Prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinomas and their implications for current staging classifications

Tailoring TSH suppression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: evidence, controversies, and future directions

PURPOSE

This review focus on the controversial benefits of thyroid hormone suppression therapy (THST) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and its associated risks, highlighting the need for individualized strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes and guide future research.

METHODS

A systematic literature search on TSH suppression in DTC over the past 10 years was conducted, prioritizing RCTs, large cohort studies, and non-inferiority trials, with additional references identified from retrieved articles.

RESULTS

Tailored postoperative TSH strategies should consider factors such as risk stratification, treatment modality, histologic subtype, and adverse effect risks. In this context, mechanistic studies offer potential insights that could inform personalized TSH management, though further validation is required. Clinical evidence on THST in DTC remains controversial, particularly for high-risk patients, where support for stringent TSH suppression (<0.1 mU/L) is limited. Data for intermediate-risk DTC are insufficient due to cohort heterogeneity, while TSH suppression in low-risk DTC is largely discouraged. The well-documented adverse effects of excessive THST, including cardiovascular complications and osteoporosis, further provide a strong rationale against its routine use. Additionally, achieving and maintaining target TSH levels in real-world practice remains challenging, underscoring the need for refined approaches.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence provides limited support for the TSH targets recommended by the 2015 ATA guidelines. Optimizing postoperative TSH management should account for individualized factors, including risk stratification, treatment modalities, histologic subtypes, and susceptibility to adverse effects. Future research should prioritize well-designed studies with clearly defined suppression levels and appropriate confounder adjustments, emphasizing personalized approaches to balance therapeutic benefits and adverse effects.

A hybrid machine learning model combining association rule mining and classification algorithms to predict differentiated thyroid cancer recurrence

Background

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy with a recurrence rate of about 20%, necessitating better predictive methods for patient management. This study aims to create a relational classification model to predict DTC recurrence by integrating clinical, pathological, and follow-up data.

Methods

The balanced dataset comprises 550 DTC samples collected over 15 years, featuring 13 clinicopathological variables. To address the class imbalance in recurrence status, the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique for Nominal and Continuous (SMOTE-NC) was utilized. A hybrid model combining classification algorithms with association rule mining was developed. Two relational classification approaches, regularized class association rules (RCAR) and classification based on association rules (CBAR), were implemented. Binomial logistic regression analyzed independent predictors of recurrence. Model performance was assessed through accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and F1 score.

Results

The RCAR model demonstrated superior performance over the CBAR model, achieving accuracy, sensitivity, and F1 score of 96.7%, 93.1%, and 96.7%, respectively. Association rules highlighted that papillary pathology with an incomplete response strongly predicted recurrence. The combination of incomplete response and lymphadenopathy was also a significant predictor. Conversely, the absence of adenopathy and complete response to treatment were linked to freedom from recurrence. Incomplete structural response was identified as a critical predictor of recurrence risk, even with other low-recurrence conditions.

Conclusion

This study introduces a robust and interpretable predictive model that enhances personalized medicine in thyroid cancer care. The model effectively identifies high-risk individuals, allowing for tailored follow-up strategies that could improve patient outcomes and optimize resource allocation in DTC management.

Role of CT imaging in addressing resectability issues in differentiated thyroid cancer: imaging-based Mahajan grading system for TI and ETE

Background and objective

Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is the term used to describe the growth of the primary thyroid tumor beyond the thyroid capsule. ETE is a critical prognostic marker for thyroid tumors, necessitating accurate preoperative assessment. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT)-based grading for ETE and tracheal invasion (TI) for preoperative prediction in patients with differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and compare the diagnostic accuracy with ultrasound (US).

Materials and methods

This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board. Preoperative US and CT were performed for 83 patients who underwent surgery for PTC between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2020. The US and CT features of ETE and TI of each case were retrospectively and independently investigated by two radiologists. The diagnostic performances of US and CT, including their specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for ETE, and their accuracy in predicting ETE and TI were analyzed. As per the grading for ETE on USG and CT, lesions were graded into three grades and Mahajan grading was also devised on CT to predict the TI and graded into four grades.

Results

The accuracy and specificity of CT are relatively good for identifying tumor infiltration into the adjacent structures and range from 82% to 87% and 95% to 98%, respectively. It, however, has a low sensitivity, between 14.3% and 77.78%, when compared to US, which suggests that in case of any doubt regarding CT evidence of tumor infiltration into surrounding structures, additional clinical examination must be performed. CT showed better sensitivity (78%) and specificity (75%) in detecting TI compared to previous studies. The diagnostic accuracy of CT Mahajan grading was 91.5% with p <0.005 in the prediction of TI.

Conclusion

Preoperative US should be regarded as a first-line imaging modality for predicting minimal ETE, and CT should be additionally performed for the evaluation of maximal ETE. The specificity and PPV of CT are higher than those of US in detecting overall ETE and TI of PTC. The US- and CT-based grading systems have the potential to optimize preoperative surgical planning.

Risk factors for death of follicular thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There are conflicting reports on the factors that increase the likelihood of patients dying from follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). Therefore, it is critical to identify risk factors of patients with FTC. This study aimed to identify the factors that increase the risk of death of patients with FTC and help clinicians make better treatment and follow-up decisions.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases for relevant studies published before January 31, 2023. Their reference lists were also analyzed. Two reviewers extracted data and evaluated the quality of eligible studies independently. Studies on patients who had open thyroidectomy procedures with or without neck dissection were included in this review. The RevMan 5.3 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included thirteen studies with a total of 2075 patients. The following variables were associated with an increased risk of death in FTC patients: age > 45 years, male, tumor diameter > 4 cm, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), widely invasive (WI), cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM), distant metastases (DM) and non-radical resection tumor. Lobectomy and no radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment was not associated with the death of FTC patients.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should pay closer attention to the following significant risk factors associated with the death of FTC patients: age (> 45), male, multifocality, tumor diameter > 4 cm, ETE, WI, non-radical resection tumor, CLNM, and DM. Individualized initial treatment and close follow-up are needed FTC patients who have these risk factors.

Role of albumin Cys34 redox state in the progression of differentiated thyroid carcinoma and induction of ferroptosis

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy worldwide and requires effective prognostic markers and therapeutic targets to optimize patient outcomes. This study investigated the potential of human serum albumin (HSA) cysteine-34 (Cys34) redox state as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic avenue for DTC. A retrospective cohort study of 99 patients with DTC undergoing radioactive iodine therapy found that higher concentrations of HSA with the reduced form of Cys34 (i.e., human mercaptalbumin [HMA]) were associated with improved progression-free survival in metastatic DTC. In vitro experiments using a DTC cell line revealed that HMA induced cytotoxic effects by triggering ferroptosis, characterized by lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS accumulation, and decreased cell viability. Ferroptosis inhibitors rescued cell viability, confirming their role in cytotoxicity. These results implicate the HSA-Cys34 redox state is a promising avenue for precision medicine in DTC, shedding light on the prognostic relevance and therapeutic potential of HMA-induced ferroptosis. They emphasize the opportunity for personalized treatment strategies to advance the management of patients with DTC.

