Objective: Microcalcification is strongly correlated with papillary thyroid cancer. It is not clear whether macrocalcification is associated with malignancy. In this study, we aimed to assess the result of fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of thyroid nodules with macrocalcifications.
Subjects and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 269 patients (907 nodules). Macrocalcifications were classified as eggshell and parenchymal macrocalcification. FNAB results were divided into four groups: benign, malignant, suspicious for malignancy, and non-diagnostic.
Results: There were 79.9% female and 20.1% male and mean age was 56.9 years. Macrocalcification was detected in 46.3% nodules and 53.7% nodules had no macrocalcification. Parenchymal and eggshell macrocalcification were observed in 40.5% and 5.8% nodules, respectively. Cytologically, malignant and suspicious for malignancy rates were higher in nodules with macrocalcification compared to nodules without macrocalcification (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003, respectively). Benign and non-diagnostic cytology results were similar in two groups (p > 0.05). Nodules with eggshell calcification had higher rate of suspicious for malignancy and nodules with parenchymal macrocalcification had higher rates of malignant and suspicious for malignancy compared to those without macrocalcification (p = 0.01, p = 0.003 and p = 0.007, respectively).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that macrocalcifications are not always benign and are not associated with increased nondiagnostic FNAB results. Macrocalcification, particularly the parenchymal type should be taken into consideration.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional mobility and its relationship to cognitive ability in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), age between 50 and 65 years and under 10 years of diagnosis.
Materials and methods: An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study, involving no diabetic and type 2 diabetic individuals with inadequate glycemic control, selected by convenience sampling. In both groups, were administered structured questionnaire and cognitive assessment with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the clock drawing test (CDT), besides assessment of functional mobility by the Timed Up & Go (TUG).
Results: In TUG, DM2 patients presented a mean time of 11.27 seconds versus 9.52 seconds (p = 0.013). The association between cognitive decline and decrease of mobility was positive in individuals with T2DM (p = 0.037). In the subgroup that showed decrease of mobility and associated cognitive decline, 18% were patients with DM2 and 1.6% were individuals without T2DM (p < 0.01).
Conclusions: Patients with T2DM presented worse functional mobility and cognitive performance, supporting the hypothesis that DM2 influence functional mobility and cognitive ability, regardless of neuropathic or vascular complications. These data suggest that hyperglycemia is an aggravating factor in the performance of activities requiring mental functions such as attention, working memory and orientation.
Atypical presentation forms of hyperthyroidism are always a challenge to the clinician. We present a female patient with the typical symptoms of thyrotoxicosis, without any thionamides treatment before, associated with pancytopenia, which recovered after euthyroidism state was achieved. Although the major cases of pancytopenia in Grave's disease are seen as a complication of antithyroid drugs (thioamides), in this case report the alteration in blood tests was associated with untreated hyperthyroidism. In the literature review, we found 19 case reports between 1981 to 2012, but it has been related to a hypercellular bone marrow with periferic destruction. Our case, however, is about a hypocellular bone marrow without fibrosis or fat tissue replacement, which proceeded with a periferic improvement following thyroid treatment. Although rare, pancytopenia, when present, may develop as an unusual and severe manifestation in untreated subjects.
Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its elements in relation to TSH in euthyroid subjects.
Materials and methods: In the cross-sectional study, 2,153 euthyroid adults, 47.2 ± 14.5 years (20-94) with no current antithyroid or thyroid replacement therapy were enrolled. All participants filled a questionnaire on past and current morbidities, medication and smoking. Body weight, height, waist circumference, serum TSH, glucose and lipids were measured. The subjects were stratified by quartiles of TSH (QTSH) and the prevalence of the MetS elements was calculated. MetS was determined by the IDF 2005 criteria.
Results: Overweight prevalence was 37.2% (35.2-39.2), obesity in 25.1% (23.3-26.9), abdominal obesity - 61.4% (59.3-63.5), hypertension - 42.1% (38.9-43.1), diabetes/increased fasting glucose - 13.6% (12.1-15), low HDL-cholesterol - 27.6% (25.7-29.5), hypertriglyceridemia - 24.1% (22.3-25.9), MetS - 32.2% (30.2-34.2). MetS was more prevalent in the highest QTSH (34.9%, 30.9-38.9) than the lowest (27%, 23.3-30.9), p < 0.001, as were low HDL-C (32%, 28-35.9 vs. 25%, 21.3-28.7, p < 0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (26.8%, 23-30.5 vs. 20.4%, 17-23.8, p = 0.015). Each QTSH increased the risk of MetS by 14%, p < 0.001, of hypertriglyceridemia by 20%, p = 0.001 and of low LDL-C by 9%, p = 0.042. Other significant factors for MetS were age, male gender and obesity.
Conclusion: The prevalence of MetS increased with higher QTSH within the euthyroid range, mostly by an increase in the dyslipidemia.