超声引导下细针穿刺细胞学检查在甲状腺癌诊断中的应用

目的：评价超声引导下细针穿刺细胞学检查（FNAC）在甲状腺癌诊断中的作用。方法：对比分析63例甲状腺结节细针穿刺后行手术治疗患者的细胞病理学与组织病理学诊断结果。结果：细针穿刺细胞学结果与术后组织病理学诊断结果比较,诊断总符合率为90.48%（57/63）,kappa=0.883（P〈0.05）FNAC判断甲状腺良恶性结节性质的敏感性、特异性和诊断准确率分别为78.95%、95.45%和90.48%。结论：FNAC对甲状腺癌诊断价值较高,与组织病理学检查总体诊断符合率较好,是一种安全、有效的术前确诊手段。     

超声引导下细针穿刺细胞学检查在甲状腺癌诊断中的应用

目的:评价超声引导下细针穿刺细胞学检查(FNAC)在甲状腺癌诊断中的作用。方法:对比分析63例甲状腺结节细针穿刺后行手术治疗患者的细胞病理学与组织病理学诊断结果。结果:细针穿刺细胞学结果与术后组织病理学诊断结果比较,诊断总符合率为90.48%(57/63),kappa=0.883(P<0.05)FNAC判断甲状腺良恶性结节性质的敏感性、特异性和诊断准确率分别为78.95%、95.45%和90.48%。结论:FNAC对甲状腺癌诊断价值较高,与组织病理学检查总体诊断符合率较好,是一种安全、有效的术前确诊手段。     

The meaning and predictivity of Hürthle cells in fine needle aspiration cytology for thyroid nodular disease.

AIMS: The significance of Hürthle cells in thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples remains uncertain. This study aims to clarify the meaning and the predictivity of this kind of cells. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with Hürthle cells in FNAC of thyroid nodules were reviewed. Histopathology was correlated with cytological findings. RESULTS: The density of Hürthle cells in FNACs ranged from 20 to 100%. Eighty-nine patients had benign nodular disease (Hürthle cell or follicular adenoma), and 21 patients had malignant tumours. The presence of more than 50% Hürthle cells in FNAC correlated with benign or malignant Hürthle cell neoplasm. Hürthle cell carcinomas displayed more than 90% Hürthle cells in FNAC. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is indicated for all nodular lesions with more than 50% Hürthle cells in FNAC.     

Cancer size,histotype, and cellular grade may limit the success of fine‐needle aspiration cytology for screen‐detected breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND:

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was adopted as the first‐line method to assess breast lesions in the Verona Breast Cancer Screening Program. The radiological and pathological factors relating to the success of FNAC in breast cancer series were evaluated.

METHODS:

Between July 1999 and June 2004, 418 breast cancers were submitted to FNAC in the Verona Breast Cancer Screening Program. The results of FNAC diagnoses were compared with final histology. The FNAC sensitivity rate, underestimation of malignancy rate, and inadequacy rate were correlated with histotype, size, grading, and radiologic imaging.

RESULTS:

Of the 418 cancers, 95 were in situ, and 323 were invasive. The sensitivity rate was higher in invasive cancers (P < .001), and the underestimation of malignancy rate was greater in in situ cancers (P = .002). Lobular type cancers had a lower sensitivity rate in invasive and in situ cancers. The sensitivity rate was 100% in medullary, mucinous, and papillary cancers, and no case had inadequate sampling. The underestimation of malignancy rate was higher in tubular carcinoma (18.2%); lobular carcinoma showed a higher inadequacy rate (10.4%). The sensitivity rate was lower and the underestimation of malignancy rate was higher in low‐grade carcinomas and in lesions <1 cm (P < .001). The performance of FNAC was not significantly influenced by mammographic imaging of lesions.

CONCLUSIONS:

Low‐grade cancer histotype, cancer size <1 cm, and lobular and tubular histotypes limit the possibility of obtaining positive results by FNAC. Operator experience and multidisciplinary consultation may help in overcoming these limitations. Pathologists must be aware of the limits of FNAC; results must be critically evaluated in light of the triple assessment. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Can a gene‐expression classifier with high negative predictive value solve the indeterminate thyroid fine‐needle aspiration dilemma?

