Serum cholesterol levels are inversely associated with the risk of malignancy in subjects with Bethesda category IV thyroid nodules.

INTRODUCTION: Some epidemiological data suggest that there may be an inverse relationship between cholesterol levels and the risk of thyroid cancer in the overall population. The present study was aimed to evaluate the lipid profile specifically in subjects with Bethesda category IV thyroid nodules, and compare whether there were any differences between those with benign and malignant nodules. METHODS: Single-centre, retrospective study on 204 subjects treated by partial or total thyroidectomy for excision of a Bethesda category IV thyroid nodule, who had undergone a blood lipid profile test in the 12 months prior to surgery. In addition to lipid measures, other demographic, clinical, biochemical and ultrasound data were collected. RESULTS: Seventy-five subjects (36.8%) were diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma in the definitive histopathological examination. Patients with thyroid cancer had lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol than subjects with benign thyroid diseases. There were no differences in HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides or total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio. There were no differences either between groups in other clinical, biochemical and ultrasound variables, including the use of lipid-lowering drugs. In multivariate analysis, only LDL-cholesterol was independently associated with malignancy. Subjects with follicular carcinoma showed the lowest cholesterol levels, while those with papillary carcinoma had intermediate values between the group with follicular carcinoma and the group with benign thyroid diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with cytologically indeterminate Bethesda category IV thyroid nodules, levels of total cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol and, particularly, LDL-cholesterol are lower among those with malignant nodules.

Effect of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like features (NIFTP) terminology on surgical management concepts.

BACKGROUND: Despite the strict diagnostic criteria recently proposed for non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like features (NIFTP), its incidence is still unknown. Employing a retrospective analysis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), we investigated the diagnosis, prevalence and postoperative course of NIFTP. METHODS: We examined retrospectively the records of 112 patients who had undergone thyroid surgery and had a postoperative diagnosis of FVPTC at our hospital from 2010 to 2021. All clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features were evaluated. RESULTS: Only 34 (27.9%) patients met the strict pathologic criteria for NIFTP; 11 cases having been diagnosed as NIFTP initially and 23 after re-evaluation of histopathologic slides. None of the 11 NIFTP patients underwent a 2-stage operation, in contrast to 10 (29.4%) patients initially diagnosed as FVPTC who had a completion thyroidectomy after the initial hemithyroidectomy. The median follow-up was 14.5 (ranging from 0 to 78) months. None of the cases developed a recurrence. CONCLUSION: To avoid unnecessary treatment or the follow-up advised for papillary thyroid carcinoma, clinicians and pathologists should be familiar with the terminology and the corresponding diagnostic criteria for NIFTP and their impact on management.

Neoplasias foliculares del tiroides. Correlación citopatológica / Follicular thyroid neoplasia. Cytopathological correlations

RESUMEN Introducción: la citología con aguja fina se mantiene como el estudio fundamental ante un nódulo tiroideo, pero el diagnóstico de neoplasia folicular es aún su punto débil para definirlo. Se mantiene como conducta su extirpación quirúrgica para alcanzarlo. Objetivo: determinar la correlación citopatológica en las neoplasias foliculares del tiroides. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio prospectivo y descriptivo que incluyó a 80 pacientes operados con diagnóstico citológico de neoplasia folicular del tiroides, en el Hospital "Comandante Faustino Pérez" de la ciudad de Matanzas, de marzo del 2012 a febrero del 2016. Se evaluaron las variables: edad, sexo, tamaño, localización, número de nódulos y diagnóstico histológico definitivo. Resultados: predominaron las lesiones benignas con 56 para el 70 % dentro de ellas, los bocios multinodulares con 33,75 % y los adenomas foliculares con el 31,25 %. Los tumores malignos ocuparon el 30 %. El carcinoma papilar, variedad folicular con 12 para el 15 %, seguido del carcinoma papilar clásico con 10 para el 12,50 %. Conclusiones: el porcentaje de malignidad de este estudio fue del 30 % con predominio del carcinoma papilar variedad folicular y el carcinoma papilar clásico. Entre las lesiones benignas predominaron los bocios multinodulares y los adenomas foliculares (AU).

