Updates in the Pathologic Classification of Thyroid Neoplasms: A Review of the World Health Organization Classification

Diagnostic impact of DNA methylation classification in adult and pediatric CNS tumors

Over the past decade, neuropathological diagnosis has undergone significant changes, integrating morphological features with molecular biomarkers. The molecular era has successfully refined neuropathological diagnostic accuracy; however, a substantial number of CNS tumor diagnoses remain challenging, particularly in children. DNA methylation classification has emerged as a powerful machine learning approach for clinical decision-making in CNS tumors. The aim of this study is to share our experience using DNA methylation classification in daily routine practice, illustrated through clinical cases. We employed a classification system to evaluate discrepancies between histo-molecular and DNA methylation diagnoses, with a specific focus on adult versus pediatric CNS tumors. In our study, we observed that 40% of cases fell into Class I, 47% into Class II, and 13% into Class III among the "matched cases" (≥ 0.84). In other words, DNA methylation classification confirmed morphological diagnoses in 63% of adult and 23% of pediatric cases. Refinement of diagnosis was particularly evident in the pediatric population (65% vs. 21% for the adult population, p = 0.006). Additionally, we discussed cases classified with low calibrated scores. In conclusion, our study confirms that DNA methylation classification provides significant added-value for CNS tumors diagnosis, particularly in pediatric cases.

Clinico-pathological factors and [18F]FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters for prediction of progression-free survival in radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Identifying prognostic markers for clinical outcomes is crucial in selecting appropriate treatment options for patients with radioiodine-refractory (RAI-R) differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of clinico-pathological features and semiquantitative [18F]FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in DTC patients with RAI-R.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 110 consecutive RAI-R DTC patients who were referred for [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging. The lesion standard uptake values (SUV)s, including SUVmax, SUVmean, SULpeak as well astotal metabolic tumor volume (tMTV)and total lesion glycolysis (tTLG) were measured. Disease progression was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and/or Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) 1.0. PFS curves were plotted using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors for PFS.

RESULTS

[18F]FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters demonstrate predictive value for PFS in RAI-R DTC patients, with sensitivity ranging from 70.7% to 81% and specificity from 75% to 92.3% (p < 0.001). PFS was significantly worse in patients with SUVmax > 6.39 g/ml, SUVmean > 3.68 g/ml, SULpeak > 3.14 g/ml, tTLG > 4.23 g/ml × cm3, and tMTV > 1.24 cm3. Clinico-pathological factors including age > 55, aggressive variant and follicular histological subtype, extra-thyroidal extension of the primary tumor, stage III - IV disease at initial DTC diagnosis, distant metastases detected on [18F]FDG PET/CT, and metabolic parameters of [18F]FDG PET/CT associated with PFS in univariate analysis (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, extra-thyroidal extension (HR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.22 - 4.16; p = 0.01), distant metastases on [18F]FDG PET/CT (HR: 2.98; 95%CI: 1.62 - 5.5; p < 0.001), and tMTV > 1.24 cm3 (HR: 4.17; 95% CI: 2.02 - 8.6; p < 0.001), were independent prognostic factors for PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to classic clinico-pathological factors, the semiquantitative [18F]FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters can be utilized for dynamic risk stratification for progression in RAI-R DTC patients. Furthermore, extra-thyroidal extension of the primary tumor, distant metastases, and tMTV > 1.24 cm3 are independent prognostic factors for PFS.

Molecular Markers in Follicular and Oncocytic Thyroid Carcinomas: Clinical Application of Molecular Genetic Testing

BACKGROUND

Oncocytic thyroid carcinoma (OTC) was previously considered a variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) but has recently been reclassified as a separate form of thyroid cancer. This study aimed to demonstrate that FTC and OTC are fundamentally distinct entities that can potentially be differentiated preoperatively through cytology and/or molecular testing.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with FTC and OTC operated upon at two university health centers from January 2016 to September 2023 (n = 3219) was conducted. Molecular testing results were correlated with histopathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fifty patients met the inclusion criteria. FTC was identified in 27 (54.0%) patients, and OTC in 23 (46.0%) patients. Patients with OTC were older (61.8 years) than FTC patients (51.2 years) (p = 0.013). Moreover, aggressive tumors were found in 39.1% (9/23) of OTCs compared to 11.1% (3/27) of FTCs (p = 0.021). Amongst Bethesda category III and IV nodules, 17 out of 20 (85.0%) OTC cytology reports demonstrated an oncocytic subtype compared to only 5 out of 24 FTC cytology reports (20.8%) (p = 0.002). On molecular testing, the EIF1AX alteration was exclusively present in OTCs while the PAX8/PPARy and PTEN alterations were exclusively found in FTCs. Copy number alterations (CNAs) were found to be more prevalent in OTC (66.7%) compared to FTC (33.3%), and they were not indicative of tumor aggressiveness. Within the OTC group, all three patients who had a TP53 alteration were diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Lastly, the OTCs exhibited a higher frequency of multiple alterations on molecular testing (66.7%) compared to FTCs (33.3%).

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date comparing the clinical application of abnormalities found on molecular testing for FTC and OTC. It further demonstrates the distinct clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of OTC.

Clinical, Pathological, and Immunohistochemical Predictors of Cause-Specific Mortality in Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Multivariate Analysis

The association of clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer with cause-specific mortality was analyzed in a case-control study within a cohort of patients from the Altai Regional Oncology Center. According to multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of fatal outcome within 10 years after surgery in patients living in Altai region are nuclear pattern of Hsp70 expression, thyroid capsular invasion, Ki-67 expression index >7%, and patient's age >45 years for men and >50 years for women. The prognostic model based on these features contributes to a significant improvement in the individual prognostic performance for papillary thyroid cancer in the modeling sample. The model has high statistical significance (χ2=64.73; p<0.001) and discriminative power (AUC=0.950, prediction accuracy 88.5%).

Clinical-Pathological Features of Thyroid Neoplasms in Young Patients Diagnosed in a Single Center

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical-pathological profile in young patients with thyroid cancer. Materials and methods: We realized a retrospective study on patients with thyroid neoplasms who underwent surgery at the "Pius Brinzeu" County Clinical Emergency Hospital in Timisoara, Romania. A comparative analysis of some parameters between two groups, young patients (<45 years) versus patients ≥45 years, was performed. Results: A total of 211 patients met the study inclusion criteria, mostly females (86.26%) with a female/male ratio of 6.81:1. In patients <45 years old (25.64%), papillary thyroid carcinoma was identified in 51.85% of cases; in 53.85% of cases, the tumor was >1 cm; 13.46% had extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.0430); 21.15% capsule invasion (p = 0.1756); 23.08% lympho-vascular invasion (p = 0.0048); and 13.46% of cases locoregional nodal invasion (p = 0.0092). Conclusions: Thyroid cancer in young people was associated with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and tumor progression parameters, identifying more cases of extrathyroidal extension, locoregional nodal invasion, lympho-vascular invasion and perineural invasion in young patients compared to older ones. For a better understanding of this pathology and to improve diagnosis and therapeutic management, more studies are needed for these patients.

