Impact of Surgeon-Performed Ultrasound on Treatment of Thyroid Cancer Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (9) ◽  
pp. 1148-1152
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Shalaby ◽  
Deena Hadedeya ◽  
Grace S. Lee ◽  
Eman Toraih ◽  
Emad Kandil
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
American Thyroid Association ◽  
Cervical Lymph Nodes ◽  
Management Planning ◽  
Final Pathology ◽  
Endocrine Surgeon

Background The 2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules recommended a comprehensive sonographic evaluation of thyroid nodules’ characteristics and the presence of any suspicious cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in the central and lateral compartments. This detailed sonographic assessment is still not routinely performed. We hypothesized that an endocrine surgeon-performed ultrasound (SUS) significantly enhances the management of thyroid cancer patients when compared with referral ultrasound (RUS). Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 267 consecutive thyroid surgery patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer on final pathology. All patients had undergone a SUS, but only 130 cohorts with both RUS and SUS were included. Features of thyroid nodules and LN and changes in the management plan were recorded. Results Based on SUS assessment, 26 patients (20%) were noted to have suspicious thyroid nodules which warranted a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and were missed in RUS. On FNA, there were 12 patients with Bethesda categories III/IV and 14 patients with Bethesda V/VI. Those 26 patients were found to have a malignancy in the final pathology assessment. Thirty-eight patients (29.2%) were noted to have suspicious central/lateral neck findings on SUS but were not reported in RUS. Additionally, 8 patients (6.1%) were found to have a parathyroid adenoma by SUS and required concurrent parathyroidectomy. Discussion A comprehensive neck ultrasound in thyroid cancer patients, performed by their endocrine surgeon, could enhance management planning and outcomes. This finding highlights the critical need for education and improvement of routine neck ultrasonographic examination performed in the community.

scholarly journals Malignancy Analyses of Thyroid Nodules in Patients Subjected to Surgery with Cytological- and Ultrasound-Based Risk Stratification Systems

Endocrines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-118
Author(s):  
Stefania Giuliano ◽  
Maria Mirabelli ◽  
Eusebio Chiefari ◽  
Margherita Vergine ◽  
Rita Gervasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
Thyroid Surgery ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
American Thyroid Association ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Indeterminate Cytology

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the gold standard for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer. However, up to 30% of FNA examinations yield nondiagnostic or indeterminate results and this complicates patient management. Clinical features and ultrasound (US) patterns, including US risk stratification systems, could be useful in the preoperative diagnostic workup and prediction of malignancy, but the evidences are not univocal. Methods: 400 consecutive patients subjected to thyroid surgery were retrospectively enrolled at our institution in Calabria, Southern Italy. Preoperative US and FNA cytological descriptions, formulated according to the “Italian consensus for reporting thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology” (ICCRTC) classification and three US risk stratification systems (those developed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AACE/ACE/AME), American Thyroid Association (ATA), and American College of Radiology (ACR-TIRADS)), were collected, along with histological results. Results: 147 thyroid cancer cases, in large majority papillary carcinomas, were detected on final histological examination. Almost two-thirds of patients subjected to thyroid surgery for either benign or malignant lesions were female. Patient’s age ≤20 years and between 21–30 years were clinical features associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer in logistic regression analyses. US features associated with thyroid cancer included irregular margins, solid composition, microcalcifications, and marked hypoechogenicity. The AACE/ACE/AME, ATA, and ACR-TIRADS risk categories, corresponding to specific US patterns, were strong predictors of malignancy in both genders, but not in nodules with indeterminate cytology. A measured difference between the longitudinal (L) and the anteroposterior (AP) diameter >5 mm, a proxy for a parallel-oriented oval shape of a nodule, emerged as a robust protective factor against thyroid cancer (OR 0.288 (95%CI 0.817–0.443); p < 0.001), regardless of cytological risk. Conclusions: Some, but not all, well-established predictors of TC have been confirmed in this study. Controversy surrounds the diagnostic performance of US risk stratification systems for the detection of thyroid cancer in the subgroup of nodules with indeterminate cytology, suggesting their use only to set the thresholds for FNA. A measured difference between L and AP diameters >5 mm may represent an additional and practical tool for ruling out malignancy in thyroid nodules, with the potential to reduce unnecessary surgical procedures.