Impact of microscopic extrathyroidal extension on differentiated thyroid cancer post-surgical risk of recurrence: a retrospective analysis

PURPOSE

In the last edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) showing microscopic extrathyroidal extension (mETE) are considered comparable to intrathyroidal cancers for their clinical behavior and prognosis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of this updated assessment of T, when applied to the postoperative recurrence risk stratification, according to the American Thyroid Association Guidelines (ATA-RR).

METHODS

One-hundred DTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were retrospectively evaluated. The downstaging of mETE was introduced in the definition of T, and the updated classification defined as modified ATA-RR (ATAm-RR). For each patient, post-surgical basal and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, neck ultrasound (US) and post-ablative 131-I whole body scan (WBS) reports were considered. The predictive performance (PP) of disease recurrence was calculated both for each single parameter, as well as for all of them.

RESULTS

According to ATAm-RR classification, 19/100 patients (19%) were downstaged. ATA-RR proved a significant PP for disease recurrence (DR) (sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 63.0%, p = 0.023). However, ATAm-RR performed slightly better due to an increased specificity (sensitivity 75.0%, specificity 83.7%, p < 0.001). For both classifications, the PP was optimal when all the above-mentioned predictive parameters were considered.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the new assessment of T considering mETE resulted in a downgrading of ATA-RR class in a significant number of patients. This provides a better PP for disease recurrence, and the best PP was obtained when considering the whole predictive variables together.

Prognostic factors for recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prognostic factors for tumor recurrence and mortality of patients diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) with immediate surgery in Colombia has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively evaluate the risk factors for recurrence and survival at 10 years in patients with the diagnosis of PTC treated at Fundación Santa Fe deBogota (FSFB).

METHODS

A total of 486 patients with thyroid surgery accompanied by medical follow-up were recruited. Demographic, clinical, and pathological variables were followed-up for a median period of 10 years.

RESULTS

The most significant variables for recurrence were tumors with > 4 cm of size (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-55) and extrathyroidal spread (HR = 26.7; 95% CI = 3.1-228).

CONCLUSION

PTC in our population has low rates of mortality (0.6%) and recurrence (9.6%), with an average time of recurrence of 3 years. Size of the lesion, positive surgical margins, extrathyroidal spread, and high postoperative serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level act as prognostic factors that determine the likelihood of recurrence. Unlike other studies, the influence of age and gender does not act as a prognostic factor.

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of cell migration and invasion in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most frequent endocrine malignancies that is more common among females. Tumor recurrence is one of the most important clinical manifestations in differentiated TC which is associated with different factors including age, tumor size, and histological features. Various molecular processes such as genetic or epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNAs are also involved in TC progression and metastasis. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important biological process during tumor invasion and migration that affects the initiation and transformation of early-stage tumors into invasive malignancies. A combination of transcription factors, growth factors, signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulations affect the thyroid cell migration and EMT process. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important molecular factors involved in tumor metastasis by regulation of EMT-activating signaling pathways. Various miRNAs are involved in the signaling pathways associated with TC metastasis which can be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Since, the miRNAs are sensitive, specific, and non-invasive, they can be suggested as efficient and optimal biomarkers of tumor invasion and metastasis. In the present review, we have summarized all of the miRNAs which have been significantly involved in thyroid tumor cells migration and invasion. We also categorized all of the reported miRNAs based on their cellular processes to clarify the molecular role of miRNAs during thyroid tumor cell migration and invasion. This review paves the way of introducing a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic panel of miRNAs in aggressive and metastatic TC patients.

Comparative BRAF V600E immunohistochemical expression in differentiated thyroid tumors with papillary features

Differentiated thyroid tumors (DTC) are the most common indolent tumors associated with a good prognosis compared with other tumors. Its incidence during the last few decades has increased. DTC includes papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma. The BRAF is the most prevalent genetic mutation in thyroid carcinoma, occurring in more than 50% of papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs). The study aimed to evaluate BRAF expression in differentiated thyroid tumors with papillary-like nuclear features. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks (FFPE) were collected from archival samples of patients in private histopathology labs in Al-Najaf city from 55 cases, which included 27 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cases, 10 cases of NIFTP, 13 FVPTC cases, 2 papillary microcarcinoma cases, and 3 NIFTP coexist with papillary microcarcinoma cases. All samples were stained using the immunohistochemistry method in the Middle Euphrates unit for cancer research at the University of Kufa/Faculty of Medicine. 15/55 (27.3%) of cases increased BRAF expression. The BRAF expression was statistically significant with tumor type (p=0.008). The higher expression was associated with 13 (48.15%) of PTC cases. However, the BRAF expression did not correlate with gender (p=0.2), tumor size (p=0.07), and tumor focality (p=0.09). BRAF V600E has prognostic value as it correlates with tumor progression.

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer with Biochemical Incomplete Response: Clinico-Pathological Characteristics and Long Term Disease Outcomes

Simple Summary

Biochemical incomplete response (BIR) is defined as elevated thyroglobulin or rising thyroglobulin antibodies following treatment without structural evidence of disease at 1–2 years after initial treatment. The long-term outcome of such patients is still poorly characterized, with some progressing to structural disease, while others maintain BIR for decades or revert to non-evidence of disease (NED). In this study, we aimed to identify factors that could predict any of the above possible outcomes. In our cohort of 83 BIR patients with a mean follow-up of 12 years, 41% progressed to structural disease. Of them, 11.8% remained BIR, and 38.2% reverted to NED.

Abstract

Although most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and biochemical incomplete response (BIR) follow a good clinical outcome, progression to structural disease may occur in 8–17% of patients. We aimed to identify factors that could predict the long-term outcomes of BIR patients. To this end, we conducted a retrospective review study of 1049 charts from our Differential Thyroid Cancer registry of patients who were initially treated with total thyroidectomy between 1962 and 2019. BIR was defined as suppressed thyroglobulin (Tg) > 1 ng/mL, stimulated Tg > 10 ng/mL or rising anti-Tg antibodies, who did not have structural evidence of disease, and who were assessed 12–24 months after initial treatment. We found 83 patients (7.9%) matching the definition of BIR. During a mean follow-up of 12 ± 6.6 years, 49 (59%) patients remained in a state of BIR or reverted to no evidence of disease, while 34 (41%) progressed to structural disease. At the last follow-up, three cases (3.6%) were recorded as disease-related death. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) Initial Risk Stratification system and/or AJCC/TNM (8th ed.) staging system at diagnosis predicted the shift from BIR to structural disease, irrespective of their postoperative Tg levels. We conclude that albeit 41% of BIR patients may shift to structural disease, and most have a rather indolent disease. Specific new individual data enable the Response to Therapy reclassification to become a dynamic system to allow for the better management of BIR patients in the long term.

Long-term outcomes of lobectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma with high-risk features

BACKGROUND

Lobectomy is not advocated for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with high-risk features, although there is no high-level evidence showing that this is an inferior strategy. This study aimed to examine the association between the extent of surgery and survival of patients with PTC and high-risk features.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with PTC and at least one high-risk feature treated in 2000-2012 were included in the study. High-risk features were defined as: primary tumour larger than 4 cm, gross extrathyroidal extension, macroscopic multifocality, and confirmed nodal metastasis including pathological lateral neck metastasis (pN1b) or more than five central lymph node metastases. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to measure the association between the extent of surgery and disease-specific survival (DSS) in the whole cohort and in a matched-pair analysis.