Coexistence of intrathyroid thymic carcinoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report and literature review

Background

Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma (ITTC) is a rare neoplasm of the thyroid, which accounts for less than 0.15% of all thyroid malignancies. The coexistence of ITTC and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an extremely rare condition reported only in a limited number of cases.

Case summary

A 26-year-old female presented with a growing neck mass, hoarseness, and dysphagia over four months. Ultrasonography revealed that the entire left lobe and the isthmus of the thyroid were replaced with a hypoechoic mass. Moreover, it revealed two hypoechoic nodules in the right thyroid. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and paratracheal lymph node dissection. Histopathological examinations revealed the coexistence of ITTC and PTC in the same thyroid. In immunohistochemical analyses, the ITTC was positive for CD5, P63, CD117, and CK 5/6 and negative for thyroglobulin, calcitonin, and TTF 1. At the same time, PTC was positive for TTF 1 and thyroglobulin and negative for CD5, P63, and CK 5/6. The patient received postoperative radiotherapy and remained well with no evidence of recurrence during one month follow-up.

Conclusion

Distinguishing ITTC from other thyroid malignancies before the surgery is challenging due to its non-specific presentations. Therefore, the diagnosis relies on postoperative studies, especially immunohistochemistry. The recommended treatment approach to improve survival in ITTC cases is total thyroidectomy combined with cervical lymph node dissection, followed by postoperative radiotherapy. The coexistence of ITTC and PTC may indicate the similarity in the underlying mechanisms of these tumors. However, further investigations are needed to understand this potential correlation.

A patient with a rare co-occurrence of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas

The occurrence of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma as a collision tumor is rare. We report on a case of a collision tumor consisting of papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma treated successfully with surgery and radioiodine ablation.

"Examining the link between tooth agenesis and papillary thyroid cancer: is there a risk factor?" Observational study

BACKGROUND

Mutations in one or multiple genes can lead to hypodontia and its characteristic features. Numerous studies have shown a strong genetic influence on the occurrence of hypodontia, and identified several genes, including AXIN2, EDA, FGF3, FGFR2, FGFR10, WNT10A, MSX1, and PAX9, that are directly associated with dental agenesis and carcinogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence and pattern of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and palatally displaced canine (PDC) in women diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), compared to a control group of women without any malignancy or thyroid disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This case-control study was carried at the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb, and Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Centre. The study involved a clinical examination and evaluation of dental status, panoramic X-ray analysis, and assessment of medical and family history of 116 female patients aged 20-40 with PTC, as well as 424 females in the control group who were of similar age.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypodontia, microdontia, and PDC was statistically higher in women with PTC than in the control group. The prevalence rate of hypodontia was 11.3% in the experimental group and 3.5% in the control group. The experimental group showed a higher occurrence of missing upper lateral incisors, lower left central incisors, and all the third molars (except the upper left) compared to the control group. Women with PTC showed the prevalence of PDC significantly higher than the control group (3.5%, 0.7%, p = 0.002). The probability of hypodontia as a clinical finding increases 2.6 times, and microdontia occurs 7.7 times more frequently in women with PTC.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests a possible link between odontogenesis and PTC. The absence of permanent teeth may increase the likelihood of PTC in women. Leveraging the age-7 orthopantomogram to identify women at high risk for PTC within a critical early detection window could significantly improve oral health outcomes and PTC prognosis through proactive interventions.

Accuracy and diagnostic performance of the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology in a tertiary endocrine surgical referral center in Belgium

BACKGROUND

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is a commonly used classification for fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of suspicious thyroid nodules. The risk of malignancy (ROM) for each category has recently been analyzed in three international databases. This paper compares the diagnostic performance of the Bethesda classification in a high-volume referral center in Belgium.

METHODS

All consecutive thyroid procedures were registered in a prospective database from January 2010 till August 2022. Patient and surgical characteristics, preoperative Bethesda categories, and postoperative pathology results were analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of 2219 consecutive thyroid procedures, 1226 patients underwent preoperative FNA. Papillary thyroid cancer was the most prevalent malignancy (N = 119, 70.4%), followed by follicular (N = 17, 10.1%) and medullary thyroid cancer (N = 15, 8.9%). Micropapillary thyroid cancer was incidentally found in 46 (3.8%) patients. Bethesda categories I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, respectively, represented 250 (20.4%; ROM 4.4%), 546 (44.5%; ROM 3.8%), 96 (7.8%; ROM 20.8%), 231 (18.8%; ROM 15.2%), 62 (5.1%; ROM 72.6%), and 41 (3.3%; ROM 90.2%) patients. Overall ROM was 13.8%. An negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.2% was found. Overall specificity was 64.2% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 31.9%. Diagnostic accuracy was 67.8%. Compared to international databases (CESQIP, EUROCRINE, and UKRETS), ROM in this study appeared lower for Bethesda category IV (15.2 vs. 26.7% and p = 0.612).

CONCLUSION

Despite being validated in numerous studies, ROM based on preoperative FNA cytology classified according to the Bethesda classification may vary among surgical centers and countries as this study reveals a higher NPV and lower PPV.

Retrospective study of BRAFV600E mutation and CT features of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective

This study aimed to examine the correlation between BRAFV600E status and computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and determine if suspicious CT imaging features could predict BRAFV600E status.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with pathologically confirmed PTC at the Department of Thyroid Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, between July 2020 and June 2022. We compared the clinicopathologic factors and CT findings of nodules with and without the mutation, and the multiple logistical regression test was used to determine independent parameters of the BRAFV600E mutation.

Results

This study included 381 patients with PTC, among them, BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 314 patients (82.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender (OR = 0.542, 95% CI [0.296-0.993], P = 0.047) and shape (OR = 0.510, 95% CI [0.275-0.944], P = 0.032) were associated with BRAFV600E mutation.

Conclusions

Compared to BRAFV600E mutation-negative, BRAFV600E-positive PTC lesions were more likely to be found in female patients and were characterized by irregular shape. However, the CT imaging finding is not enough to predict BRAFV600E status, but an indication.

Canine thyroid carcinomas: A review with emphasis on comparing the compact subtype of follicular thyroid carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas

Canine thyroid carcinomas are relatively common malignant endocrine neoplasms in dogs derived from either thyroid follicular cells (forming follicular thyroid carcinomas) or medullary cells (parafollicular, C-cells; forming medullary thyroid carcinomas). Older and recent clinical studies often fail to discriminate between compact cellular (solid) follicular thyroid carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas, which may skew conclusions. The compact subtype of follicular thyroid carcinomas appears to be the least differentiated subtype of follicular thyroid carcinomas and needs to be differentiated from medullary thyroid carcinomas. This review includes information on the signalment, presentation, etiopathogenesis, classification, histologic and immunohistochemical diagnosis, clinical management, and biochemical and genetic derangements of canine follicular and medullary carcinomas, and their correlates with human medicine.