Molecular Diagnostics of Thyroid Tumors

2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri E. Nikiforov
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Braf V600e ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Diagnostic Use

Abstract Context.—Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine malignancy and its incidence is steadily increasing. Papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma are the most common types of thyroid cancer and represent those tumor types for which use of molecular markers for diagnosis and prognostication is of high clinical significance. Objective.—To review the most common molecular alterations in thyroid cancer and their diagnostic and prognostic utility. Data Sources.—PubMed (US National Library of Medicine)–available review articles, peer-reviewed original articles, and experience of the author. Conclusions.—The most common molecular alterations in thyroid cancer include BRAF and RAS point mutations and RET/PTC and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangements. These nonoverlapping genetic alterations are found in more than 70% of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas. These molecular alterations can be detected in surgically resected samples and fine-needle aspiration samples from thyroid nodules and can be of significant diagnostic use. The diagnostic role of BRAF mutations has been studied most extensively, and recent studies also demonstrated a significant diagnostic utility of RAS, RET/PTC, and PAX8/PPARγ mutations, particularly in thyroid fine-needle aspiration samples with indeterminate cytology. In addition to the diagnostic use, BRAF V600E mutation can also be used for tumor prognostication, as this mutation is associated with higher rate of tumor recurrence and tumor-related mortality. The use of these and other emerging molecular markers is expected to improve significantly the accuracy of cancer diagnosis in thyroid nodules and allow more individualized surgical and postsurgical management of patients with thyroid cancer.

scholarly journals Thyroglobulin measurements in washout of fine needle aspirates in cervical lymph nodes for detection of papillary thyroid cancer metastases

2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 550-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
André B. Zanella ◽  
Erika L. Souza Meyer ◽  
Letícia Balzan ◽  
Antônio C. Silva ◽  
Joíza Camargo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Papillary Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Papillary Thyroid ◽  
Cervical Lymph Nodes ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Fine Needle Aspirates ◽  
Cancer Metastases ◽  
Thyroid Cancer Metastases

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement of thyroglobulin in washout needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB-Tg) to detect papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) metastases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients (51.4 ± 14.6 years) with PTC diagnosis and evidence of enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LN) were included. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of suspicious LN was performed, for both cytological examination and measurement of FNAB-Tg. RESULTS: The median values of FNAB-Tg in patients with metastatic LN (n = 5) was 3,419 ng/mL (11.1-25,538), while patients without LN metastasis (n = 38) showed levels of 3.7 ng/mL (0.8-7.4). Considering a 10 ng/mL cutoff value for FNAB-Tg, the sensitivity and specificity was 100%. There were no differences on the median of FNAB-Tg measurements between those on (TSH 0.07 mUI/mL) or off levothyroxine (TSH 97.4 mUI/mL) therapy (3.3 vs. 3.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.2). CONCLUSION: The results show that evaluation of FNAB-Tg in cervical LN is a valuable diagnostic tool for PTC metastases that can be used independent of the thyroid status.

scholarly journals ACR TI-RADS and ATA US scores are helpful for the management of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thayse Lozovoy Madsen Barbosa ◽  
Cleo Otaviano Mesa Junior ◽  
Hans Graf ◽  
Teresa Cavalvanti ◽  
Marcus Adriano Trippia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
American Thyroid Association ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
The Us ◽  
Risk Of Malignancy ◽  
Indeterminate Cytology

Abstract Background Cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules currently present a challenge for clinical decision-making. The main aim of our study was to determine whether the classifications, American College of Radiology (ACR) TI-RADS and 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines, in association with The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC), could be used to stratify the malignancy risk of indeterminate thyroid nodules and guide their clinical management. Methods The institutional review board approved this retrospective study of a cohort of 140 thyroid nodules in 139 patients who were referred to ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from January 2012 to June 2016 with indeterminate cytological results (44 Bethesda III, 52 Bethesda IV and 44 Bethesda V) and in whom pre-FNAC thyroid US images and histological results after surgery were available. Each included nodule was classified by one radiologist blinded to the cytological and histological diagnoses according to the ACR TIRADS scores and the US patterns as recommended in the 2015 ATA guidelines. The risk of malignancy was estimated for Bethesda, TI-RADS scores, ATA US patterns and their combination. Results Of the 140 indeterminate thyroid nodules examined, 74 (52.9%) were histologically benign. A different rate of malignancy (p < 0.001) among Bethesda III, IV and V was observed. The rate of malignancy increased according to the US suspicion categories (p < 0.001) in both US classifications (TI-RADS and ATA). Thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda III and the lowest risk US categories (very low, low and intermediate suspicion by ATA and 2, 3 and 4a by TI-RADS) displayed a sensitivity of 95.3% for both classifications and a negative predictive value of 94.3 and 94.1%, respectively. The highest risk US categories (high suspicion by ATA and 4b,4c and 5 by TI-RADS) were significantly associated with cancer (odds ratios [ORs] 14.7 and 9.8, respectively). Conclusions Ultrasound classifications, ACR TI-RADS and ATA guidelines, may help guide the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules, suggesting a conservative approach to nodules with low-risk US suspicion and Bethesda III, while molecular testing and surgery should be considered for nodules with high-risk US suspicion and Bethesda IV or V.

scholarly journals What is New on Thyroid Cancer Biomarkers

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. BMI.S669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosaria M. Ruggeri ◽  
Alfredo Campennì ◽  
Sergio Baldari ◽  
Francesco Trimarchi ◽  
Maria Trovato
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Follicular Epithelium ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Follicular Lesions ◽  
Needle Aspiration Cytology ◽  
Well Differentiated

Thyroid cancer harbours in about 5% of thyroid nodules. The majority of them are well-differentiated cancers originating from the follicular epithelium, and are subdivided into papillary and follicular carcinomas. Undifferentiated carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas arising from C cells are less common. Although most thyroid nodules are benign, distinguishing thyroid cancer from benign lesions is crucial for an appropriate treatment and follow-up. The fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) allows the diagnosis of nature of thyroid nodules in the majority of cases. However, FNAC has some limitations, particularly in the presence of follicular lesions which can appear dubious in rare instances even at histology. In an effort to improve diagnostic accuracy and offer new prognostic criteria, several immunohistochemical and molecular markers have been proposed. However, most of them have to be validated on large series before being used in routine practice.

