Our results suggest that PTCs located in the isthmus were more likely to be associated with multifocal disease, lymph node involvement and capsule invasion, than carcinomas in other thyroid regions. Therefore, total thyroidectomy could be considered as an appropriate surgical treatment for papillary carcinomas located in the isthmus regardless of size.

Our results indicate that a high rate of PTMC presented 1 or more risk factors including multifocality, bilaterality, capsule invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Therefore, we suggest total thyroidectomy followed by adequate exploration of the central neck compartment for possible nodal involvement and resection as a safe therapeutic approach.

Our results indicate that patients with certain preoperative findings such as larger thyroid dimensions, diagnosis of malignancy and especially tumor >10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node metastasis are at higher risk of IP and postoperative symptomatic hypocalcemia and these patients should be adequately informed and treated. Α meticulous intraoperative identification and the preservation of all parathyroid glands results in lower incidence of IP and postoperative hypocalcemia.

A patient with an aural mass presents a diagnostic dilemma. Metastatic tumors in the EAC are extremely rare, but they should be included in the differential diagnosis of a mass in this location.

Objective: To systematically review the scientific literature and to investigate the effectiveness of preoperative rehabilitation on subjective and objective outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) when compared with patients in a control group.

Purpose: Several studies have shown that patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee can reduce their knee pain, improve their quadriceps strength, and improve their functional ability through regular exercise training. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a six-week supervised highintensity preoperative training program on muscle strength, functional performance, and patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods: Ninety-eight patients scheduled for unilateral TKA for severe OA were allocated to an intervention group (N = 49) who completed a six-week preoperative training program, five days per week prior to surgery, and a control group (N=49) who did not follow any preoperative training program. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Physical Functioning Scale of the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), quadriceps strength, 20meter walk test, and 30-second chair stand test were assessed at six weeks before surgery (T0), just before surgery (T1), four weeks (T2) and finally 12 weeks (T3) after TKA.Results: Of 98 patients included in our study, 10 individuals withdrew from the study at different stages. Finally, 44 patients were allocated to the intervention group and 44 patients to the control group. When comparing the changes from baseline to the primary test points at T1, T2, and T3, we found a significant group difference in favor of the intervention group for quadriceps strength (<0.001, 0.001, 0.009), 20-meter walk test (<0.001, 0.023, 0.032), 30-second chair stand test (0.001, <0.001, <0.001) and all patient-reported outcomes WOMAC (<0.001, 0.001, 0.007) except from KOOS that showed significant difference only at T1 (<0.001) at T2 (0.048) but not at T3 (0.087).Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that a six-week preoperative physiotherapy training program supervised by a physiotherapist before TKA is efficacious for decreasing knee pain, improving knee function, and enhancing daily living activities.

No abstract