Drug-induced inhibition of HMGA and EZH2 activity as a possible therapy for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive and lethal neoplasms in humans, and just limited progresses have been made to extend patient survival and decrease ATC-associated mortality. Thus, the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for treating ATC is needed. Recently, our group has identified two proteins with oncogenic activity, namely HMGA1 and EZH2, with pivotal roles in ATC cancer progression. Therefore, we tested the ability of trabectedin, a HMGA1-targeting drug, and GSK126, an inhibitor of EZH2 enzymatic activity, to impair cell viability of four ATC-derived cell lines. In the present study, we first confirmed the overexpression of HMGA1 and EZH2 in all ATC-derived cell lines and tissues compared to the normal primary thyroid cells and tissues. Then, treatment of the ATC cell lines with trabectedin and GSK126 resulted in a drastic induction of apoptotic cell death, which increased when the ATC cell lines were treated with a combination of both drugs. Conversely, normal primary human thyroid cells did not show any significant reduction in their viability when exposed to the same drugs. Noteworthy, both drugs induced the deregulation of EZH2- and HMGA1-controlled genes. Altogether, these findings propose the combination of trabectedin and GSK126 as possible novel strategy for ATC therapy.

The Asian Thyroid Working Group, from 2017 to 2023

The Asian Thyroid Working Group was founded in 2017 at the 12th Asia Oceania Thyroid Association (AOTA) Congress in Busan, Korea. This group activity aims to characterize Asian thyroid nodule practice and establish strict diagnostic criteria for thyroid carcinomas, a reporting system for thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology without the aid of gene panel tests, and new clinical guidelines appropriate to conservative Asian thyroid nodule practice based on scientific evidence obtained from Asian patient cohorts. Asian thyroid nodule practice is usually designed for patient-centered clinical practice, which is based on the Hippocratic Oath, "First do not harm patients," and an oriental filial piety "Do not harm one's own body because it is a precious gift from parents," which is remote from defensive medical practice in the West where physicians, including pathologists, suffer from severe malpractice climate. Furthermore, Asian practice emphasizes the importance of resource management in navigating the overdiagnosis of low-risk thyroid carcinomas. This article summarizes the Asian Thyroid Working Group activities in the past 7 years, from 2017 to 2023, highlighting the diversity of thyroid nodule practice between Asia and the West and the background reasons why Asian clinicians and pathologists modified Western systems significantly.

Agrin is a novel oncogenic protein in thyroid cancer

Agrin (AGRN) is a matricellular glycoprotein involved in extracellular signal transduction. AGRN is involved in tumorigenesis and cancer progression; however, the role of AGRN in thyroid cancer (TC) remains unclear. In the present study, using cell lines derived from various subtypes of TC including CGTH, FTC-133 and BcPAP and transcriptomic data from patients with TC, the role of AGRN in TC was analyzed by migration, invasion, viability and proliferation assays as well as Western blot with EMT markers. AGRN expression was significantly increased in thyroid tumors and cell lines derived from various TC subtypes. The highest AGRN expression was found in follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma subtypes. Immunocytochemistry revealed nuclear AGRN localization in normal (NTHY) and TC cells. Silencing of AGRN decreased viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of TC cell lines by upregulating vimentin and downregulating N-cadherin and E-cadherin. Furthermore, the expression of AGRN was associated with neutrophil infiltration in thyroid tumors. In conclusion, the present results indicated that increased AGRN expression promoted tumorigenic phenotypes of TC cells, while AGRN expression was associated with immune infiltration in thyroid tumors. AGRN may represent a target for future cancer therapy and requires further evaluation.

Investigation of pre-operative demographic, biochemical, sonographic and cytopathological findings in low-risk thyroid neoplasms

OBJECTIVE

The present article analyses pre-operative demographic, biochemical, sonographic and histopathological characteristics of low-risk thyroid neoplasms (LRTNs), with a focus on four subgroups, "well-differentiated carcinoma-not otherwise specified" (WDC-NOS), "non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary like nuclear features" (NIFTP), "well-differentiated tumours of uncertain malignant potential" (WDT-UMP) and "follicular tumour of uncertain malignant potential" (FT-UMP).

METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed the histopathology of 2453 malignant thyroids and the final analyses included 99 cases diagnosed with LRTNs. The demographic and clinical features, pre-operative thyroid function, ultrasonography results, cytopathology results, histopathology results and prognostic classifications were assessed.

RESULTS

The groups were similar demographic characteristics and the majority of clinical data, including comorbidities, thyroid function tests, thyroid cancer/neck radiotherapy history. NIFTPs represented 69.7% of all LRTNs. All (100%) WDT-UMPs had solitary nodules. Index nodule volume differed among the groups (p = .036), it was the lowest in WDC-NOS [0.68 (0.63-0.72 cc)] and highest in FT-UMP [12.6 (0.5-64 cc)]. Echogenicity findings were similar. Index nodule TIRADS demonstrated a significant difference (p = .021) but index nodule halo sign and BETHESDA scores were similar in all groups. The diameter, localisation and multicentric structure of LRTNs were again similar for all groups. Finally, prognostic scores suggested similar outcomes in all groups.

CONCLUSION

The majority of LRTNs were NIFTPs in our population and all WDT-UMPs were solitary lesions. Index nodule volume was the most essential discriminating sonographic finding but further research must be performed before discriminatory potential can be described.

Differentiating Benign from Malignant Thyroid Tumors by Kinase Activity Profiling and Dabrafenib BRAF V600E Targeting

Differentiated non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) can be effectively treated by surgery followed by radioactive iodide therapy. However, a small subset of patients shows recurrence due to a loss of iodide transport, a phenotype frequently associated with BRAF V600E mutations. In theory, this should enable the use of existing targeted therapies specifically designed for BRAF V600E mutations. However, in practice, generic or specific drugs aimed at molecular targets identified by next generation sequencing (NGS) are not always beneficial. Detailed kinase profiling may provide additional information to help improve therapy success rates. In this study, we therefore investigated whether serine/threonine kinase (STK) activity profiling can accurately classify benign thyroid lesions and NMTC. We also determined whether dabrafenib (BRAF V600E-specific inhibitor), as well as sorafenib and regorafenib (RAF inhibitors), can differentiate BRAF V600E from non-BRAF V600E thyroid tumors. Using 21 benign and 34 malignant frozen thyroid tumor samples, we analyzed serine/threonine kinase activity using PamChip®peptide microarrays. An STK kinase activity classifier successfully differentiated malignant (26/34; 76%) from benign tumors (16/21; 76%). Of the kinases analyzed, PKC (theta) and PKD1 in particular, showed differential activity in benign and malignant tumors, while oncocytic neoplasia or Graves' disease contributed to erroneous classifications. Ex vivo BRAF V600E-specific dabrafenib kinase inhibition identified 6/92 analyzed peptides, capable of differentiating BRAF V600E-mutant from non-BRAF V600E papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs), an effect not seen with the generic inhibitors sorafenib and regorafenib. In conclusion, STK activity profiling differentiates benign from malignant thyroid tumors and generates unbiased hypotheses regarding differentially active kinases. This approach can serve as a model to select novel kinase inhibitors based on tissue analysis of recurrent thyroid and other cancers.

