS mutation. Conclusions. The new SIAPEC classification in association with biomolecular markers has improved diagnostic accuracy, patient selection, and clinical management of TIR3 lesions.

Background The relationship between breast cancer (BC) and thyroid disease (TD) is still controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible coexistence of TD in patients with newly diagnosed BC and its correlation with BC clinical presentation with regard to menopausal status and stage of disease. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients treated for primary BC between 2014 and 2016 at the Breast Unit of Trieste University Hospital. Clinical charts and reports were reviewed for coexisting thyroid disorders (i.e. hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, benign TD, thyroid cancer, thyroid autoimmunity) and menopausal status at the time of BC diagnosis. Biomolecular profile, stage, and grading of BC were also evaluated. Results A total of 786 women and 7 men were included in the study. Co-presence of TD was found in 161(20.3%) cases: of these, 151(19.4%) patients presented benign TD and 10(1.3%) patients presented thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid autoimmunity was found in 51(32%) patients. Regarding thyroid function, 88(55%) patients had hypothyroidism, 19(12%) hyperthyroidism, and 54(33%) normal thyroid function. No statistically significant correlation was found between age and TD (p = 0.16), although TD was more common in women aged ≥60 years. Women with BC diagnosed at pre-menopausal age were more likely to have thyroid autoimmune diseases (45% vs. 29%, p = 0.05). No association was detected among BC molecular profiles with either thyroid autoimmunity (p = 0.26) or altered thyroid function (p = 0.63). High-grade BC was more frequent in women with hyperthyroidism (52.9%, p = 0.04), but the grading was independent from the presence of thyroid autoimmune disease (p = 0.87). BC stage was related to both thyroid autoimmunity (p = 0.04) and thyroid function (p Conclusions According our study results, patients with primary BC present a greater incidence of autoimmunity disorders, especially when diagnosed in the pre-menopausal setting. However, further prospective studies are required to definitively prove causality.

The most appropriate surgical management of "follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm" lesions (FN), considering their low definitive malignancy rate and the limited predictive power of preoperative clinic-diagnostic factors, is still controversial. On behalf of the Italian Association of Endocrine Surgery Units (U.E.C. CLUB), we collected and analyzed the experience of 26 endocrine centers by computerized questionnaire. 1379 patients, surgically treated after a FN diagnosis from January 2012 and December 2103, were evaluated. Histological features, surgical complications, and medium-term outcomes were reported. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was performed in 1055/1379 patients (76.5 %), while hemithyroidectomy (HT) was carried out in 324/1379 cases (23.5 %). Malignancy rate was higher in TT than in HT groups (36.4 vs. 26.2 %), whereas the rates of transient and definitive hypoparathyroidism following TT were higher than after HT. Consensual thyroiditis (16.8 vs. 9.9 %) and patient age (50.9 vs. 47.9 %) also differed between groups. A cytological FN diagnosis was associated to a not negligible malignancy rate (469/1379 patients; 34 %), that was higher in TT than in HT groups. However, a lower morbidity rate was observed in HT, which should be considered the standard of care in solitary lesions in absence of specific risk factors. Malignancy could not be preoperatively assessed and clinical decision-making is still controversial. Further efforts should be spent to more accurately preoperatively classify FN thyroid nodules. The most appropriate surgical management of “follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm” lesions (FN), considering their low definitive malignancy rate and the limited predictive power of preoperative clinic-diagnostic factors, is still controversial. On behalf of the Italian Association of Endocrine Surgery Units (U.E.C. CLUB), we collected and analyzed the experience of 26 endocrine centers by computerized questionnaire. 1379 patients, surgically treated after a FN diagnosis from January 2012 and December 2103, were evaluated. Histological features, surgical complications, and medium-term outcomes were reported. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was performed in 1055/1379 patients (76.5 %), while hemithyroidectomy (HT) was carried out in 324/1379 cases (23.5 %). Malignancy rate was higher in TT than in HT groups (36.4 vs. 26.2 %), whereas the rates of transient and definitive hypoparathyroidism following TT were higher than after HT. Consensual thyroiditis (16.8 vs. 9.9 %) and patient age (50.9 vs. 47.9 %) also differed between groups. A cytological FN diagnosis was associated to a not negligible malignancy rate (469/1379 patients; 34 %), that was higher in TT than in HT groups. However, a lower morbidity rate was observed in HT, which should be considered the standard of care in solitary lesions in absence of specific risk factors. Malignancy could not be preoperatively assessed and clinical decision-making is still controversial. Further efforts should be spent to more accurately preoperatively classify FN thyroid nodules.

