Comparison of Cytological Adequacy between 23- and 25-Gauge in Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules: A Single-Center Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 15% of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules are considered nondiagnostic. Several factors are potentially involved, including clinical and nodule features but also the gauge (G) of the needle used. However, few studies have compared the cytological adequacy obtained with different gauge needles and the data are controversial. We aimed to evaluate cytological adequacy results using 23- or 25-G needles. METHODS: This study is an observational and prospective study of thyroid nodules submitted to ultrasound-guided FNA. The procedure was performed randomly using 23- or 25-G needles. The samples were reported by different cytopathologists who were blinded to the information of the gauge of the needle used. Statistical analysis was performed to compare cytological adequacy of FNA between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 177 thyroid nodules were included - 98 (55.4%) using 23-G and 79 (44.6%) using 25-G needles. The 23-G group presented a higher rate of cytological adequacy (69.4% [68/98] vs. 46.8% [37/79], p = 0.002). No differences were found between the two groups regarding patient or nodule characteristics. On logistic regression, 23-G needles correlated with better cytological adequacy (unadjusted OR 2.57 [95% CI: 1.39-4.77]), even after adjusting for nodule dimension, location, and type of cytology (slides +/- additional liquid-based cytology) (adjusted OR 2.44 [95% CI: 1.23-4.84]). CONCLUSION: The gauge of the needle used was found to be an independent predictor of cytological adequacy, with 23-G needles providing more adequate samples. Further investigation is needed to confirm our results in order to stablish the optimal diagnosis technique.

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Children and Adolescents: 12-year Experience in a Single Center.

Objective: Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common pediatric endocrine cancer but studies are scarce. Latest recommendations advocate for an individualized risk-based approach to select patients for additional therapy. Lymphovascular invasion is not considered, despite being a well-known risk factor in the adult population. The aim of our study was to describe the outcomes of a cohort of DTC patients diagnosed at pediatric age and to evaluate the impact of lymphovascular invasion on the risk of persistence/recurrence. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with DTC at pediatric age from 2010 to 2022 at our center. All patients had total thyroidectomy. Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) was used in selected patients. The response to therapy and occurrence of persistent/recurrent disease were evaluated. Results: A total of 21 DTC were diagnosed, mostly papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (81.0%, 17). Six patients (28.6%) had nodal involvement and one (4.8%) had lung metastasis at the time of the diagnosis. Lymphovascular invasion was present in 11 patients (52.4%). After surgery, 13 patients (61.9%) were submitted to RAI. The mean follow-up time was 5.7 ± 3.1 years. Overall, 6 patients (31.6%) experienced persistent/recurrent disease during the follow-up time. Among PTC patients, persistent/recurrent disease was more frequent in the presence of lymphovascular invasion [55.6% (5/9) vs 0.0% (0/6), p=0.031]. Conclusion: An individualized risk-based approach is recommended. Our study suggests that lymphovascular invasion may be associated with a higher risk of persistence/recurrence and should therefore be considered for decision making in children and adolescents with PTC.

Impact of lymphovascular invasion on otherwise low-risk papillary thyroid carcinomas: a retrospective and observational study.

PURPOSE: Presence of venous vascular invasion is a criterion of intermediate risk of recurrence in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the presence and type of vascular invasion (lymphatic or venous) is often underreported and its impact on PTCs without other risk features remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of both lymphatic and venous invasion on the risk of recurrence/persistence on otherwise low-risk PTCs. METHODS: Retrospective study including patients with otherwise low-risk PTCs but with vascular invasion, diagnosed between 2013 and 2019. The persistence/recurrence during the follow-up was evaluated. Pathology was reviewed to confirm the presence of lymphovascular invasion and determine the type of invasion. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were included. Lymphovascular invasion was confirmed in 20.6%. After surgery, 48.9% (N = 69) of the patients received radioactive iodine (RAI). The median follow-up time was 4 [3-6] years. Overall, 6 (4.2%) patients experienced persistent/recurrent disease in the neck, including 3 with lymphovascular invasion, confirmed as "only lymphatic". Overall, patients with tumors harboring lymphovascular invasion had sensibly more persistent/recurrence disease compared with those without lymphovascular invasion (10.3% vs 2.7%, p = 0.1), especially in the subgroup of patients not treated with RAI (20% vs 1.6%, p = 0.049) [OR 15.25, 95% CI 1.24-187.85, p = 0.033]. CONCLUSION: Lymphovascular invasion, including lymphatic invasion only, is associated with a sensibly higher risk of persistent/recurrent disease in otherwise low-risk PTCs, namely in patients not treated with RAI. Lymphatic invasion could have a role in risk-stratification systems for decision making.

Characteristics of specialists treating hypothyroid patients: the "THESIS" collaborative.

Introduction: Thyroid specialists influence how hypothyroid patients are treated, including patients managed in primary care. Given that physician characteristics influence patient care, this study aimed to explore thyroid specialist profiles and associations with geo-economic factors. Methods: Thyroid specialists from 28 countries were invited to respond to a questionnaire, Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: an International Survey (THESIS). Geographic regions were defined according to the United Nations Statistics Division. The national economic status was estimated using World Bank data on the gross national income per capita (GNI per capita). Results: 5,695 valid responses were received (response rate 33·0%). The mean age was 49 years, and 65·0% were female. The proportion of female respondents was lowest in Northern (45·6%) and highest in Eastern Europe (77·2%) (p <0·001). Respondent work volume, university affiliation and private practice differed significantly between countries (p<0·001). Age and GNI per capita were correlated inversely with the proportion of female respondents (p<0·01). GNI per capita was inversely related to the proportion of respondents working exclusively in private practice (p<0·011) and the proportion of respondents who treated >100 patients annually (p<0·01). Discussion: THESIS has demonstrated differences in characteristics of thyroid specialists at national and regional levels, strongly associated with GNI per capita. Hypothyroid patients in middle-income countries are more likely to encounter female thyroid specialists working in private practice, with a high workload, compared to high-income countries. Whether these differences influence the quality of care and patient satisfaction is unknown, but merits further study.

Efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitors in individuals with type 1 diabetes under continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion: a real-world study.

Objective. Adjuvant therapy with sodium-glucose cotransport 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with an improvement in glycemic control, but increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, real-life studies in individuals with T1D under continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) are still scarce. We present the first real-life study performed in patients with T1D exclusively treated with CSII. The aim of the present study was to assess the metabolic impact and safety of SGLT2i in T1D individuals under CSII. Methods. Retrospective study includes 34 T1D adult individuals under CSII, who started SGLT2i until 30th June 2021. Data regarding the glycemic control and acute diabetes complications at the moment of introduction of SGLT2i and after 3, 6, and 12 months of use were collected. Results. Twenty-three individuals were included. Comparing with the moment of SGLT2i introduction after 3, 6, and 12 months of use, there was a statistically significant increase of time in range (TIR) (∆T3M=12.8%; ∆T6M=11.5%; ∆T12M=11.1%), and a decrease in time above range (∆T3M=13.6%; ∆T6M=11.9%; ∆T12M=10.5%). There were no significant differences in time below the range. Mean glucose and mean glucose management indicator significantly reduced in the 3 evaluated moments. A significant reduction in median weight was also observed (∆T6M=2 kg; ∆T12M=4.5 kg). Two patients (8.7%) developed mild euglycemic DKA during SGLT2i treatment, both were women and had body mass index (BMI) <27 kg/m2. One of them had a total daily insulin dose (TDDI) reduction of 26.9% after 3 months of use. Conclusions. The use of SGLT2i, as an adjuvant treatment in T1D individuals under CSII, was associated with a significant increase of TIR without increasing time in hypoglycemia. It also had a weight benefit. Careful use in selected participants is necessary to reduce the occurrence of DKA.

Usefulness of cellblock preparation in fine needle aspiration for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are common in the general population. The current diagnostic method for nodules is the ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of cellblock preparation in addition to routine US-FNA in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with thyroid nodules submitted to US-FNA, with collection of material using both smears and cellblock preparation. Two air-dried smears were prepared for each nodule. After centrifugation, the residual aspirate in the syringe and needle was processed as a standard histology specimen (cellblock). Then a pathologist reviewed the smears and cellblock slides of each case. RESULTS: A total of 12.360 thyroid nodules were submitted to US-FNA. Cellblock preparation was performed in 153 (1.2%) in addition to smears. Among the satisfactory cellblocks (80.5%, 120), 31.7% (38) provided additional morphological information in comparison with smears alone. No significant differences were found between the smear and the combined smear and cellblock evaluation concerning the number of unsatisfactory (12.1% vs. 11.4%, p = .85) and indeterminate (27.5% vs. 24.2%, p = .52) results. Overall, 10 samples (6.7%) had their diagnosis changed after cellblock evaluation, nine of them due to immunohistochemical studies. Immunohistochemistry confirmed parathyroid origin of the nodule in six cases. CONCLUSION: Cellblocks did not contribute to increase cellularity of the samples or to reduce indetermined results of FNA of thyroid nodules. Immunohistochemistry was essential to characterize rare cases without follicular histogenesis. Cellblock must only be prepared when considering performing immunohistochemistry.

Impact of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring on quality of life and glycaemic control in persons with type 1 diabetes: A 12-month follow-up study in real life.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We sought to prospectively assess the impact of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) initiation in the glycaemic control and quality of life (QoL) in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients followed in real-live conditions. METHODS: Prospective, observational, cohort, single-centre and single-arm study conducted between September 2018 and March 2020, enrolling adults with T1DM with at least one year of diagnosis, interested in using isCGM. After training at isCGM initiation, CGM metrics and QoL were assessed at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-six individuals (55.6% male) were included; median age at inclusion was 49.0 (43.5-62.5)years and the mean(±SD) duration of T1DM was 25.5 ± 12.0 years. Median (interquartile range) HbA1c decreased from 7.6(7.0-8.7)% to 7.4(6.8-7.7)% at 12 months (p = 0.02), driven by the subgroup of individuals with baseline HbA1c ≥ 7.5%. The number of scans per day increased from 7.0(5.5-10.0) to 10.0(7.0-14.0) but no correlation was found between the number of daily scans and CGM metrics. Total daily insulin dose remained unchanged, however the proportion of basal insulin decreased, and the proportion of bolus insulin increased over time. Multiple QoL subscales scores improved significantly, including disease-burden subscale for which TIR proved to be a significant predictive factor. CONCLUSION: isCGM improved both glycaemic control, namely time in range, time below range and glycaemic variability, as well as QoL scores in the long term. The increase of the bolus insulin proportion suggests a behavioural change. However, the appraisal of our results must consider our substantial rate of drop-out limiting the external validity of our findings.