The predictive models based on multimodality ultrasonography for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules smaller than 10 mm

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to establish a multimodality ultrasound prediction model based on conventional ultrasound (Con-US), shear wave elastography (SWE), and strain elastography (SE) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and to explore their diagnostic values for thyroid nodules ≤ 10 mm.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 198 thyroid nodules (maximum diameter≤10 mm) in 198 thyroid surgery patients who were examined preoperatively with above-mentioned methods. The pathological findings of the thyroid nodules were used as the gold standard, and there were 72 benign nodules and 126 malignant nodules. The multimodal ultrasound prediction models were developed by logistic regression analysis based on the ultrasound image appearances. The diagnostic efficacy of these prediction models was then compared and internally cross-validated in a fivefold manner.

RESULTS

The specific features on CEUS (enhancement boundary, enhancement direction and decreased nodule area) and the parenchyma-to-nodule strain ratio (PNSR) on SE and SWE ratio were included in the prediction model. The Model one combining American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (ACR TI-RADS) score with PNSR and SWE ratio had the highest sensitivity (92.8%), while the Model three combining TI-RADS score with PNSR, SWE ratio and specific CEUS indicators had the highest specificity, accuracy, and AUC (90.2%,91.4%, and 0.958, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The multimodality ultrasound predictive models effectively improved the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules smaller than 10 mm.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

For the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules ≤ 10 mm, both ultrasound elastography and CEUS could be effective complements to ACR TI-RADS.

Molecular profile of follicular tumors of the thyroid gland

More than 90 % of newly diagnosed cases of endocrine cancer occur in the thyroid gland. Introduction of fine needle puncture of the thyroid gland, with the classification of cytological material according to the Bethesda system, has become the cornerstone of the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the thyroid gland. However, traditionally in this classification there remains a weak link called a follicular tumor (category IV). The detection of a follicular tumor in the cytological material does not allow one to reliably classify the mass as benign or malignant and requires surgical intervention with morphological verification. In recent years, the possibilities of molecular genetic testing have improved markedly. Follicular tumors tend to accumulate mutations, which over time can lead to malignant transformation, but can also be used as a method of timely diagnosis. This review analyzes the literature on the possibilities of molecular genetic testing in assessing the malignant potential of follicular formations of the thyroid gland.

Sexual disparity and the risk of second primary thyroid cancer: a paradox

BACKGROUND

Despite extensive research on sex differences in primary thyroid cancer, there is a lack of data on the role of sex in the risk of developing second primary thyroid cancer (SPTC). We aimed to investigate the risk of SPTC development according to patient sex, with an emphasis concerning previous malignancy location as well as age.

METHODS

Cancer survivors diagnosed with SPTC were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The SEER*Stat software package obtained standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and absolute excess risks of subsequent thyroid cancer development.

RESULTS

Data for 9,730 (62.3%) females and 5,890 (37.7%) males were extracted for a total of 15,620 SPTC individuals. Asian/Pacific Islanders had the highest incidence of SPTC [SIR =2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.49-2.86]. The risk of SPTC was higher in males (SIR =2.01, 95% CI: 1.94-2.08) than when compared to females (SIR =1.83, 95% CI: 1.79-1.88; P<0.001). Head and neck tumors had significantly higher SIRs for SPTC development in males when compared to females.

CONCLUSIONS

Survivors of primary malignancies have an increased risk SPTC, especially males. Our work suggests that oncologists and endocrinologists may consider the need for increased surveillance of both male and female patients given their increased risk of SPTC.

Histological Variants of Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Relation to Clinical and Morphological Parameters and Prognosis

The correlation of histological features of papillary thyroid cancer with clinical and morphological prognostic factors and cause-specific mortality was analyzed in a case-control study within a cohort of patients from the Altai Regional Oncology Center (25 cases with lethal outcome and 64 follow-up controls). Significant variability was revealed in the histological structure of papillary thyroid cancer with the prevalence of classic (62%) and less frequent follicular (19%), tall cell (8%), and solid (7%) variants. In comparison with the classic variant, the solid variant was more often associated with male sex and large tumor size; follicular and tall cell variant was associated with more frequent metastases to regional lymph nodes; follicular and solid variants were associated with an increased proportion of cases with disease stages III-IV. The main differences reflecting the effect of histological factor on the disease outcome were associated with the solid variant of papillary thyroid cancer that was detected in 21% of lethal cases and only in 2% of control subjects. The detection of this variant can be of importance as an additional prognostic factor of the postoperative survival in papillary thyroid cancer.

Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma: clinicopathological features and whole exome sequencing analysis

Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma (ITC) is a rare malignant tumour. We present nine cases of ITC that were analysed by immunohistochemical staining, of which five were analysed using whole exome sequencing (WES). These cases included six women and three men with an age range of 31-66 years. The average postoperative follow-up term was 37.8 months (range, 7-95 months), and all patients survived well except for one case with lung metastasis. Microscopically, ITC showed solid islands of tumour cells separated by fibrous connective tissue containing lymphocytes and other inflammatory cells. Tumour cells strongly expressed Ckpan (AE1/AE3), P63, and CD117. And all cases but one were positive for CD5. The median value of Ki-67 was 32% (range 10-60%). We observed partial positivity of Syn and CgA in only one case. ITC shares morphological and immunohistochemical similarities with thymic squamous cell carcinoma. In situ hybridization of EBER showed negative results. All cases were microsatellite stable, and the tumour mutational burden of the 5 cases was all < 1 mutations/Mb. WES showed higher mutation rates for N4BP1 (2/5), and many genetic alterations were related to the NF-kB signalling pathway, which is crucial for insight into the molecular mechanisms of the occurrence and development of ITC.

Lenvatinib as a Promising Treatment Option for Unresectable Hürthle Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) of the thyroid gland generally has a more aggressive clinical course than other differentiated thyroid cancers (DTCs), and it is associated with a higher rate of distant metastases. In this case report, we highlight the importance of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as a management strategy for unresectable DTCs. Surgical management is challenging if the cancer is locally advanced and invades major neck structures with an increased risk of recurrence. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used in the case of advanced disease, especially in unresectable, radio-iodine refractory and with metastatic status. Lenvatinib, a TKI, used as the first line of treatment, plays a key role in improving prognosis and survival rates among patients. A 37-year-old gentleman presented with a locally advanced and widely metastasized case of large Hürthle cell carcinoma encasing the left carotid sheath and the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was suggestive of HCC and a positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan revealed metastases to the lungs and spine. In this case, lenvatinib was used to prevent the proliferation of malignant cells and the neovascularization of the tumor. This clinically translated into a good response in a high disease burden scenario. The patient showed positive results with lenvatinib therapy with a progression-free duration of 30 months and a reduction in the size of cancer. This case report describes the use of lenvatinib for the treatment of a large unresectable locally advanced and widely metastasized case of Hürthle cell carcinoma in a young gentleman with a response profile.

