Thyroid nodules with DICER1 mutation or PTEN alteration: A comparative cytologic, clinical, and molecular study of 117 FNA cases.

BACKGROUND: DICER1 mutations and PTEN alterations are increasingly detected by thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA). Both are associated with nodular thyroid disease and cancer. The authors analyzed a large comparative thyroid FNA cohort with DICER1 mutation or PTEN alteration. METHODS: A total of 117 thyroid FNAs with DICER1 or PTEN alterations were retrieved from the databases of two academic medical institutions. Demographic, clinical, and radiologic data were collected; FNA slides were analyzed for 29 cytomorphologic features. RESULTS: Of 117 thyroid FNAs, 36 (30.8%) had DICER1 mutation and 81 (69.2%) showed PTEN alteration. The DICER1 cohort had 33 (91.7%) females and three (8.3%) males (mean, 40.9 years); 61.8% had multinodular disease. FNAs were classified as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), 23 (63.9%); follicular neoplasm (FN), 12 (33.3%); and malignant, 1 (2.8%). The PTEN subgroup had 66 (81.5%) females and 15 (18.5%) males (mean, 55.2 years) with increased multinodular disease (93.8%, p = .0016). PTEN FNAs had greater cytologic diversity: non-diagnostic, 2 (2.5%); benign, 5 (6.2%); AUS, 44 (54.3%); FN, 24 (29.6%); and malignant, 6 (7.4%). Both DICER1 and PTEN cases showed a range of resected tumor subtypes. The DICER1 cohort included thyroblastoma, and the PTEN group included anaplastic carcinoma. The cytomorphology of DICER1 and PTEN cases showed overlapping features, especially microfollicular patterns. Minor cytomorphologic differences included papillary patterns in DICER1 (p = .039), and oncocytic changes (p < .0001) in PTEN. CONCLUSIONS: DICER1 and PTEN FNAs reveal many cytologic similarities. DICER1 patients are younger, and PTEN patients had multinodular disease. Awareness of these genetic cohorts can identify patients at risk for thyroid cancer.

Unraveling the significance of TSHR mutations in indeterminate thyroid cytology specimens.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the clinical significance of thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) mutations detected in thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. METHODS: The pathology archives at our institution were reviewed between 2018 and 2021 for indeterminate (Bethesda category III and IV) specimens with Thyroseq® analysis showing TSHR mutations. RESULTS: A total of 2184 cases diagnosed as atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), and 2625 diagnosed as follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN) were identified. A total of 1735 AUS/FLUS and 2339 SFN/FN underwent Thyroseq® analysis; 69 showed TSHR mutations (1.6%, 59 female, 10 male, average age: 55 years). Ten cases showed oncocytic features. Twelve patients underwent radionuclide scans within 1 year of FNA:11 were hyperfunctioning. Nodule size and TSH levels were weakly correlated. Twenty-two different TSHR mutations were identified (most common: M453T). A second mutation was found in five cases (EZH1 n = 2, and EIF1AX n = 3). The expression of sodium-iodide transporter (NIS) mRNA was in the range of 0.01%-62.43% out of all sequencing reads, and was elevated in 49 (71%) cases. Surgical pathology follow-up was available in five cases (all benign except one). On follow-up available for 38 cases (mean: 24 months; range: 7-47 months), 34 (89.5%) nodules remained stable and 3 (8%) increased in size. CONCLUSIONS: TSHR mutations in thyroid FNA samples classified as indeterminate are rare, generally benign, and commonly associated with autonomy on scan if performed.

Does the presence of capsule influence prognosis in poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma?

We collected all cases of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma at our institution diagnosed between 2007 and 2022 to investigate the role of tumor capsule in these neoplasms along with other histologic factors that may lead to adverse patient outcomes. After the exclusion of those meeting criteria for differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma or anaplastic carcinoma, we were left with 65 cases with a poorly differentiated component. Four of those cases (6.2%) were entirely encapsulated with no invasion of the tumor capsule. Unencapsulated tumors showed significantly greater rates of extrathyroidal extension (75.0% versus 41.5%) and death from disease (45.5% versus 12.5%) than encapsulated tumors, regardless of capsular invasion, with no differences in sex, tumor size, angioinvasion, local recurrence, or metastasis. Compared with encapsulated tumors with invasion, encapsulated tumors without capsular invasion showed a strong male predominance (100% versus 38.8%). No encapsulated tumors without capsular invasion demonstrated local recurrence, metastasis, or death from disease. No differences in the percentage of poorly differentiated components were noted among the 3 groups, although there was a trend for encapsulated tumors to have a higher percentage of poorly differentiated components than unencapsulated tumors. We conclude that invasive tumors lacking a capsule demonstrate greater rates of disease-related death despite showing similar adverse histologic features to invasive encapsulated tumors. Moreover, we confirm that encapsulated tumors without capsular invasion have excellent long-term outcomes in terms of recurrences, metastases, and survival.

THADA-IGF2BP3 fusions detected in fine-needle aspiration specimens of thyroid nodules: An institutional experience.