The recent study by Alexander et al validates the effectiveness of the Afirma test, and suggests a potential ancillary role for this unique test when appropriately applied in the evaluation of thyroid nodules classified by fine‐needle aspiration as indeterminate. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013. © 2013 American Cancer Society     

Aggressive variants of follicular cell‐derived thyroid carcinomas: A cytopathologist's perspective

Follicular cell‐derived carcinomas of the thyroid gland comprise a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms of the thyroid gland with varied histologic appearance and molecular profiles. In most patients, these tumors represent relatively indolent neoplasms; however, certain subtypes/variants behave in an aggressive manner, and the recognition of this subset of tumors is essential because of their variable response to therapy and significant morbidity and mortality. Fine‐needle aspiration is considered an essential tool for the diagnosis of suspicious thyroid nodules. In this review, the authors discuss the clinical, histologic, and molecular findings and the prognostic implications of aggressive thyroid neoplasms with emphasis on the characteristic cytomorphologic features on fine‐needle aspiration smears. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:484–503. © 2014 American Cancer Society.     

The incidental thyroid nodule

Incidental thyroid nodules that are found on an imaging study performed for reasons other than thyroid pathology represent a common scenario encountered by health care providers. The initial workup for these nodules comprises a thorough history and physical examination, thyroid function tests, a dedicated thyroid ultrasound, and fine‐needle aspiration of any suspicious lesions. Management ranges from observation and reassurance to surgical resection and depends on the cytologic diagnosis. In cases of cytologically indeterminate or discordant nodules, surgical excision (lobectomy) offers a definitive diagnosis, although molecular testing or a reasonable period of observation may be useful as less invasive adjuncts. CA Cancer J Clin 2018;68:97‐105 . © 2018 American Cancer Society .     

Molecular testing for thyroid nodules: Review and current state

Thyroid nodules affect nearly two‐thirds of the world population. Fine‐needle biopsy with cytologic evaluation remains the diagnostic test of choice to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodules yet fails to discriminate as benign or malignant in up to one‐third of cases. This review discusses the limitation of current cytopathologic evaluation, the development of thyroid molecular testing, and the strengths and limitations of commercially available tests. Initial cytomolecular testing sought to identify specific gene mutations associated with thyroid cancer. Although the presence of a mutation was strongly associated with cancer, the likelihood of identifying a mutation was low; therefore, the test had low sensitivity. Subsequent tests developed have sought to improve the accuracy of cytomolecular testing for thyroid fine‐needle aspirations, both to reassure patients and providers when malignancy may be absent and to confirm the malignancy when present. The development of cytomolecular testing for thyroid nodules has informed and improved current understanding of thyroid nodule formation and progression. When used appropriately and with clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, cytomolecular testing has the potential to improve patient care in the setting of indeterminate thyroid nodules by helping to guide both the need for and the extent of thyroid surgery. Cancer 2018;124:888‐98. © 2017 American Cancer Society.     

Evaluation and Management of the Pediatric Thyroid Nodule

Thyroid nodules are commonly diagnosed in adults. Although rare in children, the risk for thyroid cancer is much higher in the pediatric population compared with adults. Presenting as either a solitary nodule or a multinodular goiter, thyroid nodular disease in children requires a thorough workup that includes a detailed clinical examination comprised of prior history of thyroid disease in the patient or in their family, history of radiation exposure, careful palpation of the thyroid and lymph nodes, blood tests, ultrasonography, and cytological assessment. Thyroid surgery is the gold‐standard treatment for pediatric thyroid nodules; nonetheless, the extent of surgery remains controversial. Because surgery is not without risk, the decision matrix necessitates focus on the benefits of surgery for the child contingent upon all the preoperative exams. New diagnostic technology such as molecular testing with fine needle aspiration biopsy may help distinguish between benign and malignant lesions while potentially decreasing surgery for benign disease. The objective of this review is to summarize new concepts in clinical disease management of nodular thyroid disease in the pediatric population, including patient history, medical examination, and diagnosis workup.     

The diagnostic evaluation of fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid and its clinical application

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and its clinical application.

Methods

From April 2009 to February 2011, thyroid FNAC were performed in a total of 186 patients with thyroid nodule or mass in our hospital and 78 of those 186 patients subsequently underwent thyroidectomy. The FNAC findings were compared with the results of the corresponding histological diagnosis.

