scholarly journals The Role of Molecular Testing for the Indeterminate Thyroid FNA

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Diana Rossi ◽  
Liron Pantanowitz ◽  
William C. Faquin

Thyroid nodules are common in the adult population where a majority are benign and only 4.0% to 6.5% are malignant. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a key method used in the early stages to evaluate and triage patients with thyroid nodules. While a definitive cytological diagnosis is provided in more than 70–75% of all thyroid FNA cases, the group of indeterminate lesions offers a challenge in terms of interpretation and clinical management. Molecular testing platforms have been developed, are recognized as an option by the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines, and are frequently used in conjunction with FNA as an integral part of the cytologic evaluation. In this review, the utility of molecular testing options for nodules assigned to the group of indeterminate thyroid FNAs is described.

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 853-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Partyka ◽  
Karen Trevino ◽  
Melissa L. Randolph ◽  
Harvey Cramer ◽  
Howard H. Wu

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A841-A842
Author(s):  
Zaina Alamer ◽  
Gowri Karuppasamy ◽  
Arwa Alsaud ◽  
Tania Jaber ◽  
Hanan Farghaly ◽  
...  

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Aziz Ahari ◽  
Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Vajari ◽  
Navid Khatibi Moghadam ◽  
Hassan Hashemi ◽  
Mahmoud Parvin ◽  
...  

Background: Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is currently the most acceptable method for evaluating thyroid nodules. Non-satisfactory sample is the main limitation of FNA. It has been shown that spinal needles can reduce the number of non-diagnostic samples. Objectives: In this study, we decided to compare the results obtained using spinal (stylet) needle and simple needle in thyroid nodule FNA according to the agreement between them and with the pathology results as the gold standard. Patients and Methods: Sampling of thyroid nodules of 156 patients was performed by a simple non-stylet 23 gauge needle (A) and a spinal 22 gauge needle with stylet (B). The samples were provided to the pathologist for blind examination. All samples were obtained by an expert radiologist and the pathology examination was also performed by a pathologist expert in thyroid gland diseases. Blind analysis was done using SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA). Results: The results of FNA with needles A and B were reported unsatisfactory in 11.51 (18 subjects) and 3.84 (six subjects), respectively (P = 0.01). The result in 63.46% (99 subjects) of the participants, in whom FNA was obtained by needle B was introduced as a better sample by the pathologist in comparison with 36.44% (57 subjects) (P < 0.001). Cancer was diagnosed in 9.56 and 7.66 of the samples yielded by needles B and A, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.54). There was also a significant relationship between thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) score and FNA result. Conclusion: A significant relationship between the adequate sampling results, the qualitative examination result, TI-RADS score and the needle type indicates the importance of needle type on the results of thyroid FNA. Using spinal (stylet) needles may reduce the number of non-diagnostic samples in fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules and therefore, can have a better effect on the results of this method.


Author(s):  
Laura Allen ◽  
Ayham Al Afif ◽  
Matthew H. Rigby ◽  
Martin J. Bullock ◽  
Jonathan Trites ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-qin Guo ◽  
Huan Zhao ◽  
Zhi-hui Zhang ◽  
Yan-li Zhu ◽  
Ting Xiao ◽  
...  

Background. The molecular work-up of thyroid nodules from fine needle aspiration samples has given clinicians a new level of diagnostic information. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of molecular analysis in thyroid fine needle aspiration samples from a Chinese population.Methods. Specimens were collected from thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration. Cytology diagnosis and genes analysis were performed and correlated with histology outcome.Results. A total of 83 patients with thyroid nodules were enrolled, including 20 benign lesions and 63 papillary carcinomas. BRAF and RAS mutations and RET/PTC gene rearrangements were found in 65.1%, 0%, and 1.6% of papillary carcinomas, respectively. No gene alterations were found in benign lesions. The combination of BRAF testing and cytology improved the accuracy of cytology from 69.9% to 89.2%(P<0.05). Moreover, BRAF testing confirmed 82.4% of papillary carcinomas with suspicious cytology and identified 33.3% of papillary carcinomas with atypia cytology.Conclusions. Of the three candidate markers, BRAF testing showed diagnostic utility in fine needle aspiration. Combining BRAF testing with cytology improves the accuracy of fine needle biopsy. Those who have positive BRAF and malignant or suspicious malignant cytology can undergo thyroidectomy without a frozen section.


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