RESULTS

Among a total of 2059 patients with high-risk features, 1224 underwent lobectomy and 835 had total thyroidectomy. Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy had significantly higher rates of bilateral cancer than those who had a lobectomy (79.4 versus 2.7 per cent respectively), macroscopic multifocality (80.8 versus 32.8 per cent) and bilateral neck metastasis (30.9 versus 3.3 per cent) (all P < 0.001). With a median follow-up of 93 months, multivariable analysis showed that the extent of surgery was not associated with DSS in the whole cohort (hazard ratio 1.36, 95 per cent c.i. 0.75 to 2.48; P = 0.310). After 1 : 1 case-control matching of 528 patients, no significant difference between lobectomy and total thyroidectomy groups was observed with respect to the 10-year DSS rate (94.3 versus 95.2 per cent respectively; P = 0.323) or 10-year recurrence-free survival rate (75.8 versus 79.2 per cent; P = 0.784).

CONCLUSION

Lobectomy was not associated with significantly worse outcomes for patients with PTC and high-risk features.

Data set for reporting carcinoma of the thyroid: recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting

Thyroid cancer therapy is increasingly tailored to patients' risk of recurrence and death, placing renewed importance on pathologic parameters. The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR), an organization promoting evidence-based, internationally agreed-upon standardized pathology data sets, is the ideal conduit for the development of a pathology reporting protocol aimed at improving the care of patients with thyroid carcinomas. An international expert panel reviewed each element of thyroid pathology reporting. Recommendations were made based on the most recent literature and expert opinion.The data set uses the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) classification for the purpose of a more clinically and prognostically relevant nomenclature. One example is the restriction of the term minimally invasive follicular carcinoma to tumors with capsular invasion only. It reinforces the already established criteria for blood vessel invasion adopted by the most recent WHO classification and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology fascicle. It emphasizes the importance of the extent of blood vessel invasion and extrathyroid extension to better stratify patients for appropriate therapy. It is the first data set that requires pathologists to use the more recently recognized prognostically powerful parameters of mitotic activity and tumor necrosis. It highlights the importance of assessing nodal disease volume in predicting the risk of recurrence.The ICCR thyroid data set provides the tools to generate a report that will guide patient treatment in a more rational manner aiming to prevent the undertreatment of threatening malignancies and spare patients with indolent tumors the morbidity of unnecessary therapy. We recommend its routine use internationally for reporting thyroid carcinoma histology.

Radiomics based on multiparametric MRI for extrathyroidal extension feature prediction in papillary thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

To determine the predictive capability of MRI-based radiomics for extrathyroidal extension detection in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) pre-surgically.

METHODS

The present retrospective trial assessed individuals with thyroid nodules examined by multiparametric MRI and subsequently administered thyroid surgery. Diagnosis and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) feature of PTC were based on pathological assessment. The thyroid tumors underwent manual segmentation, for radiomic feature extraction. Participants were randomized to the training and testing cohorts, at a ratio of 7:3. The mRMR (maximum correlation minimum redundancy) algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were utilized for radiomics feature selection. Then, a radiomics predictive model was generated via a linear combination of the features. The model's performance in distinguishing the ETE feature of PTC was assessed by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

Totally 132 patients were assessed in this study, including 92 and 40 in the training and test cohorts, respectively). Next, the 16 top-performing features, including 4, 7 and 5 from diffusion weighted (DWI), T2-weighted (T2 WI), and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1WI) images, respectively, were finally retained to construct the radiomics signature. There were 8 RLM, 5 CM, 2 shape, and 1 SZM features. The radiomics prediction model achieved AUCs of 0.96 and 0.87 in the training and testing sets, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that MRI radiomics approach had the potential to stratify patients based on ETE in PTCs preoperatively.

Is a simplified TNM staging system more clinically relevant than the American Joint Committee on Cancer system for the follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer?

BACKGROUND

Despite the recent release of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging manual, risk stratification for the follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer (FVPTC), which is the second common variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after classical PTC, remains controversial. This study aimed to develop a more accurate and relevant staging system specifically for FVPTC.

METHODS

Patients with FVPTC who were included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) open database between 2010 and 2015 were divided into 47 groups according to their TNM classifications and age. Subsequently, these 47 groups were categorized into appropriate stages based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves, mortality analyses, a Cox proportional hazards model, and clinical considerations.

RESULTS

Our retrospective analysis of 17,628 cases yielded the following new staging classification: stage I, defined as age <55 years and any T/N/M or age ≥55 years and T1-3/any N/M0 (n=17,427, 98.85%); stage II, age ≥55 and T4/any N/M0 or age ≥55 and any T/N0/M1 (n=173, 0.99%); and stage III, age ≥55 and any T/N1/M1 (n=28, 0.16%). The overall mortality rates per 1,000-person-years were 4.135 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.653-4.681], 71.193 (95% CI: 51.354-98.697), and 199.744 (95% CI: 115.983-343.997) for our new stages I, II, and III, respectively. The hazard ratios for the new stages II and III (reference: stage I) were 5.081 (95% CI: 3.110-8.301) and 21.690 (95% CI: 11.402-41.258), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to the 8th edition of the AJCC staging system, our newly proposed system provided more accurate risk stratification for patients with FVPTC, as demonstrated by actual survival and mortality outcomes. This new model may thus help guide more personalized treatment for these patients.

Rapid Growth and Early Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in an Adolescent Girl with Graves' Disease

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for rapid growth and early metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the role of coexisting Graves' disease in the clinical course of PTC remain uncertain in children.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report on a Japanese girl, whose PTC rapidly grew and metastasized within 4 years. Graves' disease was diagnosed by the presence of serum TSH receptor antibodies at 8 years of age when thyroid ultrasonography detected no nodules. After 4 years of effective treatment with thiamazole, multifocal nodules - up to 47 mm in diameter - were detected on thyroid ultrasonography. Chest CT scan revealed multiple metastatic lesions in the lung. After total thyroidectomy, PTC was pathologically diagnosed. The patient underwent two courses of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, but the pulmonary metastatic lesions did not take up the RAI. Molecular analyses of the PTC tissue identified a TFG/NTRK1 chimeric gene and disclosed the preserved expression of TSHR and the reduced expression of SLC5A5 compared with non-tumor thyroid tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid growth and early metastasis of PTC with coexisting Graves' disease in this patient can be related to a combination of multiple factors including preserved TSHR expression, reduced SLC5A5 expression, and TFG/NTRK1 rearrangement.

Clinical Significance of Gross Invasion of Strap Muscles in Patients With 1- to 4-cm-Sized Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Undergoing Lobectomy

BACKGROUND

Given the emerging evidence supporting the lack of prognostic significance of gross extrathyroidal extension invading only strap muscles (strap-gETE), this study investigated whether lobectomy is feasible for patients with strap-gETE.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 636 patients who had 1- to 4-cm-sized papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) treated with thyroid lobectomy. Patients with gross invasion of perithyroidal organs other than strap muscles or synchronous distant metastasis were excluded from the study. Disease-free survival (DFS) was compared according to the presence of strap-gETE.

