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Kaçar Özkara S, Turan G. Detailed fine needle aspiration cytopathology findings of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features with nuclear grading correlated to that of biopsy and Bethesda category and systematic review. Diagn Cytopathol 2023; 51:758-771. [PMID: 37688282 DOI: 10.1002/dc.25219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) poses diagnostic challenge in fine needle aspiration cytopathology (FNAC). We aimed first to document our FNAC Bethesda categories (BCs) for all of our NIFTPs and compare our findings with those in the literature with series containing at least 14 cases each. METHODS Cases with final histopathological diagnoses of NIFTP and their preoperative FNAC were retrieved from 2006 to 2022 and our cytopathological BCs were documented. Then the slides were re-reviewed in a blinded manner for detailed classification and the results of both the BCs and blinded reclassification were compared with series in the literature for both BCs and detailed cytopathological review of the cases. RESULTS Thyroid FNACs of 43 out of 86 patients with final NIFTP diagnoses were obtained. Females composed 72.1% (F/M: 31/12); mean age and mean tumor diameter was 47.6 (19-72 years) and 23.4 mm (7-60 mm), respectively. Totally 81.4% (35/43) were classified in the "indeterminate" diagnostic categories; namely 44.2% (19/43) were reported as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS; BC III), 20.9% (9/43) were follicular neoplasm (FN; BC IV), and 16.3% (7/43) were suspicious for malignancy (SM; BC V). No patient was diagnosed as positive for malignancy (BC VI), preoperatively. Detailed cytomorphologic reevaluation revealed heterogeneous cytopathologic findings and nuclear grade (especially nuclear enlargement, membrane irregularity and elongation) significantly increased with respect to BCs. Systematic review confirmed extremely heterogeneous cytomorphologic nature of NIFTP. CONCLUSIONS NIFTPs were categorized most frequently as AUS, followed by FN and SM on FNAC. Our re-review were not able to specify features solely unique to NIFTP alone but may distinguish these cases from classic papillary thyroid carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gupse Turan
- Pathology Department, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
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Kholová I, Haaga E, Ludvik J, Kalfert D, Ludvikova M. Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP): Tumour Entity with a Short History. A Review on Challenges in Our Microscopes, Molecular and Ultrasonographic Profile. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12020250. [PMID: 35204341 PMCID: PMC8871310 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12020250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) was introduced as a new thyroid tumour entity, many studies, and meta-analyses on diagnosing NIFTP have been published. NIFTP-revised histopathological criteria emerged in 2018. NIFTP is defined as a histological entity and its diagnosis requires a careful histological examination. Its molecular profile is similar to follicular-like tumours. Ultrasound features are unable to differentiate NIFTP. NIFTP is not a cytological diagnosis, but it influences the risk of malignancy in several categories of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology terminology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Kholová
- Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories, Arvo Ylpön Katu 4, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-3-311-74851
| | - Elina Haaga
- Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories, Arvo Ylpön Katu 4, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaroslav Ludvik
- Department of Imaging Methods, University Hospital Pilsen, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 80, 30460 Pilsen, Czech Republic;
| | - David Kalfert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Marie Ludvikova
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, 32300 Pilsen, Czech Republic;
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Haaga E, Kalfert D, Ludvíková M, Kholová I. Non-Invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features Is Not a Cytological Diagnosis, but It Influences Cytological Diagnosis Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Acta Cytol 2021; 66:85-105. [PMID: 34781293 DOI: 10.1159/000519757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A low-risk thyroid tumour, non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) was introduced in 2016. NIFTP criteria require a thorough histological examination to rule out capsular and lymphovascular invasion, which denies the possibility of preoperative cytological diagnosis. Nevertheless, since the adoption of the new entity, the cytology of NIFTP has been a subject of interest. OBJECTIVES The present systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the cytological diagnosis of NIFTP. METHOD An online PubMed literature search was conducted between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, for all original articles considering the cytology of histologically proven NIFTP. The studies including data on fine needle aspiration specimens classified by The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology (TBSRTC) categories, risk of malignancy (ROMs) in the TBSRTC categories, and cytomorphological features of NIFTP were included in the meta-analysis. Non-English studies and case reports were excluded. The data were tabulated and statistical analysis was performed with Open Meta-Analyst program. RESULTS Fifty-eight studies with a total of 2,553 NIFTP cases were included in the study. The pooled prevalence of NIFTP cases was calculated among 25,892 surgically resected cases from 20 studies and the results show that NIFTP consisted 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.5-5.4%) of