INTRODUCTION: Though the clinical significance of THADA-IGF2BP3 fusions detected in thyroid nodules preoperatively is still under investigation, the limited literature suggests these lesions are clinically low-risk. METHODS: The pathology archives were searched from 2018 to 2022 for all thyroid nodules with a THADA-IGF2BP3 fusion detected via ThyroSeqV3® analysis. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were collected. Statistical analyses were performed and p < .05 was considered statistically significant. This study was approved by the institutional review board. RESULTS: The case cohort included 34 thyroid nodules with THADA-IGF2BP3 fusions from 32 patients (average age-56.1 years, range: 30-86, male to female ratio-10:22). The average nodule size was 3.2 cm (range: 1.3-7.3 cm). At the time of biopsy, 21 cases were diagnosed as atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance, 12 as follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm and 1 as suspicious for malignancy. Surgical resection was performed in 29 patients (13 partial and 16 total thyroidectomies) to give a total of 31 nodules. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 19/31 (61%) cases. No cases showed extrathyroidal extension or lymphovascular invasion. The remaining cases were considered either a low-risk neoplasm or benign. Four cases of NIFTP on final surgical pathology harbored concurrent incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. One patient had the THADA-IGF2BP3 fusion detected in bilateral nodules. CONCLUSIONS: THADA-IGF2BP3 fusions can occur in malignant, low-risk and benign thyroid neoplasms, where malignant neoplasms show lack of aggressive features. Therefore, such entities can be classified as clinically low risk.

Metastatic Meningioma of the Neck: A Case Report and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Although meningiomas are the most common central nervous system neoplasms, extracranial metastases are exceedingly rare. There are even fewer reports of metastatic meningiomas to the neck. METHODS: We described a patient with multiply recurrent orbital meningioma with metastasis to the neck found incidentally during neck exploration for composite resection and free tissue reconstruction. We performed a systematic review for all records pertaining to metastatic meningiomas to the cervical regions. RESULTS: We found 9 previous reports of cervical metastatic meningiomas. Almost all cases underwent extensive local resection. There was no evidence of an association between the histological grade of the tumor and risk of metastasis to the neck. Cervical lymph node dissemination is more common in patients presenting after previous primary tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of a neck mass, our findings suggest that metastatic meningioma should be included in the differential diagnosis, especially in patients with previous resections.

Femtomolar SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Using the Microbubbling Digital Assay with Smartphone Readout Enables Antigen Burden Quantitation and Tracking.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen assays are desirable to mitigate false negative results. Limited data are available to quantify and track SARS-CoV-2 antigen burden in respiratory samples from different populations. METHODS: We developed the Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay (MSAA) with smartphone readout, with a limit of detection of 0.5 pg/mL (10.6 fmol/L) nucleocapsid antigen or 4000 copies/mL inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs. We developed a computer vision and machine learning-based automatic microbubble image classifier to accurately identify positives and negatives and quantified and tracked antigen dynamics in intensive care unit coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients and immunocompromised COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: Compared to qualitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction methods, the MSAA demonstrated a positive percentage agreement of 97% (95% CI 92%-99%) and a negative percentage agreement of 97% (95% CI 94%-100%) in a clinical validation study with 372 residual clinical NP swabs. In immunocompetent individuals, the antigen positivity rate in swabs decreased as days-after-symptom-onset increased, despite persistent nucleic acid positivity. Antigen was detected for longer and variable periods of time in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies. Total microbubble volume, a quantitative marker of antigen burden, correlated inversely with cycle threshold values and days-after-symptom-onset. Viral sequence variations were detected in patients with long duration of high antigen burden. CONCLUSIONS: The MSAA enables sensitive and specific detection of acute infections and quantification and tracking of antigen burden and may serve as a screening method in longitudinal studies to identify patients who are likely experiencing active rounds of ongoing replication and warrant close viral sequence monitoring.

Femtomolar SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Using the Microbubbling Digital Assay with Smartphone Readout Enables Antigen Burden Quantitation and Dynamics Tracking.

Background: Little is known about the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antigen burden in respiratory samples in different patient populations at different stages of infection. Current rapid antigen tests cannot quantitate and track antigen dynamics with high sensitivity and specificity in respiratory samples. Methods: We developed and validated an ultra-sensitive SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay with smartphone readout using the Microbubbling Digital Assay previously developed by our group, which is a platform that enables highly sensitive detection and quantitation of protein biomarkers. A computer vision-based algorithm was developed for microbubble smartphone image recognition and quantitation. A machine learning-based classifier was developed to classify the smartphone images based on detected microbubbles. Using this assay, we tracked antigen dynamics in serial swab samples from COVID patients hospitalized in ICU and immunocompromised COVID patients. Results: The limit of detection (LOD) of the Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay was 0.5 pg/mL (10.6 fM) recombinant nucleocapsid (N) antigen or 4000 copies/mL inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, comparable to many rRT-PCR methods. The assay had high analytical specificity towards SARS-CoV-2. Compared to EUA-approved rRT-PCR methods, the Microbubbling Antigen Assay demonstrated a positive percent agreement (PPA) of 97% (95% confidence interval (CI), 92-99%) in symptomatic individuals within 7 days of symptom onset and positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid results, and a negative percent agreement (NPA) of 97% (95% CI, 94-100%) in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with negative nucleic acid results. Antigen positivity rate in NP swabs gradually decreased as days-after-symptom-onset increased, despite persistent nucleic acid positivity of the same samples. The computer vision and machine learning-based automatic microbubble image classifier could accurately identify positives and negatives, based on microbubble counts and sizes. Total microbubble volume, a potential marker of antigen burden, correlated inversely with Ct values and days-after-symptom-onset. Antigen was detected for longer periods of time in immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies, compared to immunocompetent individuals. Simultaneous detectable antigens and nucleic acids may indicate the presence of replicating viruses in patients with persistent infections. Conclusions: The Microbubbling SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Assay enables sensitive and specific detection of acute infections, and quantitation and tracking of antigen dynamics in different patient populations at various stages of infection. With smartphone compatibility and automated image processing, the assay is well-positioned to be adapted for point-of-care diagnosis and to explore the clinical implications of antigen dynamics in future studies.