Although the operating time was lower with IONM than with visualization alone, the shortened surgical time may not seem to have great clinical relevance. However, the shorter the nerve is identified the lower is the surgeon's level of stress. We think that it is important to use IONM to decrease the identification time of RLN in the course of thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND:The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of simple laboratory parameters including neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), and serum bilirubin level in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and recognition of perforated appendicitis. METHODS:Records of 3392 patients who underwent appendectomy in a 10-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to histopathological examination results: Group 1 had normal appendix, Group 2 had acute appendicitis. Patients with acute appendicitis were divided into subgroups: Group 2A had simple acute appendicitis, while Group 2B had perforated appendicitis. Efficacy of the aforementioned laboratory parameters was evaluated in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and recognition of perforated appendicitis. Independent variables were determined by univariate analysis and multivariate analysis was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify significant parameters in multivariate analysis. Cut-off values, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy calculations performed for parameters with area under curve (AUC) >0.600 were accepted as "significant parameters."

Diagnostic laparoscopy might be used in selected patients to exclude significant intra-abdominal injuries.

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FNA-Tg measurement can be performed safely for the detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas.