Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association
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Traditionally, repetition of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is indicated for thyroid nodules with initially benign cytology if they exhibit growth. The importance of a repetition has also been demonstrated in the case of suspicious ultrasonography (US) findings. Some authors even consider routine repetition of FNA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the best criterion for FNA repetition in thyroid nodules with initially benign cytology. ⋯ Ultrasonographic features of the nodule are the best parameter for the indication of FNA repetition in nodules with initially benign cytology, while the growth of nodules with unsuspicious US findings has a poor positive predictive value for malignancy.
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Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)-related diarrhea can be debilitating, reduces quality of life (QOL), and may be the only indication for initiating systemic therapy. Conventional antidiarrheal drugs are not always helpful and may have side effects. Calcium aluminosilicate antidiarrheal (CASAD), a natural calcium montmorrilonite clay, safely adsorbs toxins and inflammatory proteins associated with diarrhea. It was hypothesized that CASAD would reduce the severity of diarrhea and improve QOL in MTC patients. ⋯ CASAD is a promising strategy for treatment of MTC-related diarrhea. In this small pilot study, improvements in frequency and quality of diarrhea as well as QOL were noted. Further studies in this population are warranted.