Clinicopathological features and prognostic factors analysis of multiple synchronous distinct subtypes of primary thyroid carcinoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of multiple synchronous distinct subtypes of primary thyroid carcinomas.

METHODS

The clinical data of 68 cases of synchronous carcinomas of the thyroid (STC) admitted to the Department of Thyroid Surgery in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2021 were reviewed. According to the pathological type, they were divided into the Synchronous differentiated and differentiated thyroid Carcinoma (SDDTC) group (42 cases), the Synchronous medullary and differentiated thyroid Carcinoma (SMDTC) group (18 cases), and the Synchronous Anaplastic and differentiated thyroid Carcinoma (SADTC)group (8 cases). The diagnosis, treatment, and survival of patients in each group were analyzed.

RESULTS

Women with coexisting thyroid cancer were predominant (59 cases). Most of the symptoms were found on physical examination (47.1%) and neck mass (45.6%). The median age of patients in the SDDTC group, SADTC group, and SMDTC group was 47.5 (28-74) years old, 68.5 (26-75) years old, and 56.5 (39-74) years old. The age of the SADTC group and SMDTC group was older than that of the SDDTC group (P = 0.04, P = 0.03), and the rate of lymph node metastasis in groups SADTC (62.5%) and SMDTC (55.6%) was higher than in group SDDTC (21.4%). The disease course time, tumor location, clinical stage, and mortality of the SADTC group were significantly different from those of the SDDTC group and SMDTC group (P < 0.05). The overall survival of patients with synchronous carcinomas of the thyroid was 6-105 months, and the median overall survival was 38.5 months. The tumor-free survival was 0-90 months, 19.1% of patients developed distant metastasis, 11.8% of patients had postoperative recurrence, as well as the survival rate was estimated 91.18%. Cox model multivariate analysis showed that cervical lateral lymph node metastasis and tumor stage III/IV were independent risk factors for progression-free survival(PFS). The comparison results of the survival curves showed that the overall survival (OS)of the patients in the SADTC group was significantly worse (P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the PFS of different pathological types (χ2 = 5.024, P = 0.081).The OS of different treatment methods was significantly different (P = 0.002), but there was no significant difference in OS between local recurrence and distant metastases with or without surgery (χ2 = 0.954, P = 0.329).

CONCLUSIONS

The STC has relatively unique clinical characteristics, and most patients can get a better prognosis after radical surgery. Pathological type, lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and treatment are important factors which affect the prognosis of the disease. Since there are two distinct tumors with different aggressiveness, treatment options, and prognosis, individualized management is required.

Genetic analysis and clinicopathologic features of locally advanced papillary thyroid cancers: a prospective observational study

PURPOSE

Locally advanced papillary thyroid cancer (LAPTC) has poor prognosis. Large-scale genomic testing has revealed multiple oncogenic drivers which may be essential for understanding tumor progression. However, the accurate identification of high recurrence risk and poor prognosis in thyroid carcinoma remains unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze genetic profile and clinicopathologic features of locally advanced papillary thyroid cancers.

METHODS

An observational cohort study was performed to identify molecular characteristics of LAPTC and a prognosis comparison of LAPTC with different genetic mutations. ThyroSeq v2 next-generation sequencing (57-gene panel) was performed on fresh tumor tissue. Then, the clinicopathological features between tumors with different genetic mutations were compared. Additionally, correlations of tumor recurrence and disease free survival with different genetic alterations were analyzed.

RESULTS

This study showed that the main mutation is common BRAF^V600E (66.2%, 43/65) in LAPTC, followed by the TERT promoter mutations (38.5%, 25/65). Synergetic mutations of BRAF^V600E and TERT promoters (B&T) were identified in 26.2% LAPTC (17/65), which is associated with tall-cell variant, extrathyroidal invasion and advanced tumor stage (III/IV). The synergetic mutations of B&T are also significantly associated with higher risk of recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 6.0; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.26-28.55, P = 0.02) and mortality (17.6%, 3/17).

CONCLUSIONS

Synergetic mutations of B&T are common in LAPTC, which is associated with the aggressive clinicopathologic features and an increased risk of recurrence and mortality. This finding may help to predict aggressive behavior of LAPTC and to assist in clinical decision-making.

Radioactive Iodine Therapy Does not Improve Cancer-specific Survival in Hürthle Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid

CONTEXT

It is unclear whether radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy could improve cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) of the thyroid.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of RAI on CSS in HCC patients.

METHODS

HCC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2000 and 2018. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to evaluate CSS. Propensity score-matched (PSM) analyses were performed to control the influence of potential confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 2279 patients were identified. RAI treatment was not significantly associated with improved CSS in overall or PSM cohort. Subgroup analyses indicated similar results, even in patients with aggressive features such as age 55 years or older, tumor size greater than 40 mm, distant disease in SEER staging, extrathyroidal extension, and lymph node metastases (all P > .05).

CONCLUSION

RAI has no statistically significant influence on the CSS in HCC patients. This information may aid in decision-making for RAI therapy in these patients.

Update from the 2022 World Health Organization Classification of Thyroid Tumors: A Standardized Diagnostic Approach

The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification of thyroid neoplasms released in 2022 includes newly recognized tumor types, subtypes, and a grading system. Follicular cell-derived neoplasms are categorized into three families (classes): benign tumors, low-risk neoplasms, and malignant neoplasms. The terms "follicular nodular disease" and "differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma" are introduced to account for multifocal hyperplastic/neoplastic lesions and differentiated thyroid carcinomas with high-grade features, respectively. The term "Hürthle cells" is replaced with "oncocytic cells." Invasive encapsulated follicular and cribriform morular variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are now redefined as distinct tumor types, given their different genetic alterations and clinicopathologic characteristics from other PTC subtypes. The term "variant" to describe a subclass of tumor has been replaced with the term "subtype." Instead, the term "variant" is reserved to describe genetic alterations. A histologic grading system based on the mitotic count, necrosis, and/or the Ki67 index is used to identify high-grade follicular-cell derived carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas. The 2022 WHO classification introduces the following new categories: "salivary gland-type carcinomas of the thyroid" and "thyroid tumors of uncertain histogenesis." This review summarizes the major changes in the 2022 WHO classification and their clinical relevance.