Results

The results of thyroid FNAC for 186 patients showed that, (1) 166 cases of benign lesions, the detection rate was 89.24% (166/186), including 96 cases of nodular colloid goiter (51.61%), 28 cases of simple colloid goiter (15.05%), 38 cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) (20.43%) and 4 cases of thyroid adenoma (2.15%); (2) 4 cases of suspicious malignant lesion, the detection rate was 2.15% (4/186); (3) 16 cases of malignant tumor, the detection rate was 8.60% (16/186). Seventy eight patients including malignant (16), suspicious malignant (4), HT (20) and nodular colloid goiters (38) cases diagnosed by FNAC were performed operation with thyroidectomy and the postoperative histopathologic results showed that there were 2 cases HT combined thyroid papillary carcinoma in HT 20 cases by FNAC, 15 cases of thyroid papillary carcinoma and 1 case of follicular carcinoma in 16 cases of malignant tumor by FNAC and 4 case of thyroid papillary carcinoma in 4 cases of suspicious malignant by FNAC.

Conclusion

Thyroid FNAC is a valuable and reliable method for the diagnosis of the thyroid nodules or mass or even most diffuse thyroid diseases. Diagnosis of HT and thyroid papillary carcinoma can be made by thyroid FNAC. There was larger hint value for nodular colloid goiter and simple colloid goiter according to thyroid FNAC.     

Experience with standardized thyroid fine-needle aspiration reporting categories: follow-up data from 529 cases with "indeterminate" or "atypical" reports

BACKGROUND.

A significant number of thyroid fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) cases yield inconclusive results. The recent National Cancer Institute guidelines and those published by other societies are important contributions to standardizing the diagnostic approach. Nevertheless, there are significant issues in the application of guidelines and the evaluation of their clinical efficacy. Data from individual departments can be useful in demonstrating the role of standardized reporting.

METHODS.

The authors followed 529 consecutive cases with inconclusive thyroid FNA results that were analyzed in a single laboratory in Western Australia. In that laboratory, standardized reporting in categories has been in place for a decade, and inconclusive cases have been subdivided into indeterminate and atypical groups. Follow‐up data was obtained for 341 indeterminate cases (17.2% of total thyroid FNA accessions) and for 188 atypical cases (9.5% of accessions).

RESULTS.

In total, 127 nodules with atypical results (67.6%) underwent surgical excision compared with 131 nodules with indeterminate results (38.4%; P < .0001). In 96 excised nodules with atypical results (75.6%), the excised specimens were identified as neoplastic compared with 61 excised nodules with indeterminate results (46.6%; P < .0001). In addition, 31 excised nodules with atypical results (24.4%) had a malignancy proven compared with 17 excised nodules with indeterminate results (13%; P < .05). In addition, 51 of 82 repeat FNAs (62.2%) among patients who had indeterminate results yielded a more specific diagnosis compared with 2 of 9 repeat FNAs (22.2%) among patients who had atypical results (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS.

The routine subcategorization of patients who had inconclusive thyroid FNA reports into indeterminate and atypical groups resulted in statistically significant differences in the likelihood of neoplasia and malignancy. Patients who had indeterminate results were more likely to benefit from repeat FNAC than patients who had atypical results. The current results indicated that patients who fall into these 2 categories are likely to benefit from different clinical management protocols. Cancer Cancer Cytopathol 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Spectrum of head and neck lesions diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration cytology in the pediatric population

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the head and neck region is well accepted as a diagnostic procedure in the adult population. FNAC in the pediatric population is gaining acceptance as clinicians add this technique to the diagnostic armamentarium. An experience with FNAC of the head and neck region in the pediatric population is described from 2 large inner‐city hospitals. Eighty‐five cases were retrieved from patients age <18 years. In 52 cases, clinical or surgical follow‐up was obtained and among these cases the specificity and sensitivity of FNA was 93% and 100%, respectively. The high specificity of FNAC allows the clinician to be confident of malignancy in a clinically suspicious lesion of the head and neck in a pediatric patient. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of ovarian lesions: Is it reliable?