all cases. Most of the NIFTP cases (79.0%) belonged to the intermediate categories of TBSRTC. The pooled distribution of NIFTP cases in each TBSRTC category was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.8-1.7%) in non-diagnostic (ND), 8.9% (95% CI: 6.9-10.8%) in benign, 29.2% (95% CI: 25.0-33.4%) in atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), 24.2% (95% CI: 19.6-28.9%) in follicular neoplasm (FN), 19.5% (95% CI: 16.1-22.9%) in suspicious for malignancy (SM), and 6.9% (95% CI: 5.2-8.7%) in malignant. Compared to pre-NIFTP era, the pooled risk differences of ROM were reduced by 2.4% in ND, 2.7% in benign, 8.2% in AUS/FLUS, 8.2% in FN, 7.3% in SM, and 1.1% in the malignant category. The cytomorphological features of NIFTP were similar to follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) but lesser to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). CONCLUSIONS Based on our results, NIFTP remains a histological diagnosis. Although cytomorphological features cannot be used in differentiating NIFTP from FVPTC, they may guide in separating NIFTP from PTC. Features such as papillae, microfollicles, giant cells, psammoma bodies, and the amount of papillary-like nuclear features should be taken into account when suspicious of NIFTP. NIFTP should not have papillae or psammoma bodies, and giant cells were rarely observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Haaga
- Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland
| | - David Kalfert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marie Ludvíková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czechia
| | - Ivana Kholová
- Pathology, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere, Finland
- Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere, Finland
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LiVolsi VA, Baloch Z. Noninvasive Follicular Tumor With Papillary-like Nuclear Features: A Practice Changer in Thyroid Pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:659-663. [PMID: 32223558 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2019-0689-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— This article presents a review of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), including its separation from follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, its evolution, and current definition and pathologic characteristics. OBJECTIVES.— To emphasize the understanding of the concept of NIFTP as a neoplasm based on molecular analyses, its critical histopathologic features, the microscopic findings that exclude the diagnosis, and the importance of complete sectioning of the tumor to exclude neoplasms that should be diagnosed as carcinomas. Important distinctions are discussed including difficulties with literature that shows NIFTP with metastases, inadequacy of sectioning of the tumor, and lack of descriptive histology of the surrounding thyroid and possible other lesions. DATA SOURCES.— Review of articles in the English literature on NIFTP, as well as comparative papers showing differences and distinctions between this entity and papillary carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS.— This article concludes that with the current state of knowledge on NIFTP with studies from all over the world, this entity is a low-risk neoplasm that, when diagnosed using appropriate criteria, should not be associated with metastatic or recurrent disease, at least on intermediate length of follow-up. This review includes discussion of multifocal NIFTP, as well as the recently defined micro-NIFTP (1 cm or less), and describes features of the tumor that remain to be studied and correlated with outcome: oncocytic variants of NIFTP, percentage of allowable solid areas of growth in the lesions, and definitions of true neoplastic papillae and hyperplastic ones and how these should influence the diagnosis of NIFTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia A LiVolsi
- From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Zubair Baloch
- From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Takagi S, Hirokawa M, Nagashima K, Higuchi M, Kadota K, Ishikawa R, Sato M, Miyauchi A, Miyake Y, Haba R. Diagnostic significance of apical membranous and cytoplasmic dot-like CD26 expression in encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a useful marker for capsular invasion. Endocr J 2020; 67:1207-1214. [PMID: 32879160 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej19-0501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) and invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (EFV-PTC) are indistinguishable preoperatively. CD26 expression in follicular tumor-uncertain malignant potential (FT-UMP) is reported to be clearly higher than in that without capsular invasion. To verify the diagnostic significance of CD26 immunostaining in EFV-PTC, we examined the expression pattern of CD26 in non-invasive EFV-PTC (NIFTP) and invasive EFV-PTC. We performed immunohistochemical analysis using CD26 antibody for 37 NIFTPs and 54 EFV-PTCs (34 minimally invasive EFV-PTCs and 20 widely invasive EFV-PTCs). Most NIFTP samples showed an apical membranous pattern or a cytoplasmic diffuse pattern of expression. Invasive EFV-PTCs more frequently showed a cytoplasmic dot-like pattern, and the labeling indices of tumor cells with cytoplasmic dot-like patterns were significantly higher than those in NIFTPs. The sizes of dots seen in NIFTPs (mean: 1.12 μm) were significantly smaller than in invasive EFV-PTCs (1.33 μm), minimally invasive EFV-PTC (1.27 μm), and widely invasive EFV-PTC (1.38 μm). We, therefore, conclude that cytoplasmic diffuse and/or cytoplasmic dot-like CD26 expression, particularly the larger CD26-positive dots, could be useful markers for capsular invasion in EFV-PTC. CD26 immunostaining, using cell blocks or cytological specimens, may preoperatively distinguish between NIFTP and invasive EFV-PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoji Takagi