NO BENEFIT OF DEDICATED THYROID NODULE SCREENING IN PATIENTS WITH ACROMEGALY

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngan Betty Lai ◽  
Dave Garg ◽  
Anthony P. Heaney ◽  
Marvin Bergsneider ◽  
Angela M. Leung
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Thyroid Nodule ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Papillary Thyroid ◽  
Fine Needle

Objective: Acromegaly results from the excessive production of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. While there is up to a 2-fold increased prevalence of thyroid nodules in patients with acromegaly, the incidence of thyroid cancer in this population varies from 1.6 to 10.6% in several European studies. The goal of our study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer among patients with acromegaly at a large urban academic medical center in the United States (U.S.). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients with acromegaly between 2006–2015 within the University of California, Los Angeles health system. Data were collected regarding patient demographics, thyroid ultrasounds, thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy cytology, and thyroid surgical pathology. Results: In this cohort (n = 221, 49.3% women, mean age 53.8 ± 15.2 [SD] years, 55.2% Caucasian), 102 patients (46.2%) underwent a thyroid ultrasound, from which 71 patients (52.1% women, mean age 52.9 ± 15.2 [SD] years, 56.3% Caucasian) were found to have a thyroid nodule. Seventeen patients underwent a thyroid nodule FNA biopsy and the results revealed 12 benign biopsies, 1 follicular neoplasm, 3 suspicious for malignancy, and 1 papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), from which 6 underwent thyroidectomy; PTC was confirmed by surgical pathology for all cases (8.5% of all nodules observed). Conclusion: In this sample, the prevalence of thyroid cancer in patients with acromegaly and coexisting thyroid nodules is similar to that reported in the general U.S. population with thyroid nodules (7 to 15%). These findings suggest that there is no benefit of dedicated thyroid nodule screening in patients newly diagnosed with acromegaly. Abbreviations: AACE = American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; ATA = American Thyroid Association; DTC = differentiated thyroid cancer; FNA = fine needle aspiration; GH = growth hormone; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor-1; PTC = papillary thyroid cancer; U.S. = United States

scholarly journals Managing Thyroid Nodules in Qatar During the COVID19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A841-A842
Author(s):  
Zaina Alamer ◽  
Gowri Karuppasamy ◽  
Arwa Alsaud ◽  
Tania Jaber ◽  
Hanan Farghaly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Thyroid Nodules ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
American Thyroid Association ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration

Abstract Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted health care systems in all countries, including Qatar. Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC); In compliance with recommendations, suspended all non-urgent procedures, including thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB). Thyroid nodules are second most common cause of referral to HMC endocrine clinic. FNABs are gold standard to differentiate benign from malignant nodules.1- 2 Methods: Our approach includes a teleconsultation to obtain patient’s history and risk factors. Reviewing neck ultrasound (US), obtaining a calcitonin level if indicated, considering comorbidities associated with a high risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.3 Results: We developed a pathway triaging thyroid (FNAB) to:1-Urgent: patients at higher risk of aggressive thyroid malignancy. Benefits of early detection and treatment outweigh the risk of COVID-19 exposure.4 FNAB should not be delayed.2-Semi-urgent: patients at low risk for COVID-19 and high suspicion thyroid nodules, but no evidence that early detection improves survival2, FNAB may be delayed up to 12 months.3-Non-urgent: patients with asymptomatic nodules that have low or intermediate suspicion US pattern.2 Also, includes nodules with ATA high suspicion US pattern in pregnant women and patients at high risk for COVID-19. The risks outweigh the benefits. FNAB should be delayed until outbreak is controlled.4 When urgent FNAB is indicated, safety of patients and medical staff needs to be addressed.5 We recommend testing patient for COVID-19 before FNAB, utilizing US guidance with rapid on-site adequacy evaluation in all cases. Cervical lymph node FNAB with TG washout should be done if indicated. The patient should wear a mask. All medical staff involved should wear personal protective equipment (PPE). The operator should wear N95 mask and face shield. The patient should be informed about cytopathology results via telemedicine. Conclusion: Triaging thyroid (FNAB) during the COVID-19 pandemic should be based on nodule characteristics and risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Our group recommends deferring FNAB for asymptomatic patients.4FNAB should not be delayed in selected patients who benefit from early detection and intervention. Table1: Triage of Thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB). ATA: American thyroid association. US: ultrasound.

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