Latency Trend Analysis as a Guide to Screening Malignancy Survivors for Second Primary Thyroid Cancer

Primary cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing second primary thyroid cancer (SPTC). Patients with SPTC who survived primary malignancies, diagnosed from 1975 to 2016, were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (SEER 18 Registry). A total of 33,551 cancer cases were enrolled in the final analysis. Individuals with a primary malignancy were at a significant 90% increased risk of developing SPTC (SIR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.86−1.93, p < 0.05) compared to the general population. More than half (54.7%) of SPTC diagnoses were made in the first three years after primary cancer diagnosis, and the most aggressive presentations of SPTC occurred within the first year following malignancy. A latency trend analysis identified persistent high risk for development of SPTC after diagnosis of lymphoma, leukemia, soft tissue tumors, kidney, breast, and uterine cancer; elevated 10-year risk for most cancers such as salivary gland, melanoma, stomach, lung, colon, ovarian, pancreas, prostate, and bladder; and high 5-year risk after cancers such as larynx, oral, orbit, bone, small intestine, and liver. Our latency period model identifying risk according to each type of primary cancer may aid clinicians in identifying at-risk patients to be screened for thyroid cancer and guide them in developing a surveillance plan according to the latency period attributed to a patient’s primary cancer.

Advantages of Small Incision Surgery in Thyroid Tumors

Objective

Thyroid tumor is a common thyroid disease, and the incidence of complications after traditional thyroid surgery is high, which seriously affects the prognosis of patients. With the development of minimally invasive techniques, small incision surgery has a positive impact on changing the traditional thyroid surgery treatment. However, the gap between small incision surgery and traditional thyroid surgery is unclear, so this meta-analysis was used to evaluate its application value.

Methods

Searching English biomedical databases, including PubMed and Science Network and Chinese major biomedical databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu. The keywords of the searched articles are as follows: small incision surgery, traditional thyroid surgery, thyroid tumor treatment, clinical efficacy of thyroid tumor, and surgical treatment, and these keywords are searched individually or in combination to track relevant systematic reviews and literature meta-analysis, and conduct other studies. The retrieval period is from the establishment of the database to January 2022. After extracting the article data, the patients were divided into small incision surgery group and traditional thyroid surgery group due to different intervention methods. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included literature, and RevMan 5.30 was used for meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 9 articles met the inclusion criteria. There were 369 patients with small incision surgery and 364 patients with traditional thyroid surgery. Compared with traditional thyroid surgery, patients treated with small incision surgery had significant short hospitalization time (MD −2.72, 95% CI (−3.32, −2.12)), less amount of bleeding (MD −15.52, 95% CI (−20.40, −10.65)), short incision length (MD −12.73, 95% CI (−16.29, −9.17)), lower VAS score (MD −2.58, 95% CI (−4.08, −1.08)), and less complications (RR 0.30, 95% CI (0.21, 0.44)).

Conclusion

Compared with traditional thyroid surgery, the results show that small incision surgery can shorten the hospital stay of patients with thyroid tumor, reduce the length of incision, reduce the amount of bleeding and the occurrence of complications, reduce postoperative pain, and have a positive effect on postoperative survival of patients.

Thyroid Cancer Detection in a Routine Clinical Setting: Performance of ACR TI-RADS, FNAC, and Molecular Testing in Prospective Cohort Study

The aim of our study was to address the potential for improvements in thyroid cancer detection in routine clinical settings using a clinical examination, the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Database System (ACR TI-RADS), and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) concurrently with molecular diagnostics. A prospective cohort study was performed on 178 patients. DNA from FNA samples was used for next-generation sequencing to identify mutations in the genes BRAF, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, and TERT. RNA was used for real-time PCR to detect fusion genes. The strongest relevant positive predictors for malignancy were the presence of genetic mutations (p < 0.01), followed by FNAC (p < 0.01) and ACR TI-RADS (p < 0.01). Overall, FNAC, ACR TI-RADS, and genetic testing reached a sensitivity of up to 96.1% and a specificity of 88.3%, with a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 183.6. Sensitivity, specificity, and DOR decreased to 75.0%, 88.9%, and 24.0, respectively, for indeterminate (Bethesda III, IV) FNAC results. FNA molecular testing has substantial potential for thyroid malignancy detection and could lead to improvements in our approaches to patients. However, clinical examination, ACR TI-RADS, and FNAC remained relevant factors.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of Hurthle cell: prediction of malignancy

Purpose

This study investigated the ultrasound (US) features of malignancy in patients with Hürthle cell neoplasms (HCNs) of the thyroid gland.

Methods

The present study included 139 HCNs that had undergone surgical excision at a single institution from 1996 to 2020 and had preoperative US images. The sonographic characteristics of HCNs were correlated with their pathological results. The US findings associated with malignancy were explored using logistic regression analysis, and the diagnostic performance and cutoff were assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

The most common US findings of HCNs were a solid content (76.3%), oval to round shape (100%), hypoechogenicity (70.5%), a smooth margin (95.0%), the halo sign (90.6%), and no calcifications (93.5%). HCNs were commonly smaller in pathologic measurements than in US measurements (smaller, same, and greater than US measurements in 60.4%, 21.6%, and 18.0% of HCNs, respectively; P<0.001). On US, malignant nodules were significantly larger than benign nodules (3.4±1.6 cm vs. 2.2±1.2 cm, P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression showed that the US tumor size was an independent predictor of malignancy (P=0.001; odds ratio, 1.730 for a 1-cm increase [95% confidence interval, 1.258 to 2.375]). The best cutoff US tumor size for predicting malignancy was 3.35 cm (sensitivity, 53.1%; specificity, 87.9%).

Conclusion

The US tumor size was found to be an independent predictor of malignancy in HCNs, and a US tumor size >3.35 cm might be used as a criterion to suggest malignancy. The size of HCNs often showed discrepancies between US and pathologic measurements.

Extracellular Vesicles as Signal Carriers in Malignant Thyroid Tumors?

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, membranous structures involved in intercellular communication. Here, we analyzed the effects of thyroid cancer-derived EVs on the properties of normal thyroid cells and cells contributing to the tumor microenvironment. EVs isolated from thyroid cancer cell lines (CGTH, FTC-133, 8505c, TPC-1 and BcPAP) were used for treatment of normal thyroid cells (NTHY), as well as monocytes and endothelial cells (HUVEC). EVs' size/number were analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Gene expression, protein level and localization were investigated by qRT-PCR, WB and ICC/IF, respectively. Proliferation, migration and tube formation were analyzed. When compared with NTHY, CGTH and BcPAP secreted significantly more EVs. Treatment of NTHY with cancer-derived EVs changed the expression of tetraspanin genes, but did not affect proliferation and migration. Cancer-derived EVs suppressed tube formation by endothelial cells and did not affect the phagocytic index of monocytes. The number of 6 μm size fraction of cancer-derived EVs correlated negatively with the CD63 and CD81 expression in NTHY cells, as well as positively with angiogenesis in vitro. Thyroid cancer-derived EVs can affect the expression of tetraspanins in normal thyroid cells. It is possible that 6 μm EVs contribute to the regulation of NTHY gene expression and angiogenesis.

