EVALUATION OF PREDICTIVE CAPABILITIES OF TIRADS, EU-TIRADS, TLA_RU SYSTEMS IN THE ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS OF THYROID NODULAR PATHOLOGY

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic capabilities of EU-TIRADS, TIRADS, TLA_RU systems in ultrasound diagnostics of thyroid nodular masses. A retrospective independent continuous blind study of ultrasound examination protocols was conducted in 665 patients, 241 patients had benign non-cancerous thyroid diseases, 86 patients had benign tumors (adenomas), 338 patients had thyroid cancer. During the preoperative examination, all patients underwent a multiparametric ultrasound examination of the neck organs according to the standard procedure, with the registration of identified thyroid nodes, with examining the prognostic capabilities of stratification systems – TIRADS, EU-TIRADS, TLA_RU. It was found that the TIRADS system has a sensitivity of 91.04%, specificity – 91.41%. Focusing on the scale of AUC values reflecting the quality of the diagnostic test, it can be stated that TIRADS is a test with excellent quality (AUC =0.972). Basing on the results of the analyzing the data obtained by the EU-TIRADS system, it was revealed that it is a high-quality test (AUC=0.826), but its predictive capabilities are worse than those of TIRADS. The original TLA_RU model has 87.5% sensitivity and 95.7% specificity. During the ROC analysis, it was found that the AUC is equal to 0.954±0.00894, which suggests that the TLA_RU model is an excellent quality test in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodular masses. Multivariate statistical comparative analysis of thyroid imaging assessment systems (TIRADS, EU-TIRADS and TLA_RU) from the standpoint of evidence-based medicine has shown that thyroid cancer risk stratification systems based on the assessment of multiparametric ultrasound signs have great diagnostic capabilities.

Genetic Variants Associated with Thyroid Cancer Risk: Comprehensive Research Synopsis, Meta-Analysis, and Cumulative Epidemiological Evidence

Purpose. With the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer (TC), associations between genetic polymorphisms and TC risk have attracted a lot of attention. Considering that the results of associations of genetic variants with TC were usually inconsistent based on publications until now, we attempted to comprehensively evaluate the real evidence of associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and TC risk. Method. We performed meta-analyses on 36 SNPs in 23 genes associated with TC susceptibility based on the data from 99 articles and comprehensively valued the epidemiological evidence of significant associations through the Venice criteria and false-positive report probability (FPRP) test. OR and P value were also calculated for 19 SNPs in 13 genes based on the insufficient data from 22 articles. Results. 19 SNPs were found significantly associated with TC susceptibility. Of these, strong epidemiological evidence of associations was identified for the following seven SNPs: POU5F1B rs6983267, FOXE1 rs966423, TERT rs2736100, NKX2-1 rs944289, FOXE1 rs1867277, FOXE1 rs2439302, and RET rs1799939, in which moderate associations were found in four SNPs and weak associations were found in eight SNPs. In addition, probable significant associations with TC were found in nine SNPs. Conclusion. Our study systematically evaluated associations between SNPs and TC risk and offered reference information for further understanding of polymorphisms and TC susceptibility.

Screening Leads to Overestimated Associations of Thyroid Dysfunction and Thyroiditis with Thyroid Cancer Risk

We aimed to assess the relationships of functional thyroid disease and thyroiditis with subsequent thyroid cancer, which is controversial due to various confounders, and the effect of thyroid disease workup on this association. We used the cohort data from 2002 to 2015 (Study I, n = 28,330) and the entire data from 2002 to 2019 (Study II, n = 883,074) of the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, and performed logistic regression and subgroup analyses with various covariates. In Study I, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and Graves’ disease showed positive associations with thyroid cancer. In Study II, after adjustment for covariates including the number of thyroid function tests, the ORs for thyroid cancer were significantly reduced in all thyroid diseases. Hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and autoimmune thyroiditis were positively associated (adjusted odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.28 (1.25–1.32), 1.36 (1.31–1.42), and 1.17 (1.11–1.24), respectively), whereas hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease were negatively associated with thyroid cancer (adjusted OR (95% CI) 0.80 (0.77–0.83) and 0.69 (0.65–0.74), respectively). Multiple subgroup analyses in both studies showed consistent results. In this large population-based, nationwide study, we confirmed that thyroid disease workup leads to overestimation of associations of thyroid dysfunction and thyroiditis with thyroid cancer risk.

Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors in Children with Thyroid Nodules: A One-Center Study

Thyroid nodules are common in the adult population (13%), but in childhood, they are relatively rarely diagnosed (0.2–5%). The risk factors and diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms are well-known and effectively used in adults, but no clear procedures supported by scientific research are available in the pediatric population. Our aim in this study was to identify predictive factors for thyroid cancer in a pediatric population. We retrospectively analyzed 112 children (80 girls and 32 boys, aged 0.6–18 years, with an average group age of 13.4 ± 4.5 years) with thyroid nodules who presented or were referred between 2010 and 2021. A total of 37 children qualified for partial or total thyroidectomy. After histopathological nodule examination, the most common cases were benign lesions in 23 patients (57.5%) and malignant lesions in 14 children (32.5%). Solitary benign thyroid nodules were found in 16 children (40%). Malignancy risk was higher in children with increased nodule diameter (greater than 7 mm; p = 0.018) or hypoechogenic lesions in ultrasound (p = 0.010), with no correlation between increased blood flow in the vessels and tumor diagnosis. The relative risk of developing thyroid cancer for class III was found to be higher in comparison to adults and 11.1 times higher than for classes I and II combined.

1107Dietary polyphenol intake and differentiated thyroid cancer risk: a population-based case-control study in New Caledonia

Background Aetiology of differentiated thyroid cancer is poorly understood. Among the risk factors strongly suspected to be involved in thyroid carcinogenesis are dietary factors. Recent evidence suggests polyphenols (i.e., natural bioactive compounds found in plant species), and their anticancer properties, may deserve closer epidemiological attention. Therefore, we examined the association between polyphenol intake levels and thyroid cancer risk in New Caledonia – a Pacific archipelago with some of the highest recorded thyroid cancer incidence rates in the world. Methods Food frequency questionnaire information from a population-based case-control study was used. Daily lignan and flavonoid intakes, expressed as aglycone equivalents, were estimated using Phenol-Explorer and relevant USDA databases. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed on data from 324 histologically confirmed cases of papillary or follicular carcinoma, diagnosed from 1993 to 1999, and 402 controls. Polyphenol intakes were analysed as both continuous and categorical variables (quartiles). Results Estimated median flavonoid and lignan intakes were 351.0 and 2.6 mg, respectively. When adjusting for sex, age, ethnic community, province of residence, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption and energy intake, no association with differentiated thyroid cancer risk was observed for flavonoids (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.70; comparing extreme quartiles), but a negative association was demonstrated for lignans (ORQ4vs.Q1=0.60, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.96; comparing extreme quartiles). Conclusions Our findings suggest that lignans may exert a protective effect on differentiated thyroid cancer. However, large-scale cohort studies and further analytical data on lignans are required to confirm this association. Key messages Lignans may play a role in thyroid carcinogenesis.