RESULTS

Strap-gETE was present in 50 patients (7.9%), with the remaining 586 patients (92.1%) showing no evidence of gETE. During the median follow-up period of 7.4 years, 6% of the patients with strap-gETE and 5.1% of the patients without gETE experienced structural persistent/recurrent disease (p = 0.99). No differences in DFS were observed between the two groups (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-4.08; p = 0.720). After adjustment for five major risk factors (age, gender, tumor size, multifocality, and cervical lymph node metastasis status) in the multivariate analysis, the presence of strap-gETE did not exhibit an independent role in the development of structural persistent/recurrent disease (HR 1.05; 95% CI 0.24-4.53, p = 0.950).

CONCLUSIONS

Strap-gETE did not increase the risk of structural persistent/recurrent disease for the patients who underwent lobectomy for 1- to 4-cm-sized PTC. The study data support the limited role of strap-gETE in clinical outcomes and may broaden the indications for lobectomy for patients with PTCs.

Critical Prognostic Parameters in the Anatomic Pathology Reporting of Differentiated Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Carcinoma

In the past decades, pathology reporting on thyroid carcinoma has evolved from a narrative approach to structured synoptic reports. Many histologic variables are present in the current synoptic reports that are crucial elements for initial risk stratification and clinical management. In this review, we compare and summarize the key prognostic pathologic characteristics utilized by the most influential clinical and pathologic guidelines from the American Thyroid Association (ATA), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of endocrine tumors (fourth edition), the current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system (eighth edition), the College of American Pathologists (CAP) protocol, and the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) dataset. The aim is to provide a comprehensive review focused on the definitions and prognostic impacts of these crucial pathologic parameters.

Epidemiology of Thyroid Cancer: A Review of the National Cancer Database, 2000-2013

Objective  To show the recent trends in thyroid cancer in the United States, elucidate the characteristics of stage IV thyroid cancer, and consider the effects of diagnostic testing on the rising incidence of thyroid cancer. Design  A retrospective population-based study conducted using the National Cancer Database from 2000-2013 (NCDB). Demographics of patients presenting with stage IV thyroid cancer were compared to patients presenting with all other stages using the chi-square testing. The incidence rates were examined with the trend graphs. Results  When compared to stages I-III, there was an increased incidence of stage IV thyroid cancer in: Medicare, lower level of education, lower income, advanced age, male sex, increased number of comorbidities, further distance from a treatment facility, and medullary/anaplastic histology. The incidence of thyroid cancer increased from 7.1 per 100,000 in 2000 to 17.6 per 100,000 in 2013. During this same time period, stage IV disease increased 1 per 100,000. The increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer was almost entirely due to an increase in papillary cancer. Conclusions  The United States has continued to see a rise in the incidence of thyroid cancer over the last decade, largely due to the detection of papillary cancers. During this same time, the incidence of stage IV thyroid cancer increased as well. Because early diagnosis and treatment of an increasing number of potentially lethal cancers should lead to a decrease in metastatic disease, we suggest that the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States is due to overdiagnosis and that more aggressive disease is not being removed by early detection.

Crucial parameters in thyroid carcinoma reporting - challenges, controversies and clinical implications

In the modern era, a pathology report of thyroid carcinoma requires the inclusion of numerous prognostically relevant histopathological features, e.g. the presence and extent of vascular and capsular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, the surgical margin status and the characteristics of nodal metastasis. These pathological features are crucial components of the initial risk stratification to determine the need for completion thyroidectomy and/or postoperative radioactive iodine ablation therapy. The current review aims to summarise the diagnostic criteria, the controversies, the prognostic impacts and the challenges of these pathological characteristics, focusing specifically on the parameters that are incorporated into the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) reporting template, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.

Risk factors associated with intrathyroid extension of thyroid microcarcinomas

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to investigate the rate of intrathyroid extension of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in patients operated for benign thyroid disease and to identify independent risk factors associated with it.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 301 patients operated for benign thyroid diseases (hyperthyroid diseases, multinodular goitre, Hashimoto thyroiditis and benign thyroid tumours) was performed at a high-volume endocrine surgery unit of a tertiary referral academic hospital, in a 5-year period. These patients had a PTMC incidentally discovered on definite histopathological findings following total or near-total thyroidectomy. Since distinguishing between intrathyroid extension of PTMC as the result of intrathyroid dissemination or as the result of multicentricity is challenging, we observed them together as multifocality. In statistical analysis, we used standard descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors associated with multifocality.

RESULTS

In our study, there were 85.4% females and 14.6% males with a median age of 54 years. A multinodular goitre (32.5%) was the most common indication for an operation. Most patients (68.4%) had a PTMC that was 5 mm or smaller. The most frequent histological variants of PTMC were the follicular variant (52.8%), followed by the papillary variant (22.6%) and the mixed follicular-papillary variant (18.6%). A multifocal PTMC was present in 26.6% of cases. An independent protective factor for multifocality of PTMC was a thyroid gland that weighed more than 38 g (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.97, p = 0.039). Size of PTMC greater than 5 mm was an independent risk factor for a multifocal PTMC (OR 3.26, 95% CI 1.85-5.75, p = 0.000). Finally, the mixed follicular-papillary variant of PTMC represents an independent risk factor for a multifocal PTMC (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.09-5.36, p = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

Intrathyroid extension is present in more than a quarter of PTMCs found in patients operated for benign thyroid disease. Independent risk factors for intrathyroid extension are size of PTMC greater than 5 mm and the mixed follicular-papillary variant of PTMC, while a large thyroid gland is an independent protective factor.

The Outcome of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Associated with Graves' Disease: A Case Control Study

Introduction

Thyroidectomy is now a less popular therapeutic option for Graves' disease. The frequency of thyroid nodule and the cancer risk of these nodules accompanying Graves' disease are controversial. The outcome of thyroid cancers coexisting with Graves' disease is debated.

Study Design

Designed as retrospective case control study of papillary thyroid cancers associated with Graves' disease and those with euthyroid background. Pathological characteristics and outcome of papillary thyroid cancers in the two groups were compared.

Results

The tumour characteristics did not differ significantly in the groups. The patients were followed for a mean period of 77.32 months and found significant incidences of disease progression in patients with papillary thyroid cancer associated with Graves' disease (p = 0.034; OR 2.747, CI 1.078-7.004). Disease progression as new distant metastases mostly in skeletal locations was high in this group compared to euthyroid group (p = 0.027; OR 4.121, CI 1.008-15.600). There was higher incidence of cumulative metastatic diseases in papillary thyroid cancer associated with Graves' disease.

Conclusion

Papillary thyroid cancers associated with Graves' disease show aggressive biological behaviour and favoured site of distant metastases was osseous locations. Early diagnosis by routine screening of Graves' disease patients with ultrasound imaging and aspiration studies is recommended.

Long term outcomes of simple clinical risk stratification in management of differentiated thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVE

To establish the long term outcomes of risk stratified management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for management of DTC lack a strong evidence base and expose patients to overtreatment. This prospective study of patients diagnosed with DTC between 1977 and 2012 describes the long term outcomes of a conservative risk stratified (AMES) management policy.

METHODS

Outcomes were analysed around patient and tumour characteristics, primary intervention (surgery ± radioiodine (RAI)), in terms of mortality, recurrence and reintervention.