Identification of DPP4/CTNNB1/MET as a Theranostic Signature of Thyroid Cancer and Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Sitagliptin

Simple Summary

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing globally, with papillary thyroid cancer (PTCa) being the most prevalent pathological type. Although PTCa has been regarded to be slow growing and has a good prognosis, in some cases, PTCa can be aggressive and progress despite surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. Therefore, searching for new targets and therapies is required. We utilized bioinformatics analyses to identify critical theranostic markers for PTCa. We found that DPP4/CTNNB1/MET is an oncogenic signature that is overexpressed in PTCa and associated with disease progression, distant metastasis, treatment resistance, immuno-evasive phenotypes, and poor clinical outcomes. Interestingly, our in silico molecular docking results revealed that sitagliptin, an antidiabetic drug, has strong affinities and potential for targeting DPP4/CTNNB1/MET signatures, even higher than standard inhibitors of these genes. Collectively, our findings suggest that sitagliptin could be repurposed for treating PTCa.

Abstract

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing globally, with papillary thyroid cancer (PTCa) being the most prevalent pathological type, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases. Although PTCa has been regarded to be slow growing and has a good prognosis, in some cases, PTCa can be aggressive and progress despite surgery and radioactive iodine treatment. In addition, most cancer treatment drugs have been shown to be cytotoxic and nonspecific to cancer cells, as they also affect normal cells and consequently cause harm to the body. Therefore, searching for new targets and therapies is required. Herein, we explored a bioinformatics analysis to identify important theranostic markers for THCA. Interestingly, we identified that the DPP4/CTNNB1/MET gene signature was overexpressed in PTCa, which, according to our analysis, is associated with immuno-invasive phenotypes, cancer progression, metastasis, resistance, and unfavorable clinical outcomes of thyroid cancer cohorts. Since most cancer drugs were shown to exhibit cytotoxicity and to be nonspecific, herein, we evaluated the anticancer effects of the antidiabetic drug sitagliptin, which was recently shown to possess anticancer activities, and is well tolerated and effective. Interestingly, our in silico molecular docking results exhibited putative binding affinities of sitagliptin with DPP4/CTNNB1/MET signatures, even higher than standard inhibitors of these genes. This suggests that sitagliptin is a potential THCA therapeutic, worthy of further investigation both in vitro and in vivo and in clinical settings.

Clinical Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Survivin on Predicting Prognosis in Thyroid Cancer Patients

Background. Clinical significance of circulating tumor cell (CTC) count, mesenchymal CTCs (MCTCs), and survivin in patients with thyroid cancer remains unclear. We evaluated the relationship between the expression of different CTC subtypes or survivin and the prognosis in patients with thyroid cancer. Patients and Methods. This study enrolled 164 patients with thyroid cancer who were diagnosed from January 2013 to September 2020 in our hospital. Among these patients, there were 73 cases with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), 60 cases with follicular thyroid cancer (FTC), 12 medullary thyroid cancers (MTC), 10 poorly differentiated thyroid cancers (PDTC), 9 anaplastic thyroid cancers, and 10 control patients with nonmalignant thyroid nodules based on their histopathological characteristics. Only 5 milliliters (mL) of peripheral blood from the patients with thyroid cancer and control was used to detect the CTC cell number via CanPatrol capture technique before treatments. We also isolated mononuclear cells (MNC) from the peripheral blood and performed quantity reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for survivin gene expression among these patients. Results. The overall positive rates of CTC at diagnosis were 56.1%. The relapse and metastasis rates in PTC and FTC patients with more than 6 CTCs and positive MCTCs were significantly higher than those in the patients with 6 or less than 6 CTCs and MCTCs. It was also found that these patients with >6 CTCs and MCTCs had shorter progression-free survival (PFS). Additionally, the survivin level of the patients with thyroid cancer was strongly relative to differentiation grades of thyroid cancers. Conclusions. The detection of more than six of total CTCs and positive MCTCs in the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is an excellent biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients. Survivin also is a good biomarker for thyroid cancer differentiation.

The Efficacy of ACR TI-RADS in the Management of Suspected Thyroid Nodules and Its Correlation With the Bethesda Scoring System

Objective:

Ultrasonography (US) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) play an important role in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) and the Bethesda system, based on final cytopathology.

Materials and Methods:

The cases that underwent thyroidectomy, due to a nodule, between May 2019 and May 2021 were retrospectively imaged. Of those cases, 73 patients were included in the study. The obtained data included ACR TI-RADS and the Bethesda system scores for nodules.

Results:

According to Spearman correlation, a very strong positive relationship was found between the Bethesda scoring system and ACR TI-RADS scores (ρ = 0.832, P < .0001). A 94.4% sensitivity and 65.4% specificity were found in 16 patients with a Bethesda score of 3 and TR3 based on final pathology ( P < .001). And a sensitivity of 77.3% and specificity of 51.5% were found in 17 patients, with a Bethesda score 4 and TR4 ( P < .001). Finally, a sensitivity of 55.6% and specificity of 50.0% were found in 17 patients with a Bethesda score 6 and TR5 ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

The routine use of the ACR TI-RADS classification in thyroid nodules could be useful in preventing unnecessary FNABs. It could be effective in minimizing complications secondary to FNAB and thyroidectomy and reducing costs.

Intrasalivary Thymic Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Ectopic thymic carcinomas are rarely diagnosed in the thyroid gland, let alone in extrathyroid tissues. In the currently available literature, only five cases of extrathyroidal malignancies with thymic differentiation have been reported as arising in the major salivary glands. A 69-year-old female presented with a slow-growing palpable mass in the left parotid gland. Fine needle aspiration biopsy suggested metastatic cancer, whereas core needle biopsy revealed high-grade squamous cell carcinoma. The patient underwent left radical parotidectomy with selective ipsilateral lymph node dissection and subsequent radiation therapy. The surgical specimen was taken for histopathological examination. Microscopically, the tumor resembled thymic carcinoma. It was composed of large nests of squamoid cells with smooth contours, focally with a syncytial growth pattern, and accompanied by abundant lymphocytes with reactive lymphoid follicles. This appearance resembled a micronodular thymic carcinoma with lymphoid hyperplasia. Moreover, the tumor displayed expression of squamous markers (p40 and p63) and markers of thymic carcinoma (CD5 and CD117). Therefore, the final diagnosis of intrasalivary thymic carcinoma was rendered. The molecular analysis including next-generation sequencing demonstrated no variants of the strong, potential, or unknown clinical significance. The patient remains disease-free at 1-year follow-up. In the current case, we comprehensively present a clinical, microscopic, molecular, and radiological picture of CD5-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid. We postulate that similar cases should be designated as intrasalivary thymic carcinoma analogically to similar thyroid tumors. Our case and the limited literature data indicate they should be distinguished from conventional squamous cell carcinoma of major salivary glands due to their rather favorable prognosis.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer Prognosis: An Evolving Field

Simple Summary

Over the last couple of decades, the prognostic stratification systems of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients have been revised several times in an attempt to achieve a tailored clinical management reflecting the single patients’ needs. Such revisions are likely to continue in the near future, since the prognostic value of a number of promising clinicopathological features and new molecular biomarkers are being evaluated. Here, we will review the current staging systems of thyroid cancer patients and discuss the most relevant clinicopathological parameters and new molecular markers that are potentially capable of refining the prognosis.

