1
|
Rossi ED, Tralongo P, Fiorentino V, Curatolo M, Bruno C, De Crea C, Raffaelli M, Pontecorvi A, Larocca LM. Approach to FNA of Thyroid Gland Cysts. Adv Anat Pathol 2022; 29:358-364. [PMID: 35918293 DOI: 10.1097/pap.0000000000000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Fine needle aspiration is a well-known procedure for the diagnosis and management of thyroid lesions, representing the first diagnostic tool for the definition of their nature. In clinical practice, a thyroid nodule can be classified as solid, cystic, and partially cystic based on its internal components. Different thyroid imaging reporting systems and cytologic diagnostic systems have focused their attention on solid nodules, which are more frequently linked with a malignant outcome. In fact, numerous papers demonstrated that nodules with microcalcifications, a taller-than-wide shape, hypoechogeneity, and irregular margins, are more likely to be malignant on histology. Nevertheless, according to the literature, the risk of malignancy in a partially cystic thyroid nodule ranges between 3.3 and 17-5%, including, for instance, the possible diagnosis of a cystic papillary thyroid carcinoma and other malignant entities. Therefore, in the current review article, we are going to discuss the approach to thyroid cystic lesions on fine needle aspiration cytology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Carmen De Crea
- Division of Endocrine-Surgery-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario"Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome Italy Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Raffaelli
- Division of Endocrine-Surgery-Fondazione Policlinico Universitario"Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome Italy Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Thyroid and Molecular Testing. Advances in Thyroid Molecular Cytopathology. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmp2020008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid nodules are a common finding in the adult population including the fact that more than 50% of individuals, over the age of 60, have thyroid nodules. The majority have been mostly detected with ultrasonography and 10% by palpation. The majority of these nodules are benign, whereas 5–15% of them are malignant. The pre-operative diagnosis of cancer is a critical challenge in order to ensure that each patient can be treated with the best tailored management with a reduction of unnecessary surgery for benign lesions. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) represents the first and most important diagnostic tool for the evaluation of thyroid lesions. According to the literature, FNAC is able to render a conclusive diagnosis in up to 70–80% of all cases. For the remaining 20–30% of nodules, cytological diagnoses fall into the category of indeterminate lesions mostly due to the lack of specific morphological features. According to the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC), indeterminate lesions can be sub-stratified into three different subcategories including “atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance-AUS/FLUS”; “follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasm/suspicious for follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasm-FN/SFN”; and “suspicious for malignancy-SFM”. Many of these indeterminate lesions undergo repetition or diagnostic lobectomy. Nonetheless, the majority of these cases will have a benign diagnosis due to the fact that the rate of cancer ranges between 6 and 30%. It stands to reason that the application of ancillary technique, mostly molecular testing, emerged as a critical additional tool for those thyroid indeterminate lesions. Since the early 1990s, material collected from cytological samples yields sufficient and adequate cells for the detection of point mutation or gene fusions. Nonetheless, the further availability of new sequencing technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) has led to more comprehensive molecular applications adopted now in clinical use. The current review investigates the multiple advances in the field of molecular testing applied in thyroid cytology.
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is among the first diagnostic tools used in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. It has the ability to triage patients with benign and malignant lesions, thus defining the optimum clinical and/or surgical management. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology has found worldwide acceptance. Thyroid FNA offers high positive predictive value (97%-99%), with sensitivities and specificities of 65% to 99% and 72% to 100%, respectively. Nonetheless, many potential diagnostic pitfalls exist that can lead to false-positive and/or false-negative results. This article discusses several of the potential pitfalls in the cytologic evaluation of thyroid lesions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, A. Gemelli Square, 1, Rome 20123, Italy
| | - Adebowale J Adeniran
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - William C Faquin
- Department of Pathology, WRN 219, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu F, Yan Z, Ma B, Jiang Y, Huang H. The impact of concurrent Hashimoto thyroiditis on thyroid nodule cytopathology assessed by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Postgrad Med 2020; 132:506-511. [PMID: 32133896 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2020.1739462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent and a common clinical problem worldwide. How to identify the nature of a nodule is a major concern of clinicians. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has an established role and is well-utilized in nodule management. However, the unsatisfactory nondiagnostic and indeterminate rates limit its usage and lead to some unnecessary surgery. Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is prevalently found concurrent with thyroid nodules. Whether HT can influence the accuracy of cytopathological diagnosis of nodules is still controversial. Methods: We collected medical records of 1,063 patients with thyroid nodules who had done FNAC in our hospital from 2015 to 2016. Thyroid function, anti-thyroid autoantibody levels, thyroid ultrasound records, and cytological and histopathological results of nodules were reviewed to analyze the impact of HT on FNAC outcome. Results: A total of 1,063 patients with an average age of 44 ± 13 years old were retrospectively reviewed for pathological and clinical data. Patients with different cytological diagnoses had comparable positive rates of anti-thyroid autoantibodies. One hundred patients were confirmed to have concurrent HT by histopathology after surgery. The overall nondiagnostic and indeterminate cytology rates were 11.9% and 25% respectively. No statistical difference was found either in the rate of a nondiagnostic cytology results or in the rate of indeterminate cytology results between patients with positive anti-thyroid autoantibodies and patients with negative test for anti-thyroid autoantibodies (P > 0.05). The same was true between patients with histopathologically confirmed HT and HT-negative ones (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The presence of concurrent HT, whether clinically implied with positive anti-thyroid autoantibodies or pathologically confirmed, is unlikely to predispose an FNAC diagnosis of thyroid nodules to be non-diagnostic or indeterminate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengqiu Hu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China
