Claudia D'Ercole

Publications (4)1.52 Total impact

• Article: Prognostic factors of insular versus papillary/follicular thyroid carcinoma.

  Laura Falvo, Antonio Catania, Vito D'Andrea, Paola Grilli, Claudia D'Ercole, Enrico De Antoni
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The study aims were to characterize patients with insular thyroid cancer and to provide data on patient outcome after surgical therapy. We compared nine patients with insular thyroid cancer at the Department of Surgical Science of "La Sapienza" University of Rome with 27 patients of similar age and tumor size who had follicular and papillary cancer, for a minimum follow-up period of 24 months (range, 24-72 months). All of the patients examined underwent total thyroidectomy. Vascular invasion was observed in 44.4 per cent of insular carcinomas (P < 0.05 vs papillary carcinomas). No significant differences were observed regarding diagnostic method, multifocality, tumor nodes metastases (TNM), or stage. The death rate of patients with insular carcinoma (33.3%) was found to be higher than that of patients with follicular carcinoma (P < 0.05) and papillary carcinoma (P < 0.01). Relapsing lymph-node pathologies were observed in 4 patients (44.4%) with insular carcinoma (P < 0.05 vs those with follicular and papillary carcinomas). Distant metastases were observed in 66.6 per cent of insular carcinomas (P < 0.005 vs follicular carcinoma and P < 0.001 vs papillary carcinoma). At the end of follow-up, 2 patients (22.2%) with insular carcinoma were disease-free (P < 0.001 vs those with follicular and papillary carcinomas). Our study demonstrates an unfavorable prognostic role of the insular phenotype of thyroid cancer, such that this tumor can be classified as an autonomous clinical and pathological entity.
  The American surgeon 06/2004; 70(5):461-6. · 1.28 Impact Factor
• Article: Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland: analysis of prognostic factors including histological subtype.

  Laura Falvo, Claudia D'Ercole, Salvatore Sorrenti, Vito D'Andrea, Antonio Catania, Alberto Berni, Paola Grilli, Enrico De Antoni
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: To evaluate the prognosis of papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) of the thyroid. Prospective study. Teaching hospital, Italy. 89 patients treated for papillary micro carcinoma of thyroid and followed up for at least 6 years (range 6-12). Total thyroidectomy and, for lymph node metastases, laterocervical lymphadenectomy. Sex distribution, mode of onset of disease, diameter of tumour, histological type, histological stage, presence of lymph node metastases at the time of operation and type of operation. When the disease presented with laterocervical lymph nodes it was histologically more aggressive and included follicular (n = 3) and sclerosing (n = 4) types. Papillary microcarcinoma has an excellent prognosis if managed initially by total thyroidectomy.
  The European journal of surgery. Supplement.: = Acta chirurgica. Supplement 08/2003;
• Article: Control results on a sample of patients subjected to total thyroidectomy for papillary carcinoma: proposal for a personal diagnostic-therapeutic follow-up.

  Paola Grilli, Claudia D'Ercole, Domenico Vendettuoli, Simona Fornari, Maurizio Vendettuoli, Giorgio Di Rocco, Annabella Blotta, Carlo Manni, Laura Falvo, Enrico De Antoni
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Well-differentiated thyroid neoplasms may be included among the most frequently occurring thyroid carcinomas. Papillary ca. is without doubt the best behaved type. The aim of the present work is to perform a retrospective case history study to assess patients with con papillary ca. who have been treated surgically over the last 17 years and have been subjected to periodic checks. A sample of patients was therefore extrapolated who had all undergone total thyroidectomy for papillary ca. of the thyroid. The incidence of local recurrence of the disease was verified, together with the results at distance. Furthermore, the assessments performed were evaluated and compared. From the sample of patients observed we inferred that papillary carcinoma of the thyroid can have a good prognosis over time provided periodic random checks are carried out.
  Chirurgia italiana 55(5):663-7.
• Article: [Role of surgery in patients with metastases from melanoma. A case report].

  Domenico Vendettuoli, Domenico Giannotti, Paola Grilli, Claudia D'Ercole, Alberto Santoro, Adriano Redler, Roberto Cirocchi, Stefano Trastulli, Nicola Avenia, Giorgio Di Rocco
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: The prognosis of patients with melanoma varies according to the staging of disease at the moment of diagnosis. Melanoma can metastasize to every organ or tissue, but the most common site involved is locoregional. In selected patients surgery plays a central role with the possibility of changing the prognosis at distance. A 65-year-old man with a diagnosis of neoplasm of the left thyroid lobe and metastatic melanoma with unknown primitive localization. Since 2003 the patient has undergone many operations to remove metastatic melanoma. Currently he is in good conditions and performs neoadjuvant palliative treatments. The indication for surgery in cases of patients with distant disease (IV stage) or metastases in transit (IIIc stage) is linked to the possibility of surgical removal of individual lesions. In particular are candidates for surgery patients who have a visceral localization less than or equal to 2 sites, a number less than or equal to 8 metastases, in good health and having a melanoma-specific survival estimated more than 3 months; surgical approach requires an accurate and early identification by imaging study. The case report shows that in selected cases, some patients may benefit from aggressive surgery, especially in terms of survival at distance.
  Annali italiani di chirurgia 81(6):453-5. · 0.23 Impact Factor