Abstract

Over the last few years, a great advance has been made in the comprehension of the molecular pathogenesis underlying thyroid cancer progression, particularly for the papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), which represents the most common thyroid malignancy. Putative cancer driver mutations have been identified in more than 98% of PTC, and a new PTC classification into molecular subtypes has been proposed in order to resolve clinical uncertainties still present in the clinical management of patients. Additionally, the prognostic stratification systems have been profoundly modified over the last decade, with a view to refine patients’ staging and being able to choose a clinical approach tailored on single patient’s needs. Here, we will briefly discuss the recent changes in the clinical management of thyroid nodules, and review the current staging systems of thyroid cancer patients by analyzing promising clinicopathological features (i.e., gender, thyroid auto-immunity, multifocality, PTC histological variants, and vascular invasion) as well as new molecular markers (i.e., BRAF/TERT promoter mutations, miRNAs, and components of the plasminogen activating system) potentially capable of ameliorating the prognosis of PTC patients.

High Prevalence of DICER1 Mutations and Low Frequency of Gene Fusions in Pediatric Follicular-Patterned Tumors of the Thyroid

Follicular-patterned tumors of the thyroid in the adult population frequently harbor RAS mutations or PAX8-PPARG rearrangement, but little is known about molecular profiles in the pediatric patients with thyroid tumors, which is rare. To identify the molecular profile of pediatric follicular-patterned tumors, we enrolled 41 pediatric patients with follicular-patterned tumors from two institutions. We did next-generation sequencing using a mutation panel targeting 49 thyroid-tumor-related genes and a fusion panel targeting 88 types of thyroid-related gene fusions. We identified nonsynonymous mutations in at least one target gene in most of the tumors (28/41, 68%). Somatic DICER1 mutations (22%, n = 9) were the most common genetic alteration, followed by mutations of NRAS (15%), FGFR3 (15%), PTEN (12%), and STK11 (10%). Infrequent genetic alterations (≤ 5% of all cases) included mutations of HRAS, APC, TSHR, CTNNB1, TP53, EIF1AX, FGFR4, GNAS, RET, and SOS1, and gene fusion of THADA-IGF2BP3. DICER1 and RAS mutations were mutually exclusive. No patients had tumors related to the DICER1 syndrome or the Cowden syndrome. There was no significant difference in total mutation burden or distribution between follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma. In the literature, the DICER1 mutation has been reported in 20 to 53% of pediatric patients with follicular-patterned tumors. In conclusion, our study reinforces the role of the DICER1 mutation in the development of pediatric thyroid tumors. Gene fusions rarely occur in pediatric follicular-patterned tumors. Mutation or gene fusion alone could not distinguish benign from malignant follicular-patterned tumors in pediatric patients.

How to identify indolent thyroid tumors unlikely to recur and cause cancer death immediately after surgery-Risk stratification of papillary thyroid carcinoma in young patients

Current histopathological diagnosis methods cannot distinguish the two types of thyroid carcinoma: clinically significant carcinomas with a potential risk of recurrence, metastasis, and cancer death, and clinically insignificant carcinomas with a slow growth rate. Both thyroid tumors are diagnosed as "carcinoma" in current pathology practice. The clinician usually recommends surgery to the patient and the patient often accepts it because of cancer terminology. The treatment for these clinically insignificant carcinomas does not benefit the patient and negatively impacts society. The author proposed risk stratification of thyroid tumors using the growth rate (Ki-67 labeling index), which accurately differentiates four prognostically relevant risk groups based on the Ki-67 labeling index, ≥30%, ≥10 and <30%, >5 and <10%, and ≤5%. Indolent thyroid tumors with an excellent prognosis have the following four features: young age, early-stage (T1-2 M0), curatively treated, and low proliferation index (Ki-67 labeling index of ≤5%), and are unlikely to recur, metastasize, or cause cancer death. Accurate identification of these indolent tumors helps clinicians select more conservative treatments to avoid unnecessary aggressive (total thyroidectomy followed by radio-active iodine) treatments. Clinicians can alleviate the fears of patients by confirming these four features, including the low proliferation rate, in a pathology report immediately after surgery when patients are most concerned.

Deep Learning Fast Screening Approach on Cytological Whole Slides for Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis

Simple Summary

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer and could be cured if diagnosed and treated early. In clinical practice, the primary method for determining diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is manual visual inspection of cytopathology slides, which is difficult, time consuming and subjective with a high inter-observer variability and sometimes causes suboptimal patient management due to false-positive and false-negative results. This study presents a fast, fully automatic and efficient deep learning framework for fast screening of cytological slides for thyroid cancer diagnosis. We confirmed the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method based on evaluation results from two different types of slides: thyroid fine needle aspiration smears and ThinPrep slides.

Abstract

Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer in the endocrine system, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent type of thyroid cancer, accounting for 70 to 80% of all thyroid cancer cases. In clinical practice, visual inspection of cytopathological slides is an essential initial method used by the pathologist to diagnose PTC. Manual visual assessment of the whole slide images is difficult, time consuming, and subjective, with a high inter-observer variability, which can sometimes lead to suboptimal patient management due to false-positive and false-negative. In this study, we present a fully automatic, efficient, and fast deep learning framework for fast screening of papanicolaou-stained thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) and ThinPrep (TP) cytological slides. To the authors’ best of knowledge, this work is the first study to build an automated deep learning framework for identification of PTC from both FNA and TP slides. The proposed deep learning framework is evaluated on a dataset of 131 WSIs, and the results show that the proposed method achieves an accuracy of 99%, precision of 85%, recall of 94% and F1-score of 87% in segmentation of PTC in FNA slides and an accuracy of 99%, precision of 97%, recall of 98%, F1-score of 98%, and Jaccard-Index of 96% in TP slides. In addition, the proposed method significantly outperforms the two state-of-the-art deep learning methods, i.e., U-Net and SegNet, in terms of accuracy, recall, F1-score, and Jaccard-Index (p<0.001). Furthermore, for run-time analysis, the proposed fast screening method takes 0.4 min to process a WSI and is 7.8 times faster than U-Net and 9.1 times faster than SegNet, respectively.

Best Achievements in Clinical Thyroidology in 2020

This review highlights the most interesting research in thyroidology conducted in 2020. The publications of interest discussed below dealt with the following topics: thyroid dysfunction, risk of thyroid cancer, molecular diagnostics and new therapeutics for thyroid cancer, and thyroid disease in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era.