| | - Zhe Yan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China
| | - Buyun Ma
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rossi ED, Larocca LM, Pantanowitz L. Ancillary molecular testing of indeterminate thyroid nodules. Cancer Cytopathol 2019; 126 Suppl 8:654-671. [PMID: 30156775 DOI: 10.1002/cncy.22012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cytological specimens from thyroid nodules are increasingly being adopted as the first available material for cost effectively managing patients in the era of personalized medicine. Cytology aspirates not only play a central role in providing accurate diagnoses, but are also being collected for ancillary molecular testing. Molecular analysis, including the evaluation of somatic mutations and other genomic alterations, has accordingly become well integrated in the cytological workup of thyroid lesions. Appropriately handled thyroid cytology preparations provide well-preserved and adequately cellular material with improved DNA/RNA quantity. The recent publication of the 2nd edition of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology and the American Thyroid Association guidelines confirm the relevant role of molecular testing in the management of the different subcategories of indeterminate thyroid lesions. This review discusses the role of molecular testing for indeterminate thyroid nodules, including the recent introduction of the noninvasive, encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), known also as noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Diana Rossi
- Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario, "Agostino Gemelli" Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Maria Larocca
- Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario, "Agostino Gemelli" Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rossi ED, Pantanowitz L, Faquin WC. The Role of Molecular Testing for the Indeterminate Thyroid FNA. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10100736. [PMID: 31547603 PMCID: PMC6826845 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid nodules are common in the adult population where a majority are benign and only 4.0% to 6.5% are malignant. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a key method used in the early stages to evaluate and triage patients with thyroid nodules. While a definitive cytological diagnosis is provided in more than 70–75% of all thyroid FNA cases, the group of indeterminate lesions offers a challenge in terms of interpretation and clinical management. Molecular testing platforms have been developed, are recognized as an option by the 2015 American Thyroid Association Guidelines, and are frequently used in conjunction with FNA as an integral part of the cytologic evaluation. In this review, the utility of molecular testing options for nodules assigned to the group of indeterminate thyroid FNAs is described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
| | - William C Faquin
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rossi ED, Martini M, Capodimonti S, Cenci T, Larocca LM. The role of miRNAs in the evaluation of follicular thyroid neoplasms: an overview of literature. J Am Soc Cytopathol 2017; 6:96-104. [PMID: 31043264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jasc.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) deregulation has been frequently associated with different human cancers. Not only have miRNAs been involved in almost every cellular function but they have also been linked with a significant number of cancers including thyroid carcinomas. Specifically, thyroid tumors encompass several different miRNA profiles based on the histotypes. Furthermore, thyroid lesions with their broad spectrum of neoplasms (from benign to malignant entities) offer the possibility of studying and recognizing specific subsets of different up-and downregulated miRNAs in each different entity. To date, the majority of authors completed their evaluation mostly by including histologic samples of thyroid tumors. Nonetheless, in the last years, a few studies are focusing on the role of miRNA expression in thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) regardless of the cytologic preparation, including liquid-based cytology. This growing interest is driven by the possible role of miRNAs in the malignant risk stratification, especially for the indeterminate categories of follicular neoplasms (FNs). In this review we overview the reliability of analyzing miRNAs on thyroid lesions, including those diagnosed as FNs, to identify whether their profiles are likely to distinguish benign from malignant lesions, providing a predictive molecular diagnosis on FNAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Diana Rossi
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Martini
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Capodimonti
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Tonia Cenci
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Maria Larocca
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Department of Pathology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, "Agostino Gemelli" School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
The detection of thyroid nodules, consisting of different diseases, represents a common finding in population. Their evaluation and diagnosis are mostly achieved with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Even though the majority of thyroid nodules are correctly diagnosed, a total of 25% to 30% of them are classified "indeterminate" comprising lesions with varying risk of malignancy and different types of management. Although the number of thyroid FNACs, including small lesions, is increasing due to the reliance upon sonographic and cytologic interpretations, there are issues concerning cytomorphologic interpretation and interobserver reproducibility. Different classification systems have tried to better define the criteria for inclusion in specific categories and to therefore reduce the rate of indeterminate diagnoses such as atypia of undetermined significance, follicular neoplasms, and suspicious for malignancy. However, the support of ancillary techniques (eg, immunocytochemistry and molecular analysis) are reshaping morphologic diagnoses made on materials obtained from FNAC.
Collapse
|