Aim: To assess the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in evaluating ovarian lesions. Methods: Over a two‐year period, fine needle aspiration was performed on surgically removed ovarian masses from 75 patients, aged 20 to 56 years. Smears of the aspirated material stained by Papanicolaou, HE and Wright methods were evaluated by a pathologist who was blinded to the final histopathological diagnoses. Results: Smears of approximately half (32 of 75) of the aspirates were acellular. The remaining 43 aspirates consisted of 15 follicular cysts, two endometrioid cysts, three inflammatory processes and 23 neoplastic lesions. The malignant nature of 13 of the 15 (86%) malignant lesions was diagnosed correctly. Of these, three could not be classified into a specific subtype. Fifteen of the 25 (60%) follicular cysts were diagnosed correctly. In our study, the overall sensitivity and specificity of ovarian aspiration cytology for the diagnosis of malignant lesions were 86% and 100%, respectively. Cytological diagnosis of the benign lesions had a sensitivity of 48% and a specificity of 92%. Conclusion: Ovarian masses are easily accessible for cytological evaluation by fine needle aspiration during laparoscopy or sonography. We studied fine needle aspiration material from surgically removed specimens. However, the results can be extrapolated to real practice. Aspiration cytology can provide particularly useful information in young women with functional ovarian cysts, preventing unnecessary operations. Acellular cystic fluids should not be considered non‐diagnostic because they represent benign cysts in the majority of cases.     

Clinical Application of Ultrasound-Guided Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Thinprep Cytology Test in Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease

Purpose: To study the clinical application value of ultrasound guided thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy and thinprep cytology testing in diagnosis of thyroid disease. Methods: A total of 78 patients with thyroid nodules were enrolled, 34 males and 44 females, aged 33-64 years old with mean age of 47.6 years. All underwent thyroid module fine needle puncture after surgery to assess cell pathology and histopathological features. Results: Sufficient specimens were obtained from all of 78 patients, the cytological results of 73 cases (93.6 %) being consistent with pathological results. While 20 cases (25.6 %) were malignant tumors, 44 (56.4 %) were benign and 9 (11.5 %) were non-tumor lesions. The sensitivity of benign and malignant thyroid nodule by thyroid fine needle puncture was 90.9 %, specificity was 98.1 % and the positive predictive value was 96.3 %. Conclusions: It is demonstrated that ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy and thinprep cytology testing have diagnostic value in clinical application for thyroid disease,showing good diagnostic coincidence rates with histopathological examination. They can thus be regarded as safe and effective for preoperative diagnosis and providing an appropriate basis for selection of surgery.     

Support Vector Machine Based Diagnostic System for Thyroid Cancer using Statistical Texture Features

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an automated computer-aided diagnostic system for diagnosisof thyroid cancer pattern in fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) microscopic images with high degree ofsensitivity and specificity using statistical texture features and a Support Vector Machine classifier (SVM).Materials and Methods: A training set of 40 benign and 40 malignant FNAC images and a testing set of 10 benignand 20 malignant FNAC images were used to perform the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Initially, segmentation ofregion of interest (ROI) was performed by region-based morphology segmentation. The developed diagnosticsystem utilized statistical texture features derived from the segmented images using a Gabor filter bank at variouswavelengths and angles. Finally, the SVM was used as a machine learning algorithm to identify benign andmalignant states of thyroid nodules. Results: The SVMachieved a diagnostic accuracy of 96.7% with sensitivityand specificity of 95% and 100%, respectively, at a wavelength of 4 and an angle of 45. Conclusion: The resultsshow that the diagnosis of thyroid cancer in FNAC images can be effectively performed using statistical textureinformation derived with Gabor filters in association with an SVM.     

A molecular computational model improves the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytological features on fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology have a 20% risk of thyroid cancer. The aim of the current study was to determine the diagnostic utility of an 8-gene assay to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid neoplasm. METHODS: The mRNA expression level of 9 genes (KIT, SYNGR2, C21orf4, Hs.296031, DDI2, CDH1, LSM7, TC1, NATH) was analysed by quantitative PCR (q-PCR) in 93 FNA cytological samples. To evaluate the diagnostic utility of all the genes analysed, we assessed the area under the curve (AUC) for each gene individually and in combination. BRAF exon 15 status was determined by pyrosequencing. An 8-gene computational model (Neural Network Bayesian Classifier) was built and a multiple-variable analysis was then performed to assess the correlation between the markers. RESULTS: The AUC for each significant marker ranged between 0.625 and 0.900, thus all the significant markers, alone and in combination, can be used to distinguish between malignant and benign FNA samples. The classifier made up of KIT, CDH1, LSM7, C21orf4, DDI2, TC1, Hs.296031 and BRAF had a predictive power of 88.8%. It proved to be useful for risk stratification of the most critical cytological group of the indeterminate lesions for which there is the greatest need of accurate diagnostic markers. CONCLUSION: The genetic classification obtained with this model is highly accurate at differentiating malignant from benign thyroid lesions and might be a useful adjunct in the preoperative management of patients with thyroid nodules.     