- Department of Medical Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8505, Japan
- Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology and Cytology, Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan
| | - Kenji Nagashima
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan
| | - Miyoko Higuchi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology and Cytology, Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan
| | - Kyuichi Kadota
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Ryou Ishikawa
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
| | - Masakazu Sato
- Department of Medical Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8505, Japan
| | - Akira Miyauchi
- Department of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Miyake
- Department of Medical Life Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8505, Japan
| | - Reiji Haba
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan
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Oshita M, Ito Y, Miyamoto T, Ota H, Nakamura T, Hirokawa M, Miya A, Miyauchi A. Ultrasound findings of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features compared with those of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma and encapsulated papillary carcinoma: a single-institution study in Japan. Endocr J 2020; 67:1147-1155. [PMID: 32669481 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej20-0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is a new entity adopted by the newest World Health Organization classification. It is differentiated from follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) and regarded as non-malignant disease. Here, we compared the ultrasound findings of NIFTP (n = 40) with those of FVPTC (n = 94) and encapsulated PTC (encap-PTC) (n = 157). The NIFTP group showed benign findings on ultrasound significantly more frequently than the FVPTC group based on the Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine criteria: a regular shape (p < 0.001), well edge definition (p = 0.007), smooth character (p < 0.001), isoechoic and homogeneous internal echoes (p < 0.001), lack of punctate microcalcification (p = 0.027), and a regular marginal hypoechoic zone (p < 0.001). Compared to encap-PTC, NIFTP has a significantly higher incidence of benign findings: isoechoic and homogeneous internal echoes (p < 0.001), lack of punctate microcalcification (p < 0.001), and a regular marginal hypoechoic zone (p = 0.004). Based on the ultrasound classification (USC) system at Kuma Hospital, no cases were classified as malignant (USC ≥3.5), but 55.4% of the FVPTCs and 53.5% of the encap-PTCs were diagnosed as malignancy. However, on cytology, the incidence of NIFTP classified as Bethesda-V or -VI (PTC) was very high at 86.9%. All patients underwent surgical treatment, but none of the NIFTP patients showed postoperative recurrence. Although avoiding surgery might be difficult because of the high incidence of malignant cytology, overtreatment (including extensive surgery) for NIFTP can be avoided by paying close attention to the lack of malignant findings on ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Oshita
- Departments of Clinical Laboratory, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Ito
- Departments of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | - Tomoko Miyamoto
- Departments of Clinical Laboratory, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | - Hisashi Ota
- Departments of Clinical Laboratory, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Nakamura
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | | | - Akihiro Miya
- Departments of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
| | - Akira Miyauchi
- Departments of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, Kobe 650-0011, Japan
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Zajkowska K, Kopczyński J, Góźdź S, Kowalska A. Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features: a problematic entity. Endocr Connect 2020; 9:EC-19-0566.R1. [PMID: 32061158 PMCID: PMC7077601 DOI: 10.1530/ec-19-0566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is a borderline thyroid tumour formerly known as noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The prevalence of NIFTP is estimated at 4.4-9.1% of all papillary thyroid carcinomas worldwide; however, the rate of occurrence of NIFTP is eight times lower in Asian countries than in Western Europe and America. At the molecular level, NIFTP is characterised by the lack of BRAF V600E and BRAF V600E-like mutations or other high-risk mutations (TERT, TP53), and a high rate of RAS mutations, which is similar to other follicular-pattern thyroid tumours. The diagnosis of NIFTP can only be made after histological examination of the entire tumour removed during surgery, and is based on strictly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although the diagnosis is postoperative, the combination of certain findings of preoperative tests including ultrasonography, cytology, and molecular testing may raise suspicion of NIFTP. These tumours can be effectively treated by lobectomy, although total thyroidectomy remains an option for some patients. Radioactive iodine and thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapy are not required. NIFTP has an extremely good prognosis, even when treated conservatively with lobectomy alone. Nevertheless, it cannot be considered as a benign lesion. The risk of adverse outcomes, including lymph node and distant metastases, is low but not negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stanisław Góźdź
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
| | - Aldona Kowalska
- Endocrinology, Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, Poland
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
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