RESULTS

Median follow-up in 348 patients was 14 years: mean age 48 (range 10-91) years, 257 (73.9%) female, 222 (68.3%) papillary cancer, tumour size 3.4 ± 2.0 cm (mean ± SD). 89 (25.6%) AMES high risk, 116 (33.3%) TNM stage III/IV and 16 (4.6%) had distant metastases. Primary surgery comprised lobectomy in 189 (54.3%): 11 (5.8%) patients had subsequent completion total thyroidectomy with cancer present in five. Primary nodal surgery was performed in 142 (40.8%) patients. 35 (13.5%) low and 43 (48.3%) high risk patients received RAI following initial surgery. Overall disease specific survival (DSS) was 92.1% at 10 years and 90.7% at 20 years. DSS at 20 years was 99.2% in low risk cases. AMES risk scoring predicted both survival and recurrence. Patients receiving RAI and AMES high risk were significantly associated with increased risk of death and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine total thyroidectomy and RAI are not justifiable for low risk DTC. Treatment should be tailored to risk and AMES risk stratification remains a simple reliable clinical tool.

Impact of Minimal Extra-Thyroid Extension in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Minimal extra-thyroid extension (mETE) in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients was defined as an intermediate risk feature in the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines. However, controversy persists as several studies suggested mETE has little effect on disease outcome.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of mETE on DTC patients' outcome.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of controlled trials comparing DTC patients with and without mETE.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Thirteen retrospective studies including 23,816 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 86 months. mETE in patients without lymph node involvement (N0 disease) was associated with increased risk of recurrence (7 studies, OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.03-2.92). The absolute risk of recurrence was 2.2% in patients without extension and 3.5% in patients with mETE (p=0.04). In studies including patients with and without lymph-node involvement (N1/N0 disease), mETE resulted in a significantly higher risk of recurrence (8 studies, OR 1.82, 95%CI 1.14-2.91). The absolute risk of recurrence was 6.2% in patients without extension and 7% in patients with mETE (p=0.01). In patients with micro-papillary carcinoma (<1cm) the impact of mETE was non-significant (OR 2.40, 95%CI 0.95-6.03). Minimal ETE had no impact on disease-related mortality (8 studies, OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.11-2.21).

CONCLUSION

mETE increases risk of recurrence in DTC patients. However, the absolute increase in risk is small, and in patients with N0 disease the risk is within the low-risk of recurrence category at 3.5%. Minimal ETE has no impact on disease-related mortality, and should not change tumor stage.

NIS expression in thyroid tumors, relation with prognosis clinicopathological and molecular features

Thyroid cancer therapy is based on surgery followed by radioiodine treatment. The incorporation of radioiodine by cancer cells is mediated by sodium iodide symporter (NIS) (codified by the SLC5A5 gene), that is functional only when targeted to the cell membrane. We aimed to evaluate if NIS expression in thyroid primary tumors would be helpful in predicting tumor behavior, response to therapy and prognosis. NIS expression was addressed by qPCR and immunohistochemistry. In order to validate our data, we also studied SLC5A5 expression on 378 primary papillary thyroid carcinomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. In our series, SLC5A5 expression was lower in carcinomas with vascular invasion and with extrathyroidal extension and in those harboring BRAFV600E mutation. Analysis of SLC5A5 expression from TCGA database confirmed our results. Furthermore, it showed that larger tumors, with locoregional recurrences and/or distant metastases or harboring RAS, BRAF and/or TERT promoter (TERTp) mutations presented significantly less SLC5A5 expression. Regarding immunohistochemistry, 12/211 of the cases demonstrated NIS in the membrane of tumor cells, those cases showed variable outcomes concerning therapy success, prognosis and all but one were wild type for BRAF, NRAS and TERTp mutations. SLC5A5 mRNA lower expression is associated with features of aggressiveness and with key genetic alterations involving BRAF, RAS and TERTp. Mutations in these genes seem to decrease protein expression and its targeting to the cell membrane. SLC5A5 mRNA expression is more informative than NIS immunohistochemical expression regarding tumor aggressiveness and prognostic features.

Papillary thyroid cancer recurrence 43 Years following Total Thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation: a case report

Background

Recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) beyond the first two decades of definitive treatment (i.e. total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation) is a rare occurrence.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 71-year old Caucasian female with a distant history of PTC treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation who experienced recurrence of her disease 43 years following initial diagnosis and definitive treatment. She presented with palpable left-sided neck mass and subsequently underwent a level II, III, neck dissection and adjuvant iodine ablation. This case presents the latest recurrence in papillary thyroid cancer documented to date in the literature.

Conclusion

This case exemplifies the need for the head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, general practitioner and radiologist to consider new lateral neck mass as late-presenting recurrence of PTC until proven otherwise regardless of low recurrence rates beyond two decades from treatment and low prognostic risk scores.

Nomograms predicting disease-specific regional recurrence and distant recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma following partial or total thyroidectomy

The study aimed to establish effective nomograms for prediction of tumor regional recurrence and distant recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients after partial or total thyroidectomy.These nomograms were based on a retrospective study on 1034 patients who underwent partial or total thyroidectomy for PTC. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomograms were evaluated by the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. In addition, a validation cohort was included at the same institution.Multivariate analysis demonstrated that family history, maximal tumor diameter, capsular invasion, and lymph node staging were independent risk factors for regional recurrence-free survival; and family history, histological variants, capsular invasion, perineuronal invasion, and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for distant recurrence-free survival. They were selected into the 2 nomograms, respectively, and the C-index for regional recurrence-free survival and distant recurrence-free survival prediction were 0.72 and 0.83, respectively. In the validation cohort, the 2 nomograms displayed a C-index of 0.72 and 0.89, respectively.The nomograms developed in this study demonstrated their discrimination capability for predicting 3 and 5-year regional recurrence and distant recurrence after partial or total thyroidectomy, and can be used to identify high-risk patients.

Should Age at Diagnosis Be Included as an Additional Variable in the Risk of Recurrence Classification System in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of age at diagnosis on the frequency of structural incomplete response (SIR) according to the modified risk of recurrence (RR) staging system from the American Thyroid Association guidelines.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 268 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) followed up for at least 3 years after initial treatment (total thyroidectomy and remnant ablation). The median follow-up in the whole cohort was 74.3 months (range: 36.1-317.9) and the median age at diagnosis was 45.9 years (range: 18-87). The association between age at diagnosis and the initial and final response to treatment was assessed with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Patients were also divided into several groups considering age younger and older than 40, 50, and 60 years.

RESULTS

Age at diagnosis was not associated with either an initial or final statistically significant different SIR to treatment (p = 0.14 and p = 0.58, respectively). Additionally, we did not find any statistically significant differences when the percentages of SIR considering the classification of RR were compared between different groups of patients by using several age cutoffs.

CONCLUSIONS

When patients are correctly risk stratified, it seems that age at diagnosis is not involved in the frequency of having a SIR at the initial evaluation or at the final follow-up, so it should not be included as an additional variable to be considered in the RR classifications.