The effect of needle gauge and local anaesthetic on the diagnostic accuracy of breast fine-needle aspiration cytology.

AIMS: The value of breast fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is well established. This prospective study evaluates the effects of local anaesthetic (LA) and different gauge needles on the diagnostic accuracy of breast FNAC. METHODS: Aspirates were obtained from 59 consecutive excised breast tumours (51 malignant, eight benign) using green (21-G) and blue-hub (23-G) needles, both before and after infiltration of LA at the aspiration site. RESULTS: There was good agreement for the cytological diagnosis of each tumour when compared by needle size (kappa = 0.85) and the presence of LA (kappa = 0.77). Diagnostic sensitivity ranged from 88 to 92%. None of the differences were statistically significant. In addition LA appeared to have no effect upon the cytological grading of breast carcinomas (chi2 = 1.98, (df 3, P = 0.58). DISCUSSION: The use of the smaller gauge blue-hub needle or LA does not appear to affect adversely the diagnostic accuracy of breast FNAC. Whether using LA or the blue needle routinely in the breast clinic will have an effect upon the discomfort experienced during FNAC remains to be proven.     

Long‐term assessment of a multidisciplinary approach to thyroid nodule diagnostic evaluation

BACKGROUND.

The diagnostic evaluation of patients with thyroid nodules is imprecise. Despite the benefits of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA), most patients who are referred for surgery because of abnormal cytology prove to have benign disease. Recent technologic and procedural advances suggest that this shortcoming can be mitigated, although few data confirm this benefit in unselected patients.

METHODS.

A total of 2587 sequential patients were evaluated by thyroid ultrasound and were offered ultrasound‐guided FNA (UG‐FNA) of all thyroid nodules that measured ≥1 cm during a 10‐year period. Results of aspiration cytology were correlated with histologic findings. The prevalence of thyroid cancer in all patients and in those who underwent surgery was determined. Surgical risk was calculated.

RESULTS.

Tumors that measured ≥1 cm were present in 14% of patients: Forty‐three percent of patients had tumors that measured <2 cm in greatest dimension, and 93% had American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I or II disease. The cytologic diagnoses ‘positive for malignancy’ and ‘no malignant cells’ were 97% predictive and 99.7% predictive, respectively. Repeat FNA of initial insufficient aspirates, as well as more detailed classification of inconclusive aspirates, improved preoperative assessment of cancer risk and reduced surgical intervention. Fifty‐six percent of patients who were referred for surgery because of abnormal cytology had cancer compared with from 10% to 45% of patients historically. An analysis of operative complications from a subset of 296 patients demonstrated a 1% risk of permanent surgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS.

The current findings demonstrated the benefits of UG‐FNA and of a more detailed classification of inconclusive aspirates in the preoperative risk assessment of thyroid nodules, supporting adherence to recently published guidelines. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.     

Diagnostic accuracy and role of fine needle aspiration cytology in management of thyroid nodules

The diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was evaluated in thyroid nodules in 100 consecutive cases, who subsequently underwent thyroidectomy between the years 1989–1991. FNAC as a diagnostic test for thyroid nodules demonstrated an accuracy of 90.9%, a sensitivity of 76.5%, a specificity of 95.9% with a false positivity of 2%, false negativity of 4%, positive and negative predictive values of 86.7% and 92.2%, respectively. A correct classification of the carcinoma type on the basis of FNAC was possible only in 69% patients. As a result, FNAC is the first line of investigation in most nontoxic nodular goiters and often the only procedure necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis. However, it is recommended only as an adjunct to clinical judgment and is not intended to replace it. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.