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Belfiore et al., Catania, Italy, studied retrospectively
the significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) with regard to prognosis
retrospectively in a series of 121 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Lymphocytic infiltration and presence of dendritic cells were also evaluated.
Patients follow-up ranged from 25 to 118 months (median 63 months). They
found that the presence of macrophages and especially of phagocytosing
multinuclear macrophages was strongly and positively correlated with both
lymphocytic infiltration and the presence of dendritic cells, suggesting
hosts immune response to the tumor. They found that presence of TAM, especially
when phago-cytosing, was associated with less advanced tumor stage and
correlated negatively with vascular invasion. Also when TAM were phagocytosing
no distant metastases were present. Apparently the presence of TAM, especially
when phagocytosing is associated with a less aggressive tumor.
Behr et al., Göttingen, Germany, and Belleville, NJ, USA, studied detectibility and therapy of occult and metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) using 131I labeled anti-CEA antibodies and labeled octreotide. The results from 44 patients indicate that detection of occult MTC is improved over conventional methods when using labeled CEA or octreotide for scintigraphy. In addition, treatment results with labeled anti-CEA showed that in 10 of 18 patients anti-tumor effects were induced lasting up to 26 months. Frich et al., Oslo and Bergen, Norway, found that in women married to fishery workers the risk of developing thyroid carcinoma was increased by 1.91 (confidence interval 1.65-2.21). Especially between the age of 45-54 years the increased risk was high: 2.61. An increased risk was also associated with ship officers and pilots work. The authors suggest that seafood may play a role in this increased risk. Angelini et al., Pisa, Italy, studied the effectiveness of radioablation with 131I in patients after operation for thyroid carcinoma. Patients were off L-T4 therapy and whole body scan was performed 24 hours after administration of 1 mCi 131I. Patients were divided in 3 groups (1) n = 180 treated with 1110 Mbq (30 mCi); (2) n = 200 who received between 1147 Mbq (31 mCi), and 2960 Mbq (80 MCi); (3) n = 226 who received doses > 2960 Mbq (80 mCi). It appeared that the effectiveness to ablate residual thyroid tissue was similar in the 3 groups: 44%, 47%, and 47.7% respectively. No relationship between effectiveness and age, serum TSH and Tg, urinary iodine excretion, and thyroid uptake was found. It is concluded that a dose of 30 mCi is as effective as higher doses 131I for thyroid ablation after surgery. Beressi et al., Bobigny, France, report clinical characteristics and prognosis of 80 patients with sporadic medullary carcinoma (MTC) with a tumor less than 1 cm in diameter. The mean age at surgery was 51.8 years for 53 women and 27 men. Lymph node involvement was observed in 21% and another thyroid malignancy in 16%. Mean follow-up was 3.8 years. Specific survival rate was 95.7% after 10 years. Biological cure (normal basal serum calcitonin) was obtained in 71.3%. |