Growth Promotion Ethics and the Challenge to Resist Cosmetic Endocrinology

The advancement of "human growth hormone (hGH)-for-height" - increasing height attainment in children short for reasons other than GH deficiency - arose from intuitive, deep-seated assumptions about the disability of short stature, its improvement with hGH-mediated height gain, and the safety of escalating dosages of hGH in healthy children. Evidence challenging these assumptions now strengthens criticism of hGH-for-height as cosmetic endocrinology. To counter this characterization, collective acceptance of guidelines is needed that advise nontreatment of the vast majority of short children, support strategies that minimize treatment duration and dosage, and restrain enhancement of normal adult stature. Through a clinical case analysis, ethical issues underlying these recommendations are explored. These include duties to provide informed assent and re-assent, protect children from unnecessary treatment, consider fairness to nontreated children, and allocate healthcare resources responsibly. Informed assent for hGH-for-height should ensure awareness of modest, variable height gain expectations, limited evidence for psychosocial benefit, ongoing studies for potential posttreatment adverse effects, and options for less expensive/invasive approaches, including nontreatment and counseling. Approaching growth pro-motion in this way fosters therapeutic restraint, resists the al lure of enhancement therapy, and minimizes contributions to society's perception that to be taller is to be better.
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Updated guidelines on the preoperative staging of thyroid cancer

Recent studies have provided prognostic information and recommendations for staging thyroid cancers that have changed the staging and management guidelines for the disease. Consequently, minimal extrathyroidal extension (ETE) was removed from the T3 stage classification in the eighth edition of the TNM staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer. New T categories have been subsequently added, including T3a, defined as a tumor >4 cm in its greatest dimension, limited to the thyroid gland, and T3b, defined as a tumor of any size with gross ETE invading only the strap muscles. In this article, the author reviews the changes in the TNM staging system for thyroid cancer, with an emphasis on ultrasonography in preoperative staging.

Current Guidelines for Postoperative Treatment and Follow-Up of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer is increasing in incidence but the disease-specific mortality remains very low. The only effective adjuvant treatment is radioactive iodine ablation. Guidelines regarding the use and dosage of radioactive iodine depend on pathologic features of the primary and metastatic tumor that define risk. Long-term treatment includes thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression and surveillance with serum thyroglobulin and radiologic assessment for nodal recurrence.

Predictors of Regional Lymph Node Recurrence after Initial Thyroidectomy in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

Background. Regional lymph node recurrence (RLNR) is common in patients with thyroid cancer but clinicopathological predictors are unclear. We aimed to clarify these predictors and identify patients who would benefit from prophylactic lymph node dissection the most. Method. 343 patients with different types of thyroid cancer were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy between 2007 and 2013. Results. The median ± interquartile range of patients' age was 40 ± 25 years. 245 (71.4%) patients were female. Regarding the risk of regional lymph node recurrence, we found that male gender, age ≥45 years, non-PTC (i.e., medullary, follicular, and anaplastic types) histopathology, T3 (i.e., tumor size >4 cm in the greatest dimension limited to the thyroid or any tumor with minimal extrathyroid extension), stage IVa, and isolated cervical lymphadenopathy as initial manifestation (ICL) are significant risk factors. T3 (p < 0.001; odds ratio = 156.41, 95% CI [55.72–439.1]) and ICL (p < 0.001; odds ratio = 77.79, 95% CI [31.55–191.81]) were the strongest predictors of regional lymph node recurrence. Conclusion. We found easily achievable risk factors for RLNR in thyroid cancers patients. We suggested that patients with specific clinicopathological features like male gender, age ≥45 years, larger tumor size, and extrathyroidal extension be considered as prophylactic lymphadenectomy candidates.

A Comprehensive Meta-analysis of Case-Control Association Studies to Evaluate Polymorphisms Associated with the Risk of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Linkage analyses and association studies suggested that inherited genetic variations play a role in the development of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

METHODS

We combined the results from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) performed by our group and from published studies on DTC. With a first approach, we evaluated whether a SNP published as associated with the risk of DTC could replicate in our GWAS (using FDR as adjustment for multiple comparisons). With the second approach, meta-analyses were performed between literature and GWAS when both sources suggested an association, increasing the statistical power of the analysis.

RESULTS

rs1799814 (CYP1A1), rs1121980 (FTO), and 3 SNPs within 9q22 (rs965513, rs7048394, and rs894673) replicated the associations described in the literature. In addition, the meta-analyses between literature and GWAS revealed 10 more SNPs within 9q22, six within FTO, two within SOD1, and single variations within HUS1, WDR3, UGT2B7, ALOX12, TICAM1, ATG16L1, HDAC4, PIK3CA, SULF1, IL11RA, VEGFA, and 1p31.3, 2q35, 8p12, and 14q13.

CONCLUSION

This analysis confirmed several published risk loci that could be involved in DTC predisposition.

IMPACT

These findings provide evidence for the role of germline variants in DTC etiology and are consistent with a polygenic model of the disease. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(4); 700-13. ©2016 AACR.

Total thyroidectomy as primary surgical management for thyroid disease: surgical therapy experience from 5559 thyroidectomies in a less-developed region

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of total thyroidectomy for thyroid disorders and summarise the treatment experience in a less-developed region.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational cohort study using the computerised database of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. All consecutive thyroidectomy patients from 2003 to 2014 were included in this study. Demographics, surgical procedure, diagnoses, morbidity and mortality were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

There were a total of 714 men and 4845 women in this study, with a mean age of 55 (range 9–87) years. A total of 4632 patients underwent total thyroidectomy for primary surgical treatment, and 189 patients previously underwent partial thyroidectomy. A total of 56.2 % of the patients had multinodular goitre, including 12.23 % who were thyrotoxic. Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease were diagnosed in 2.82 and 7.23 % of the patients, respectively. Papillary thyroid cancer was identified in 1336 patients, 44.99 % of whom had papillary microcarcinoma. The total prevalence of permanent complications of first-time and secondary surgeries was 0.35 and 7.41 %, respectively. During thyroid surgery, 945 patients underwent parathyroid autotransplantation.

Conclusions

Initial total thyroidectomy can be safely performed for both benign and malignant thyroid diseases in a less-developed region. The morbidity of a secondary surgical procedure after subtotal thyroidectomy is significantly high compared to first-time surgery.

Noninferior response in BRAF(V600E) mutant nonmetastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma to radioiodine therapy

PURPOSE

As the most frequent and specific genetic alteration in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), BRAF(V600E) has an intimate relationship with more invasive tumour and higher postoperative recurrence risk in PTC patients. We investigate the effect of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy on the clinical outcome in PTC patients with the BRAF(V600E) mutation without distant metastases.

METHODS

This retrospective study included PTC 228 patients without distant metastases who underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy and RAI treatment in our hospital from January 2011 to July 2014. The BRAF(V600E) status of the primary lesions was determined and the patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of the mutation. Serological and imaging data were collected at a median follow-up of 2.34 years after RAI administration. Suppressed and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg), Tg antibody, diagnostic whole-body scintigraphy, and other imaging examinations were used to assess clinical outcome, which was defined as excellent response, indeterminate response, biochemical incomplete response and structural incomplete response.

RESULTS

The BRAF(V600E) mutation was observed in 153 of the 228 patients (67.1 %). The clinicopathological features did not differ between the BRAF(V600E) mutatation and wild-type groups except age at diagnosis (P = 0.000), tumour size (P = 0.023) and TNM stage (P = 0.003). Older age and more advanced TNM stage were prevalent in the BRAF(V600E) mutatation group, whereas tumours were slightly larger in the BRAF(V600E) wild-type group. The response to RAI therapy was evaluated in both the entire series and the patients with a high recurrence risk, and no significant difference in response was found between the BRAF(V600E) mutatation and the wild-type groups (P = 0.881 and P = 0.851, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The clinical response to timely postsurgical RAI therapy is not inferior in BRAF(V600E) mutation PTC patients without distant metastases, which suggests that RAI therapy might improve the general clinical outcome in this patient group.