ABSTRACT Introduction: fine needle cytology is still the main study against a thyroidal nodule, but the follicular neoplasia diagnosis is still its weak point to define it. The surgical removal keeps being used to reach it. Objective: to determine the cytopathological correlation in follicular thyroid neoplasia. Materials and methods: a prospective, descriptive study was carried out including 80 patient with diagnosis of follicular thyroid neoplasia in the Hospital "Comandante Faustino Pérez" of Matanzas, who underwent a surgery from March 2012 to February 2016. The assessed variables were age, sex, size, location, quantity of nodes and final histological diagnosis. Results: benign lesions predominated, with 56 for 70 %; among them, multinodular goiters with 33.75 % and follicular adenomas with 31.25 %. Malignant tumors were 30 %: papillary carcinoma, follicular variety with 12 for 15 %, followed by the classical papillary carcinoma with 10 for 12.50 % Conclusions: the malignity percent of this study was 30 % with the predominance of the papillary carcinoma, follicular variant and the classic papillary carcinoma. Multinodular goiters and follicular adenomas predominated among the benign lesions (AU).

Diferencias y controversias entre el reporte de patología y la interpretación clínica en patología tiroidea. I parte: Factores pronósticos / Thyroid pathology: differences and controversies between the pathology report and clinical interpretation. Part I: prognostic factors

Resumen El cáncer de la glándula tiroides es una neoplasia cuya detección, diagnóstico y tratamiento se realiza de manera interdisciplinaria, por lo tanto el diagnóstico definitivo histopatológico debe ser completo y claro; de modo que pueda ser interpretado de la misma manera por parte del grupo médico tratante. De manera frecuente, los médicos no patólogos que reciben el reporte de un estudio histopatológico de tiroides se enfrentan con dificultades al momento de interpretar el reporte histopatológico y，por lo tanto, en definir la posterior conducta médica. El objetivo de este primer artículo es revisar de manera breve algunos de los diferentes temas que más generan dudas en la interpretación del reporte histopatológico y de las técnicas diagnósticas usadas en patología por parte de los médicos tratantes que tienen un impacto en las decisiones clínicas originadas a partir de la clasificación, estadificación, pronóstico y seguimiento de la enfermedad.

Abstract Cancer of the thyroid gland is a neoplasia for which its detection, diagnosis and treatment is interdisciplinary. For this reason, the definitive diagnosis by histopathology should be complete and clear so that it can be interpreted in the same way by the treating medical group. Non-pathology physicians who receive the report of a histopathological study of the thyroid often have difficulties when interpreting the report and therefore in defining the subsequent medical behaviour. The objective of this first article is to review briefly some of the different subjects that generate most doubts in the interpretation of the histopathology report, and the diagnostic techniques used in pathology by the attending physicians that have an impact on clinical decisions arising from the classification, staging, prognosis, and follow-up of the disease.

Hallazgos anatomopatológicos definitivos en pacientes tiroidectomizados con diagnóstico preoperatorio de neoplasia folicular / Definitive anatomopathological findings in thyroidectomized patients with preoperative diagnosis of follicular neoplasm

Background: The finding of follicular neoplasm, using a FNAP, is an indication for partial or total thyroidectomy, to obtain the definitive malignant or benign histology. Frequently, it is possible to identify significant additional histological diagnosis. Aim: To obtain the definitive histological findings in patients with follicular neoplasm by FNAP. Patients and Method: Transversal analysis of 133 patients that underwent to total thyroidectomy between 2003 and 2009, that filled de requirements for adequate histological assessment. Results: In 33.1 percent of the treated patients the final diagnosis was indeed a follicular neoplasm (adenoma in 26.3 percent and cancer in 6.8 percent). In the 51.9 percent the finding was follicular colloidal hyperplasia and other thyroid cancer in 8.3 percent. The total malignant prevalence in the whole gland was 29.3 percent. Conclusions: The thyroidec-tomy is the treatment of choice and the final diagnostic procedure for these patients. The histological findings of cancer different from follicular not only in the punctioned nodule are a secondary and an additional argument for reinforcing the surgical indication.

