RESUMO

PURPOSE: Around 10-27% of patients will present elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and negative diagnostic whole-body scan (dxWBS) during differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) follow-up. Empiric radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy in this context is controversial due to the lack of good quality studies in the context. The main purpose of this study is to compare long-term response to therapy status and overall survival between empiric RAI treated and untreated DTC patients. METHODS: A retrospective study comparing differentiated thyroid cancer patients with negative diagnostic whole-body scan and elevated thyroglobulin levels submitted or not to empiric radioactive iodine therapy in a thyroid cancer referral center. The main outcome measures were ATA Response to Therapy Stratification at 6-12 months after RAI ablative dose, at 6-18 months after negative dxWBS and last follow-up visits. RESULTS: Overall, 120 DTC patients with stimulated Tg >10 ng/ml and negative dxWBS were included in this study. Overall, 53 patients were submitted to empiric RAI and 67 were in the control group. No difference was observed in ATA Response to Therapy Stratification after RAI ablation or at the end of follow-up between groups. Also, no difference was found in terms of Tg changes response. After more than 10 years of follow-up, 17 patients died (13 from treated and 4 from untreated group). CONCLUSIONS: Empiric RAI treatment was not associated with better long-term ATA response to therapy status or overall survival.

Assuntos

Assuntos

RESUMO

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been introduced recently in Brazil and requires costs analysis to support economic evaluation studies on its use. The current study analyzed the use of 18 F-FDG PET-CT and estimated its costs from the perspective of a public healthcare provider. The micro-costing technique was used, identifying, quantifying, and valuing all the inputs used to perform the procedure. Cost estimates considered 85 tests performed at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from March to June 2012. Reference cases were defined as adult cancer patients, output of five tests per day, and one dose of 18 F-FDG per patient. Unit cost for the procedure was BRL 3,150.30 based on career wages under the Ministry of Science and Technology and BRL 2,927.19 based on Ministry of Health career wages. The factor with the heaviest cost impact was daily output of tests. Other factors that could impact the test's cost in public healthcare institutions were also examined.

Assuntos

RESUMO

A tomografia de emissão de pósitrons (PET) é de uso recente no Brasil e há necessidade de se estimar os custos do procedimento, de forma a subsidiar estudos de avaliação econômica sobre a tecnologia. O trabalho analisou o processo de produção da PET-TC utilizando 18 F-FDG e estimou seus custos na perspectiva de um provedor público de serviços de saúde. Utilizou- se a técnica de microcustos, com identificação, quantificação e valoração de todos os insumos consumidos na produção do procedimento. As estimativas de custo consideraram a observação de 85 exames realizados no Instituto Nacional de Câncer, de março/julho de 2012. O caso de referência considerou pacientes oncológicos adultos, volume de produção de 5 exames/dia e uso de uma dose de 18 F-FDG por paciente. Os custos unitários do procedimento foram de R$ 3.150,30, na perspectiva salarial da carreira de Ciência & Tecnologia, e de R$ 2.927,19 na do Ministério da Saúde. O elemento de maior impacto nos custos correspondeu ao volume diário de produção dos exames. Foram explorados elementos que podem impactar no custo do exame nas instituições públicas de saúde.

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been introduced recently in Brazil and requires costs analysis to support economic evaluation studies on its use. The current study analyzed the use of 18 F-FDG PET-CT and estimated its costs from the perspective of a public healthcare provider. The micro-costing technique was used, identifying, quantifying, and valuing all the inputs used to perform the procedure. Cost estimates considered 85 tests performed at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from March to June 2012. Reference cases were defined as adult cancer patients, output of five tests per day, and one dose of 18 F-FDG per patient. Unit cost for the procedure was BRL 3,150.30 based on career wages under the Ministry of Science and Technology and BRL 2,927.19 based on Ministry of Health career wages. The factor with the heaviest cost impact was daily output of tests. Other factors that could impact the test’s cost in public healthcare institutions were also examined.

La tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET) es de uso reciente en Brasil y es necesario estimar sus costes, con el fin de subsidiar estudios de evaluación económica sobre esta tecnología. El trabajo examina el proceso de producción de PET-TC con 18F-FDG y se estimaron sus costes desde la perspectiva de un prestador público de servicios de salud. Se empleó la técnica de microcostes, con la identificación, cuantificación y valoración de los insumos consumidos en la producción del procedimiento. Las estimaciones consideran la observación de 85 exámenes entre marzo y julio de 2012. El “caso base” considera pacientes adultos de cáncer, con una producción de 5 exámenes/día y el uso de una dosis de 18F-FDG por paciente. Los costes unitarios del procedimiento fueron, respectivamente, R$ 3.150.30 y R$ 2.927.19, desde la perspectiva del Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología y del Ministerio de Salud. El volumen diario de producción fue el elemento de mayor impacto en los costes. Además, se analizaron los factores que pueden repercutir en el coste del examen en instituciones de salud pública.

Assuntos

Assuntos

Assuntos

RESUMO

Ectopically ACTH producing tumors may be difficult to localize by conventional radiology and functional imaging may be helpful. Case 1: 31-year-old man was diagnosed with ectopic ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (ECS). Thorax CT revealed a 1.3 cm nodular opacity in upper left lobe, suggestive of residual lesion. [(18)F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D: -glucose ([(18)F] FDG) positron emission tomography ([(18)F] FDG PET) scan revealed mild glycolytic metabolic activity. Pathological examination confirmed an ACTH-positive carcinoid tumor. Case 2: 53-year-old woman presented with very rapid onset ECS. Pituitary MRI was normal. Thorax CT revealed no tumoral lesion. Abdominal and pelvic MRI showed images suggestive of hepatic and iliac, femoral and lumbar secondary implants. [(18)F] FDG PET scan revealed intense uptake in uterus, especially cervix, suggesting this to be the primary tumor site. These cases illustrate the role of [(18)F] FDG PET in the investigation of an ECS where conventional imaging studies were not elucidative in the search for a responsible tumor.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Objetivo: descrever e anlisar nossa experiência em ressecção de tumores craniofaciais através de um acesso subcranial modificado, minimamente invasivo, desenvolvido por nós. Pacientes e método: estudo prospectivo com 26 pacientesapresentando tumores pequenos na base do crânio anterior, trtados nas Seções de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço e de Neurocirurgia do INCA-MS-RJ, no período de março de 2000 a setembro de 2006, operados pela mesma equipe cirúrgica, utilizando a técnica inovadora subcranial minimamente invasiva. Comparamos nossos resultados com resultados já publicados em literatura dos nossos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia craniofacial clássica, assim como com dados de literatura mundia. Resultados: dos 26 pacientes, 14 eram do gênero masculino. A idade média foi de 45,7 anos. O acesso subcranial isolado sem incisões faciais foi utilizado em seis casos. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 8,38 horas. A média de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva foi de 1,2 dias e de internação hospitalar de 7,8 dias. Não observamos complicações neurológicas imediatas. O índice de complicações foi de 28,5% com mortalidade operatória nula. A sobrevida global (para tumores malignos) foi de 61,9%. Conclusão: trata-se de um acesso inovador, onde podemos observar alguns benefícios notáveis, como a redução de complicações neurológicas gerais, tendência a reduzir o tempo cirúrgico, baixa taxa de hemotransfusão, menor tempo de internação em terapia intensiva e hospitalar e praticabilidade para tumores faciais acometendo o platô cribiforme ou discreta invasão da fossa craniana anterior.

Objective: to describe and to analyze our experience with the resection of craniofacial tumors throughe a modified minimally invasive subcranial access, developed by us. Patients and methods: prospective study with 26 patients presenting small tumors in the anterior skull base, treated in the Section of Head and Neck Surgery and Neurosurgery (INCA-MS-RJ), in the period from March, 2000 to September, 2006. The same surgical team was responsible for all surgeries using the innovative minimally invasive surgical technique. We compare the results of this technique with the results already published in the literature of our own patients treated by the classic cranialfacial technique, as well as, with data of worldwide literature. Results: of the 26 patients, 14 were men. The average age was of 45.7. The isolated subcranial access without face incisions was employed in 6 cases. The average surgical time was of 8.38h. The average stay in the intensive care unit was 1.2 days and the hospitalization time was 7.8 days. We did not observe immediate neurological complications. The complications incidence was 28.5%, without surgical death. The overall survival rate was 61.9% for malignant tumors. Conclusion: this is an innovative surgical approach in which we could observe some notables benefits, such as the reduction of neurological and general complications, trend to reduce to reduce the surgical time, low tax of hemotransfusion, minor time of stay under intensive care and in the hospital, and practicability for facial tumors resection, involving the cribriform plate or small invasion of the anterior skull base.

Assuntos