BACKGROUND The follow‐up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is traditionally carried out with 131I whole body scan (131I WBS) and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement. Neck ultrasonography (US) is also used. METHODS We compared the roles of Tg measurement (IRMA assay) after l‐thyroxine (T4) withdrawal, 131I WBS, and US in the diagnosis of DTC neck recurrences. Diagnosis of DTC neck recurrences was based on fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) or on histologic results. Four hundred ninety‐four DTC patients (120 males, 374 females; mean age, 49.3 years), submitted to total thyroidectomy and subsequent radioablative 131I treatment, underwent serum Tg measurement off T4 therapy, 131I WBS, and neck US at our institution. Mean (± SD) follow‐up time was 55.1 ± 37.7 months. Neck DTC recurrences were detected in 51 (10.3%) patients (34 females, 17 males; mean age, 49.5 years). RESULTS Neck recurrences occurred after 44.6 ± 21.4 months from initial treatment. Serum Tg levels increased (≥ 2 ng/mL) off T4 therapy in 29 patients (sensitivity 56.8%), 131I WBS showed neck uptake in 23 patients (sensitivity 45.1%) and coexisting distant metastases were detected in 9 of 23 patients, and US identified neck recurrence in 48 patients (sensitivity 94.1%). Of these 48 neck recurrences, 19 were found in the laterocervical compartment and 29 in the central neck compartment. CONCLUSIONS Traditional techniques for the surveillance of DTC patients are not as sensitive as US in the detection of neck recurrences. Neck US detects recurrences in patients with undetectable serum Tg levels and negative IWBS and should be performed as the first‐line test in the follow‐up of all DTC patients. Cancer 2003;97:90–6. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11031

Of the 1352 samples in the cohort, which were provided by multiple collaborators, four samples of breast tissue for which DNA was analyzed were a part of another study. Since these samples did not go through the same rigorous screening process, including pathology review and extraction of DNA from paraffin tissues, that was applied to all other samples, the authors are less confident in their exact identity and have decided to retract them from the study. This does not change the message of the paper, but results in changes in and in one pie chart in Figure 2E, that for breast cancer. The corrected figure parts are below. In addition, the supplemental material containing sample information has been updated online.

BackgroundAim of this study was to compare cancer incidence in populations with and without diabetes by cancer site. Furthermore, we aimed at comparing excess risk of cancer according to diabetes type, diabetes duration and treatment, the latter as regards Type 2 diabetes.MethodsBy use of the Reggio Emilia diabetes registry we classified the resident population aged 20–84 at December 31st 2009 into two groups: with and without diabetes. By linking with the cancer registry we calculated the 2010–2013 cancer incidence in both groups. The incidence rate ratios (IRR) by cancer site, type of diabetes, diabetes duration, and as concerns Type 2 diabetes, by treatment regimen were computed using Poisson regression model and non-diabetic group as reference.ResultsThe cohort included 383,799 subjects without diabetes and 23,358 with diabetes. During follow-up, we identified 1464 cancer cases in subjects with diabetes and 9858 in the remaining population. Overall cancer incidence was higher in subjects with diabetes than in those without diabetes (IRR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.15–1.29), with similar results focusing on subjects with at least 2-year diabetes duration. Cancer sites driving overall increased risk were liver, pancreas, Colon rectum, and bladder in both sexes, corpus uteri for females. There was also suggestion of an increased risk for kidney cancer in females and a decreased risk for prostate cancer. Excess risk was found in patients with Type 2 diabetes, more marked among insulin users, especially with combined therapy.We observed an increasing risk for diabetes duration up to 10 years from diagnosis (IRR = 1.44, 95%CI 1.29–1.61) and a subsequent decrease to moderate-higher risk (IRR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.04–1.30).ConclusionsOur study indicates that the strength of association depends on specific cancer site. Insulin, monotherapy or combined therapy, per se or as an indication of poor blood glucose control, in addition to diabetes duration, may play a role in the association of diabetes and cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3696-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nutritional status in patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), especially of gastroenteropancreatic origin, can be deeply affected by excessive production of gastrointestinal hormones, peptides, and amines, which can lead to malabsorption, diarrhoea, steatorrhea, and altered gastrointestinal motility. Besides, the surgical and/or medical management of NETs can lead to alteration of gastrointestinal secretory, motor, and absorptive functions, with both dietary and nutritional consequences. Indeed, disease-related malnutrition is a frequently encountered yet both underrecognized and understudied clinical phenomenon in patients with NETs, with substantial prognostic and socioeconomic consequences. Most of these conditions can be alleviated by a tailored nutritional approach, also with the aim of improving the efficacy of cancer treatments. In this setting, skilled nutritionists can play a fundamental role in the multidisciplinary health care team in NETs management and their presence should be recommended. The aim of this review is to provide dietary advices for each specific condition in patients with NETs, underlining the importance of a nutritional approach to treat malnutrition in this setting. Further, we will provide preliminary evidence coming from our data on the assessment of nutritional status in a single cohort of patients with NETs.

Bone represents the second most common site of distant metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The clinical course of DTC patients with bone metastases (BM) is quite heterogeneous, but generally associated with low survival rates. Skeletal-related events might be a serious complication of BM, resulting in high morbidity and impaired quality of life. To achieve disease control and symptoms relief, multimodal treatment is generally required: radioiodine therapy, local procedures-including surgery, radiotherapy and percutaneous techniques-and systemic therapies, such as kinase inhibitors and antiresorptive drugs. The management of DTC with BM is challenging: a careful evaluation and a personalized approach are essential to improve patients' outcomes. To date, prospective studies focusing on the main clinical aspects of DTC with BM are scarce; available analyses mainly include cohorts assembled over multiple decades, small samples sizes and data about BM not always separated from those regarding other distant metastases. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent evidences and the unsolved questions regarding BM in DTC, analyzing several key issues: pathophysiology, prognostic factors, role of anatomic and functional imaging, and clinical management.