A single-center multidisciplinary study analyzing thyroid nodule risk stratification by comparing the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and American thyroid association (ATA) risk of malignancy for thyroid nodules

ObjectivesThe thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines are two well-known risk stratification systems for classifying thyroid nodules based on cancer risk. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of these two systems in predicting malignancy in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.MethodsWe studied data on 120 individuals who were scheduled to undergo surgery for benign or malignant nodular diseases of the thyroid gland between October 2017 and October 2019. The TI-RADS category and ultrasound pattern based on ATA guidelines were assigned to dominant thyroid nodule categories by two experienced radiologists blinded to patients’ previous thyroid ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration biopsy results. A pathologist with experience in thyroid diseases blinded to patients’ sonographic and clinical data reviewed the thyroidectomy specimens.ResultsA total of 120 patients, 88 women and 32 men, were included in our study. Final histopathological results were as follows: 50% (n=60) papillary thyroid carcinoma, 36.6% (n=44) benign nodular thyroid diseases, 4.1% (n=5) follicular adenoma, 2.5% (n=3) hurtle cell adenoma, 1.7% (n=2) follicular thyroid carcinoma, 1.7% (n=2) medullary thyroid carcinoma, 1.7% (n=2) hurtle cell carcinoma, and 1.7% (n=2) follicular tumor of uncertain malignancy potential. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for TI-RADS were 80%, 56%, 72%, and 67%, respectively, and that for ATA were 80%, 64%, 76%, and 69%, respectively.ConclusionThe TI-RADS and ATA showed similar rates of sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV. Our observed risk of malignancy was higher than expected for the ACR TI-RADS 3–5 categories and the very low, low, and intermediate suspicion risk strata in the ATA guidelines. We found no difference between observed and expected malignancy risk for the ACR TI-RADS 2’s and ATA's high suspicion categories.     

Malignancy risk stratification and FNA recommendations for thyroid nodules: A comparison of ACR TI-RADS,AACE/ACE/AME and ATA guidelines

ObjectiveTo compare diagnostic performance and malignancy risk stratification among guidelines set forth by the American Thyroid Association (ATA) in 2015, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and the Association Medici Endocrinologi (AME) in 2016, and the American College of Radiology (ACR) in 2017.MethodsThe retrospective study was approved by the hospital ethics committee, and the informed consent requirement was waived. From October 2015 to March 2016, a total of 230 patients with 230 consecutive thyroid nodules were enrolled in this study. Each nodule was classified by one junior and one senior radiologist separately according to ACR TI-RADS, AACE/ACE/AME and ATA guidelines. The malignancy diagnostic performance and the number of FNA recommendations were pairwise compared among three guidelines using chi-square tests.ResultsOf the 230 thyroid nodules, 137 were malignant, and 93 were benign. However, 19.6% of the nodules (45 of 230) did not match any pattern using the ATA guidelines but with a high risk of malignancy (68.9%). The ACR TI-RADS derived the highest diagnostic performance, from both junior radiologist (AUC 0.815) and senior radiologist (AUC 0.864). The ACR guidelines also showed the greatest level of sensitivity (junior: 86.1%, senior: 94.9%), compared with AACE/ACE/AME and ATA guidelines. The number of thyroid nodules recommended to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was the lowest (37.8%, 40.4%) by ACR TI-RADS, and meanwhile, the malignant detection rate within these nodules was highest (64.4%, 68.8%).ConclusionsThe ACR guidelines present a higher level of diagnostic indicators and may offer a meaningful reduction in FNA recommendations with a higher malignancy detection rate.     

Management of the thyroid nodule

Lobectomy-isthmectomy is part of our standard diagnostic approach for the solitary "cold" nodule of the thyroid. Although the majority of these prove to be benign, there is no noninvasive technique that can rule out malignant disease. It is necessary that the attendant morbidity for diagnostic surgery be extremely low. In our experience thyroid surgery for benign disease carries minimal risk. Resection of a lobe and isthmus with exploration and palpation of the opposite side constitutes our routine surgical management of the "cold" nodule. The nerve is always identified and preserved. In the past 18 months two minor complications have occurred postoperatively in 36 consecutive cases in which the lobe and isthmus were resected for benign disease.     

Rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as an anterior neck mass and possible thyroid malignancy in a seven-month-old

A seven-month-old male presented with a one month history of an enlarging left neck mass and worsening inspiratory stridor. Upon excision of the mass, pathologic examination was consistent with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). Preoperative imaging and intraoperative exploration were consistent with tumor replacing the left lobe of the thyroid. No cases of either anterior neck rhabdomyosarcoma or thyroid rhabdomyosarcoma have been explicitly described in the literature. The distinction between the two malignancies becomes important when considering prognosis and treatment protocols.     

细胞学性质不确定甲状腺结节分子检测进展[综述]

随着甲状腺结节的发病及检出率日益增高,甲状腺结节的分子标记物在鉴别结节的性质,术前诊断及患者预后都有重要作用。本文总结归纳关于相关分子标记物及检测手段在甲状腺结节诊治中的更新进展,结论表明甲状腺结节的单个致病分子的研究较为成熟,多分子联合检测手段可提高诊断精确率,同时提供更加可靠的分子依据,指导手术及术后药物治疗。尽管其还未能替代“金标准-病理诊断”,但对甲状腺结节的诊断管理和治疗,必将扮演越来越重要的角色,具有广泛的应用前景。     

Diagnosis and management of the thyroid nodule. An overview

The traditional approach to evaluation of patients with thyroid nodules is being replaced by more cost-effective methods of diagnosis. The author describes a rational approach to the evaluation of thyroid nodules that takes into consideration patient factors, minimizes false-positive diagnoses of cancer, and balances the competing responsibilities of cost-effective management and identifying all patients with thyroid carcinoma.     

Thyroid scintigraphy in the assessment of the solitary thyroid nodule: differences in practice patterns between family physicians and specialists

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that there is considerable variation in the diagnosis and management of the thyroid nodule. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the practice of family physicians and specialists in ordering thyroid scans in the initial workup of patients with thyroid nodules. DESIGN: Retrospective electronic and paper-based chart review. SETTING: University Health Network, Toronto. PARTICIPANTS: All patients who underwent thyroidectomy over a 2-year period. INTERVENTIONS: An audit of their preoperative diagnostic tests was performed, and the specialties of the ordering physicians were identified. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-four patients were assessed. Sixty-three patients (32.5%) were investigated exclusively by their family physician, 63 (32.5%) were investigated exclusively by a specialist, and 68 (35%) were investigated by both. Family physicians ordered thyroid scans in 51% of patients, whereas specialists ordered scans in 29% of patients (p<.001). The medical specialists ordered 36 scans (33.6%) in 107 patients, whereas the surgical specialists ordered 2 (8.3%) scans in 24 patients (p<.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the limited role for thyroid scans in the initial workup of a solitary thyroid nodule, they are still frequently ordered, particularly by family physicians. We recommend publication of Canadian evidence-based guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules, similar to existing American guidelines, which could help reduce the amount of unnecessary testing.     

Evaluation and management of a solitary thyroid nodule in a child

Although an uncommon clinical entity, a pediatric patient with a solitary thyroid nodule requires a thorough assessment because of the increased incidence of thyroid carcinoma in this population. In the future, one may expect the widespread clinical use of genetic markers in identifying children, who are at risk for, or who have developed, thyroid carcinomas, with the hopes that these molecular markers will lead to the prevention, or earlier detection and cure, of these malignancies.     

A possible association between maternal otitis media and ear defect in their offspring

Background

The possible association between otitis media in pregnancy (OMP) and structural birth defects, that is, congenital abnormalities (CAs), in their offspring has not been studied.

Methods

The data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 and 1996, was evaluated.

Results

There were 58 (0.25%) and 55 (0.14%) of 22?843 cases and 38?151 controls with mothers who had OMP, respectively. There was association of OMP and a higher risk of ear CA.

Conclusions

A possible explanation for the association of OMP with higher risk of ear CA may be some morphological deviation of the inner ear.