Thyroid nodules are classified into six cytological categories under the Bethesda classification system. Two of these categories, atypical of undetermined significance (AUS) and suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (SFN), are further labeled as "indeterminate" diagnosis. Starting in June, 2012, Kansas University-Wichita Endocrine clinic implemented Afirma® Gene Expression Classifier (AGEC) to evaluate the need for surgical resection of thyroid nodules in patients with an indeterminate diagnosis. Electronic medical records of patients who underwent thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration from 2004-2014 were reviewed. The aim of this study was to find whether implementing AGEC was associated with decreased surgical recommendation rate, decreased cost, and increased incidence of thyroid malignancy diagnosed by surgery in patients with indeterminate diagnosis. A total of 299 consecutive patients' charts were screened. Sixty-one (20 %) patients had an indeterminate diagnosis. Out of these, 27 (44 %) patients underwent evaluation before and 34 (56 %) patients underwent evaluation after AGEC implementation, respectively. Surgical recommendation for patients with indeterminate finding decreased from 81.5 to 50 % (p = 0.01) after AGEC implementation. Surgical pathology was read as malignant in 20 and 85.7 % (p < 0.01) of patients before and after AGEC implementation, respectively. Primary cost-benefit estimate showed implementing AGEC has saved $1048/patient in medical evaluation and initial management of patients with indeterminate diagnosis. AGEC implementation has decreased the number of surgical recommendations, has lowered financial burden, and has increased incidence of thyroid malignancy diagnosed by surgical pathology in patients with indeterminate diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious medical condition associated with variable clinical presentation depending on the extent of the hemorrhage. Pregnancy-induced adrenal hemorrhage is poorly understood. A low cortisol level in the peripartum period with radiological findings is sufficient to establish the diagnosis. Prompt hormone replacement and supportive care to ensure good clinical outcomes is crucial. Due to the potentially life-threatening complications, physicians should have a high suspicion for adrenal hemorrhage when they evaluate patients with hypotension, fatigue, and abdominal pain during the peripartum period.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare manifestation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection that accounts for around 12% of all cases of facial paralysis. Although it is more common in immunosuppressed individuals, it has not been yet reported in kidney transplant recipients. We describe the case of a 41-year-old man with a history of renal transplant for whom the diagnosis and treatment of RHS were delayed owing to an unusual presentation. We also review the literature on VZV infection in renal transplant patients.
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