Evaluation and management of pediatric thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer at a single institution after adoption of the American Thyroid Association 2015 guidelines

Validation of ACR TI-RADS performance in transition age: results from a multicenter retrospective study by the TALENT study group

PURPOSE

Although thyroid nodules are less common in the pediatric population, the risk of malignancy is higher than in adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic predictive factors of malignancy in thyroid nodules and to validate American College of Radiologists (ACR) TI-RADS performance in transition age patients.

METHODS

One hundred forty-two patients aged between 14 and 21 years referred to the participating centers for FNA biopsy of a thyroid nodule between 2007 and 2022 were included and ultrasound reports and sonographic images were retrospectively analyzed. Nodule features were defined according to the ACR-TIRADS lexicon. Two reference standards were applied: FNA cytology and surgical histology. The diagnostic performance of single sonographic features was estimated. Significant predictors were then included in a multivariate regression model.

RESULTS

Nodules included in ACR-TIRADS categories TR4 or TR5 had 10-fold increased risk of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology [p < 0.001]. In univariate analysis, solid composition [p = 0.016] and presence of hyperechoic foci [p = 0.040] significantly increased the likelihood of malignant histology. In multivariate regression analysis, irregular margins [p = 0.011] and hyperechoic foci [p = 0.019] were independent predictors of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology.

CONCLUSION

Nodules included in ACR-TIRADS categories TR4 or TR5 had 10-fold increased risk of indeterminate or suspicious/malignant cytology in transition age. ACR-TIRADS was not able to rule-out malignancy compared to FNAB alone, suggesting the need to reconsider recommendations in the transition age group.

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: Risk of Malignancy in Pediatric Thyroid Nodules

INTRODUCTION

Thyroid nodules are infrequent findings in children, though malignancy rates are higher in this population. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) standardizes the reporting of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens and has become a global reference for assessing the risk of malignancy (ROM) of thyroid nodules. The 2023 update includes pediatric-specific risk predictions and management recommendations. Our study aimed to evaluate the ROM for each Bethesda (BT) category in our pediatric population and compare them with the 2023 TBSRTC update.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study studied pediatric patients who underwent FNA from 2008 to 2023 at our tertiary care center. ROM was assessed by comparing each Bethesda category with histology after thyroid surgery or with long-term follow-up data for non-surgical cases. Comparison among our observed ROM and the 2023 TBSRTC was done by assessing whether the mean ROM from the 2023 TBSRTC fell within the 95 % Confidence Intervals (CIs) of our cohort's ROM for each Bethesda category.

RESULTS

165 patients with thyroid nodules underwent FNA and Bethesda system classification. 55 patients were excluded due to incomplete follow-up. Thyroid surgery was required in 58 patients. All Bethesda I nodules were benign, while malignancy rates (ROM) were 10.5 % for Bethesda II, 42.8 % for Bethesda IV, 87.5 % for Bethesda V, and 100 % for Bethesda VI. The mean follow-up was 58,2 months (±41,4 SD, range 6-170 months). The comparison of the ROM in our cohort with the 2023 Bethesda pediatric population reveals notable consistency across all Bethesda categories.

DISCUSSION

The ROM among patients with Bethesda II, IV, V, and VI was higher than reported in TBSRTC for adults and similar to those published in the 2023 TBSRTC for children. The development of updated pediatric-specific guidelines could have a significant impact on follow-up strategies and therapeutic algorithms.

TYPE OF STUDY

Prognosis Study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II (retrospective).

Effects of different surgical approaches on health-related quality of life in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy.

METHODS

This prospective observational study recruited children and adolescents diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence. Participants were categorized into bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy groups. They were asked to complete one questionnaire regarding basic information and three others regarding quality of life. HRQOL data from patients who underwent different procedures at various time points were compared.

RESULTS

Thirty patients underwent unilateral thyroidectomy and 54 bilateral thyroidectomy (median age = 14.27 years). HRQOL of the unilateral thyroidectomy group was higher than the bilateral group.

CONCLUSION

For children and adolescents with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence, bilateral thyroidectomy is associated with a lower HRQOL than unilateral thyroidectomy. Surgeons should consider tumor impact and HRQOL when selecting the most appropriate surgical method.

Performance of ACR TI-RADS and the Bethesda System in Predicting Risk of Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules at a Large Children's Hospital and a Comprehensive Review of the Pediatric Literature

While thyroid nodules are less common in children than in adults, they are more frequently malignant. However, pediatric data are scarce regarding the performance characteristics of imaging and cytopathology classification systems validated to predict the risk of malignancy (ROM) in adults and select those patients who require fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and possibly surgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients 18 years of age or younger who underwent thyroid FNA at our institution from 1 July 2015 to 31 May 2022. Based on surgical follow-up from 74 of the 208 FNA cases, we determined the ROM for the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) ultrasound risk stratification system and The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology and added our results to those of pediatric cohorts from other institutions already published in the literature. We found the following ROMs for 1458 cases using ACR TI-RADS (TR): TR1. Benign: 2.2%, TR2. Not Suspicious: 9.3%, TR3. Mildly Suspicious: 16.6%, TR4. Moderately Suspicious: 27.0%, and TR5. Highly Suspicious 76.5%; and for 5911 cases using the Bethesda system: Bethesda I. Unsatisfactory: 16.8%, Bethesda II. Benign: 7.2%, Bethesda III: Atypia of Undetermined Significance: 29.6%, Bethesda IV. Follicular Neoplasm: 42.3%, Bethesda V. Suspicious for Malignancy: 90.8%, and Bethesda VI. Malignant: 98.8%. We conclude that ACR TI-RADS levels imply higher ROMs for the pediatric population than the corresponding suggested ROMs for adults, and, in order to avoid missing malignancies, we should consider modifying or altogether abandoning size cutoffs for recommending FNA in children and adolescents whose thyroid glands are smaller than those of adults. The Bethesda categories also imply higher ROMs for pediatric patients compared to adults.