Aim The main goal of our study was to confirm the usefulness of intra-operative parathyroid hormone (PTH) monitoring (ioPTH) when using minimally invasive techniques for treatment of sporadic Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHTP). Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate if ioPTH monitoring may help to predict the etiology of primary hyperparathyroidism, especially in malignant or multiglandular parathyroid disease. Methods A retrospective review of 125 consecutive patients with pHPT who underwent parathyroidectomy between 2001 and 2016 at the Department of General Surgery was performed. For each patient, the specific preoperative work-up consisted of: high-resolution US of the neck by a skilled sonographer, sestamibi parathyroid scan, laryngoscopy, and serum measurement of PTH, serum calcium levels, and serum 25(OH)D levels. Results The study included 125 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for pHPT. At the histological examination, we registered 113 patients with simple adenomatous pathology (90,4%), 5 atypical adenomas (4%), 3 cases of parathyroid carcinoma (2,4%),, , and 4 histological exams of different nature (3,2%). Overall, 6 cases (4,8%) of multiglandular disease were found. We reported 10 cases (8%) of recurrent/persistent hyperparathyroidism: 1/10 in a patient affected by atypical adenoma, 9/10 in patients with benign pathology. Regarding these 10 cases, in three (30%) patients, ioPTH wasn't dosed (only frozen section (FS) exam was taken), in 5 cases (50%) ioPTH dropped more than 50% compared to basal value (false negative results), and in 2 (20%) cases, ioPTH did not drop >50% from the first samples taken, the extemporary exam had confirmed the presence of adenoma and the probable second hyperfunctioning adenoma was not found. Conclusions IoPTH determinations ensure operative success of surgical resection in almost all hyperfunctioning tissue; in particular it is very important during minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, as it allows avoiding bilateral neck exploration. The use of ioPTH monitoring offer increased sensitivity in detecting multiglandular disease and can minimize the need and risk associated with recurrent operations, and may facilitate cost-effective minimally invasive surgery. Moreover, intraoperative PTH monitoring could be a reliable marker to predict a malignant disease during parathyroidectomy, showing higher ioPTH baseline value and superior drop compared to benign disease.

Aims and background Primary bilateral adrenal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is an extremely rare entity. Only 44 cases have been reported in the literature. The most common presenting symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, asthenia, constipation, weight loss or typical symptoms of adrenal insufficiency, hypertension, darkening of skin, orthostatic hypotension or an addisonian crisis. Methods The case is presented of a 57-year-old man suffering from primary bilateral adrenal lymphoma with symptoms of adrenal insufficiency syndrome associated with bilateral, stabbing lumbar pain and a palpable mass on the left side. Laboratory tests revealed a considerable increase in lactate dehydrogenase levels, adrenal insufficiency, and high corticotropin levels. Results Abdominal CT scan showed two large adrenal masses. A CT-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed a large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Combination chemotherapy according to the CHOP protocol with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone was initiated, which caused a slight reduction in size of the two adrenal masses. The patient underwent a bilateral adrenalectomy with almost complete excision of the tumors. Replacement therapy with cortisone acetate was initiated postoperatively. Adjuvant combination chemotherapy according to the CHOP protocol was started but renal failure gradually emerged and the treatment could not be completed. The patient died seven months after surgery due to acute bronchial pneumonia and progression of disease. Conclusions Primary bilateral adrenal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma mainly affects adult men. Diagnosis is based on histological examination. Whether associated or not with radiotherapy, chemotherapy is the most recommended treatment. Surgery, where possible, seems to lead to an increase in survival rates, but it is not possible to draw any definite conclusions on its effectiveness as yet.

Introduction: The treatment and particularly the extension of surgical therapy of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain still controversial in some issues, especially for the lack of preoperative information or variables that allow predicting the level of aggressiveness of the tumor. Aim of the study: The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the central node neck dissection (CNND) on surgical outcome and disease free- follow up of PTC- patients operated on at our center by evaluation of postoperative complications (parathyroid and recurrent nerve damage, hemorrhage rates) and pts rates presenting detectable serum Thyroglobulin (TG) or TG-Antibodies (TG-AB) values, at the time of 131Iodine treatment and subsequently at 6-12 months, combined with neck high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) The results of a prospective study on 149 pts preoperatively diagnosed and HR-US staged N0-PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and CNND were compared with the results of a retrospective study on 114 similar postoperatively diagnosed PTC-pts who received total thyroidectomy, without nodes dissection. Materials and methods: 149 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT)+CNND from March 2012 to August 2013 (group-A) and 114 patients who underwent TT from January to December 2011 (group-B) were compared on the following variables: gender, age, histological variant of PTC, tumor size, TNM stage, multifocality, vascular invasion, thyroiditis, expression of BRAF mutation, surgical complications (transient postoperative hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism, temporary or permanent dysphonia and hemorrhage), values of TG and anti- TG Ab in suspension or under TSH stimulus, in pre-ablation and on the last clinical and instrumental evaluation of the patient. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test and Fisher. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Comparing the patients of group-A with group-B the following variables present with statistically significant differences: transient postoperative hypocalcemia (group-A 50.3% vs group-B 21.9% , p45 years group-A 59.7% vs group-B 53.1%, p ns) , the histological subtypes (p ns), microcarcinomas (group-A 29,5% vs group-B 35%, p ns) , pT (p ns) , presence of multifocal lesions (group A 45.6% vs group B 55.3%, p ns), temporary dysphonia ( 7,4% group-A vs. group B 2.6%, p ns), definitive dysphonia (group-A 1,3% vs group-B 0,9%, p ns), post-operative hemorrhage (group-A 2% vs group-B 1.8%, p ns), radioiodine therapy (group-A 80.6% vs group-B 80.7%, p ns), rhTSH (group-A 88.3% vs group-B 82.6%, p ns), median value of TG at the last follow up after radioiodine therapy (group-A 0,2 ng/ml vs group-B 0,3 ng/ml, p ns), median value of TG at the last follow-up in patients not receiving therapy (group-A 0.4 ng/ml vs group-B 0.3 ng/ml, p ns). Discussion and conclusion: In our study we observed that the CNND has allowed a more complete postoperative staging, the TG values after surgery were lower in patients in group A vs group B patients (p