2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent. Since the American Thyroid Association's (ATA's) guidelines for the management of these disorders were revised in 2009, significant scientific advances have occurred in the field. The aim of these guidelines is to inform clinicians, patients, researchers, and health policy makers on published evidence relating to the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer.

METHODS

The specific clinical questions addressed in these guidelines were based on prior versions of the guidelines, stakeholder input, and input of task force members. Task force panel members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database searching, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Published English language articles on adults were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians Guideline Grading System was used for critical appraisal of evidence and grading strength of recommendations for therapeutic interventions. We developed a similarly formatted system to appraise the quality of such studies and resultant recommendations. The guideline panel had complete editorial independence from the ATA. Competing interests of guideline task force members were regularly updated, managed, and communicated to the ATA and task force members.

RESULTS

The revised guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules include recommendations regarding initial evaluation, clinical and ultrasound criteria for fine-needle aspiration biopsy, interpretation of fine-needle aspiration biopsy results, use of molecular markers, and management of benign thyroid nodules. Recommendations regarding the initial management of thyroid cancer include those relating to screening for thyroid cancer, staging and risk assessment, surgical management, radioiodine remnant ablation and therapy, and thyrotropin suppression therapy using levothyroxine. Recommendations related to long-term management of differentiated thyroid cancer include those related to surveillance for recurrent disease using imaging and serum thyroglobulin, thyroid hormone therapy, management of recurrent and metastatic disease, consideration for clinical trials and targeted therapy, as well as directions for future research.

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed evidence-based recommendations to inform clinical decision-making in the management of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. They represent, in our opinion, contemporary optimal care for patients with these disorders.

Primary tumour characteristics predict the invasiveness of lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated whether primary tumour characteristics are associated with specific features of metastatic lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients.

METHOD

A retrospective review of 411 patients with pathologically diagnosed cervical lymph node metastasis was conducted.

RESULTS

A metastatic lymph node focus size of at least 2 mm was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1 cm (hazard ratio 1.962) and with male sex (hazard ratio 1.947). A number of at least five lymph node metastases was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1 cm (hazard ratio 2.863), extrathyroidal extension (hazard ratio 1.737) and male sex (hazard ratio 1.689). Extranodal extension was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1 cm (hazard ratio 2.288), extrathyroidal extension (2.201) and male sex (hazard ratio 1.733).

CONCLUSION

Primary papillary thyroid carcinoma characteristics are related to the pathological features of lymph node metastases.

Using diffusion-weighted MRI to predict aggressive histological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a novel tool for pre-operative risk stratification in thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND

Initial management recommendations of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are very dependent on preoperative studies designed to evaluate the presence of PTC with aggressive features. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) before surgery can be used as a tool to stratify tumor aggressiveness in patients with PTC.

METHODS

In this prospective study, 28 patients with PTC underwent DW-MRI studies on a three Tesla MR scanner prior to thyroidectomy. Due to image quality, 21 patients were finally suitable for further analysis. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of normal thyroid tissues and PTCs for 21 patients were calculated. Tumor aggressiveness was defined by surgical histopathology. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the difference in ADCs among groups of normal thyroid tissues and PTCs with and without features of tumor aggressiveness. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the discriminative specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of and determine the cutoff value for the ADC in stratifying PTCs with tumor aggressiveness.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in ADC values between normal thyroid tissues and PTCs. However, ADC values of PTCs with extrathyroidal extension (ETE; 1.53±0.25×10(-3) mm2/s) were significantly lower than corresponding values from PTCs without ETE (2.37±0.67×10(-3) mm2/s; p<0.005). ADC values identified 3 papillary carcinoma patients with extrathyroidal extension that would have otherwise been candidates for observation based on ultrasound evaluations. The cutoff value of ADC to discriminate PTCs with and without ETE was determined at 1.85×10(-3) mm2/s with a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 85%, and ROC curve area of 0.85.

CONCLUSION

ADC value derived from DW-MRI before surgery has the potential to stratify ETE in patients with PTCs.

VEGF-D and A Preoperative Serum Levels Predict Nodal and Distant Metastases in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Preoperative tumor aggressiveness biomarkers may help surgeons decide the extent of an operation. However, whether serum angiogenetic factors can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

Seventy-six DTC patients were prospectively recruited. Preoperative serum samples were collected and measured for Tie-2, Ang-1, Ang-2, VEGF-A, and VEGF-D levels. The potential correlations between their serum levels and clinicopathologic features as well as their prognoses were analyzed.

RESULTS

Older age (>45 years old) and higher VEGF-A serum levels were independent predictors of extrathyroidal extension. The VEGF-D serum level was an independent factor for lymph node metastases and VEGF-A was an independent factor for distant metastases. None of these serum angiogenetic factors were significantly different between patients who were disease free and those with recurrences. The presence of lymph node metastases was the only independent factor for recurrence over the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative serum VEGF-A and VEGF-D levels were significantly elevated in DTC patients with distant and lymph node metastases. These findings, when combined with other clinicopathological factors, may help in surgical decisions.

A cross-specialty survey to assess the application of risk stratified surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer in the UK

INTRODUCTION

This study describes variability of treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer among thyroid surgeons, in the context of changing patterns of thyroid surgery in the UK.

METHODS

Hospital Episodes Statistics on thyroid operations between 1997 and 2012 were obtained for England. A survey comprising six scenarios of varying 'risk' was developed. Patient/tumour information was provided, with five risk stratified or non-risk stratified treatment options. The survey was distributed to UK surgical associations. Respondent demographics were categorised and responses analysed by assigned risk stratified preference.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2012, the Hospital Episode Statistics data indicated there was a 55% increase in the annual number of thyroidectomies with a fivefold increase in otolaryngology procedures and a tripling of cancer operations. Of the surgical association members surveyed, 264 respondents reported a thyroid surgery practice. Management varied across and within the six scenarios, and was not related consistently to the level of risk. Associations were demonstrated between overall risk stratified preference and higher volume practice (>25 thyroidectomies per year) (p=0.011), fewer years of consultant practice (p=0.017) and multidisciplinary team participation (p=0.037). Logistic regression revealed fewer years of consultant practice (odds ratio [OR]: 0.96/year in practice, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.922-0.997, p=0.036) and caseload of >25/year (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.044-3.522, p=0.036) as independent predictors of risk stratified preference.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a substantial contribution to thyroid surgery in the UK by otolaryngology surgeons. Adjusting management according to established case-based risk stratification is not widely applied. Higher caseload was associated with a preference for management tailored to individual risk.

Positron emission tomography-positive thyroid nodules: rate of malignancy and histological features

BACKGROUND

Thyroid nodules may be incidentally detected on (18) F-FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Previous reports suggest a high incidence of malignancy in FDG-avid nodules. The aims of this study were to examine the incidence of malignancy in a large cohort and to report on the histological features. The findings suggest that poor prognostic histologic features are often associated with FDG-avid thyroid nodules and this may have clinical implications.

METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was conducted. A database containing all patients who underwent PET scanning at a single tertiary referral centre from January 2006 to January 2013 was searched to identify those with incidental PET-positive thyroid nodules. Patients with known preexisting thyroid disease were excluded from analysis. The demographics, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy result and operative histopathology were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 27 851 FDG-PET scans were performed of which 221 found incidental PET-positive thyroid nodules (incidence 0.8%). Fifty-three patients went on to have further investigation and 21 of these were found to have malignant disease (incidence 39.6%). Histopathological examination of 12 malignant nodules revealed an expected rate of poor prognostic features, including poorly differentiated subtype (8.3%), lymphovascular invasion (16.7%), perineural invasion (8.3%) and extrathyroid extension (33.3%).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that PET-positive thyroid nodules are associated with a high incidence of malignancy. This finding provides strong support for further investigation including FNA biopsy in all surgically suitable patients.

Update on differentiated thyroid cancer staging

In this review, we demonstrate how initial estimates of the risk of disease-specific mortality and recurrent/persistent disease should be used to guide initial treatment recommendations and early management decisions and to set appropriate patient expectations with regard to likely outcomes after initial therapy of thyroid cancer. The use of ongoing risk stratification to modify these initial risk estimates is also discussed. Novel response to therapy definitions are proposed that can be used for ongoing risk stratification in thyroid cancer patients treated with lobectomy or total thyroidectomy without radioactive iodine remnant ablation.

Validation of the QTNM staging system for cancer-specific survival in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

An Australian state database was used to test the validity of the Quantitative tumor/node/metastasis (QTNM) staging system for assessing prognosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) on the basis of four variables quantified at diagnosis (histopathology, age, node involvement, and tumor size). Using the Queensland Cancer Registry (QCR), we identified 788 cases of DTC diagnosed from 1982 to 2006 with complete staging information. Causes of death were ascertained by linking the QCR database with the Australian National Death Index. Subjects were staged according to AJCC TNM 7th edition and QTNM, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cancer-specific mortality was observed in 22 (2.8 %) patients, with 10-year CSS for the cohort of 97.0 % at a median follow-up of 262.8 months. QTNM stage specific cancer survival at 10 years was 99.6, 97.0, and 78.6 % for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. This was comparable to the original US dataset in which the QTNM was initially studied, and it fared better at discriminating survival than the standard TNM system, where there was overlap in survival between stages. The current study validates the QTNM system in an Australian cohort and shows at least equivalent discriminatory capacity to the current TNM staging system. The QTNM utilized prognostic variables of significance to produce an optimal three-stage stratification scheme. Given, its advantage in clearly discriminating between prognostic groups, clinical relevance and simplicity of use, we recommend that TNM be replaced with QTNM for risk stratification for both recurrence and CSS.

Radioactive iodine treatment for node negative papillary thyroid cancer with capsular invasion only: Results of a large retrospective study

AIM

With thyroid carcinoma the decision to use radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation depends on the risk of poor outcomes. Although extrathyroid extension (ETE) is well known as a risk of poor outcomes for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the definition of minimal ETE is too broad, as it encompasses both microscopic invasion of the thyroid capsule (capsular invasion [CI]) and macroscopic invasion of the sternothyroid muscle.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the prognostic benefit of RAI ablation according to the presence of CI in a consecutive series of patients with PTC between October 1997 and December 2008. We studied two groups of patients, including those who received RAI (group I, n = 121) and those who did not (group II, n = 108). During follow-up, we assessed the locoregional recurrence of all patients.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding locoregional recurrence at follow-up (13.2% for group I vs 9.3% for group II, P = 0.441). The association between RAI and locoregional recurrence in PTC patients with CI remained insignificant after adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, tumor size, sex, lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion and tumor multiplicity (P = 0.409, hazard ratio = 0.698, 95% confidence interval, 0.298-1.639).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study suggests that RAI treatment is not associated with less locoregional recurrence in PTC patients who only demonstrate CI, although further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Are prognostic scoring systems of value in patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma?

PURPOSE

Most prognostic systems for differentiated carcinoma have been designed for papillary carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the value of the existing prognostic systems for evaluating follicular carcinoma and to determine whether any of them have a better predictive effect.

METHODS

A total of 66 follicular carcinomas were analyzed. The following prognostic systems were studied: EORTC, AGES, AMES, MACIS, TNM, and NTCTCS.

RESULTS

The AGES and AMES systems did not demonstrate a good prognostic correlation. In the EORTC system, the rate of disease-free patients was 89% in group 1, 75% in group 2, 69% in group 3, and 0% in group 4. The MACIS system showed 83, 60, 67, and 0% of disease-free patients respectively. The TNM system showed 81, 71, 50, and 0% of disease-free patients respectively. Finally, the NTCTCS system demonstrated 100, 84, 53, and 0% of disease-free patients respectively. Cox's regression analysis was used to calculate the proportion of variation in survival time explained (PVE). The prognostic classification system with the greatest survival prediction was EORTC at 67.64% of PVE, followed by TNM at 62.5% of PVE, and MACIS at 57.82% of PVE.

CONCLUSIONS

MACIS and TNM are good prognostic systems for evaluating follicular thyroid carcinoma, although the one with the most prognostic value was the EORTC system.

Urokinase plasminogen activator and its inhibitor type-1 as prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prognostic value of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitor, type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), in differentiated thyroid cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

University hospital.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Cytosolic concentrations of uPA and PAI-1 were determined in 105 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and normal matched tissues using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Both uPA and PAI-1 concentrations were significantly higher in differentiated thyroid tumors (uPA = 0.509 ± 0.767 and PAI-1 = 6.337 ± 6.415 ng/mg) compared to normal tissues (uPA = 0.237 ± 0.051, P < .001; PAI-1 = 2.368 ± 0.418 ng/mg, P < .001). uPA and PAI-1 were significantly higher if extrathyroidal invasion (uPA, P = .015; PAI-1, P < .001) or distant metastasis (PAI-1 P < .001) was present, as well as in tumors whose size exceeded 1 cm in diameter (uPA, P = .002; PAI-1, P = .001). Survival analysis revealed the significant impact of both uPA and PAI-1 on progression-free survival (PFS) (82.22 vs 49.478 months for patients with low and high uPA, respectively, P < .001; 87.068 vs 44.964 months for patients with low and high PAI-1, respectively, P < .001). Univariate analysis showed that gender, tumor size, tumor grade, extrathyroid invasion, local lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, uPA, and PAI-1 were significant predictors of PFS. However, multivariate analysis identified only distant metastasis and tumor tissue uPA and PAI-1 as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that high uPA and PAI-1 levels represent independent unfavorable prognostic factors in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Pitfalls in the staging of cancer of thyroid

Thyroid cancer includes several neoplasms originating from the thyroid gland-from indolent and curable histologies of differentiated thyroid carcinoma to aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Differentiation of thyroid nodules is problematic on CT and MR imaging unless there is evidence of extrathyroidal extension. Evaluation of regional lymph nodes is often performed clinically or with ultrasound. The retropharyngeal and mediastinal lymph nodes are better evaluated by CT and MR imaging. Nuclear scintigraphy is useful for staging and treatment of distant metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. PET may have a role in aggressive cancers. Accurate staging affects surgical management and subsequent therapy.