Introducción: El hallazgo de una neoplasia folicular por PAAF, obliga a realizar una tiroidectomía parcial o total, para definir la naturaleza maligna o benigna definitiva de la lesión tiroidea. Junto a este diagnóstico preoperatorio se identifican finalmente con alta frecuencia lesiones histológicas adicionales. Objetivo: Conocer y describir los hallazgos anatomopatológicos definitivos que se encuentran en tiroidectomías por neoplasias foliculares diagnosticadas por PAAF. Materiales y Métodos: Revisión transversal de las biopsias definitivas de 133 pacientes sometidos a tiroidectomía total entre 2003 y 2009, que cumplieron los requisitos establecidos para evaluar la histología definitiva del nódulo puncionado y de la glándula tiroides completa. Resultados: En el 33,1 por ciento de los pacientes el diagnóstico definitivo del nódulo puncionado fue efectivamente una neoplasia folicular (adenoma en el 26,3 por ciento y cáncer en el 6,8 por ciento). El 51,9 por ciento correspondió a hiperplasia folicular y el 8,3 por ciento otro cáncer. La prevalencia de malignidad final en la glándula completa fue de un 29,3 por ciento. Conclusiones: Siendo la indicación de tiroidectomía en estos pacientes un tratamiento y procedimiento diagnóstico aceptado y necesario, se concluye que la alta prevalencia de lesiones malignas (29,3 por ciento) tanto en el nódulo puncionado como, adicionalmente, en el resto de la glándula, reforzaría la necesidad de este tratamiento quirúrgico.

Marcadores de riesgo de neoplasia folicular en nódulos tiroideos / Risk markers of follicular neoplasms in thyroid nodules

Los nódulos tiroideos de origen folicular abarcan procesos no neoplásicos y neoplásicos. No existen métodos de diagnóstico ni rasgos citológicos por punción con aguja fina (PAF) que los delimiten, constituyendo un dilema su diagnóstico diferencial. Analizamos la asociación existente entre variables clínicas y métodos de diagnóstico prequirúrgicos en nódulos tiroideos de estirpe folicular, con el objetivo de definir riesgo de neoplasia.Se estudiaron 92 pacientes con bocios nodulares de estirpe folicular por citología, tratados con tiroidectomía. Las variables analizadas fueron: sexo, edad, tamaño del nódulo, características ecográficas, diagnóstico citológico, nivel de TSH y resultados del centellograma. De los 92 casos, 74 fueron neoplásicos (56 adenomas y 18 carcinomas diferenciados) y 18 nódulos no neoplásicos, hiperplásicos o adenomatosos. Los marcadores que se relacionaron con alto riesgo de neoplasia folicular correspondieron al diagnóstico citológico de proliferación folicular de alto grado, en nódulos iso o hipoecogénicos, e hipocaptantes con I131. Los carcinomas presentaron citología de proliferación folicular de alto grado en nódulos hipoecogénicos, de bordes irregulares con microcalcificaciones e hipocaptantes, en pacientes varones o menores de 20 años. La presencia de macrocalcificaciones e hipercaptación estarían a favor de nódulo de origen benigno.La correlación de los métodos de diagnóstico y variables clínicas en nódulos tiroideos de estirpe folicular nos permitirían delimitar el riesgo de neoplasia y carcinoma para planificar un tratamiento quirúrgico selectivo.

Thyroid nodules of follicular origin include neoplastic and non neoplastic processes. No methods of diagnosis or cytological features (obtained by fine-needle aspiration, FNA) may differentiate both types, and therefore differential diagnosis still constitutes a dilemma.We analyzed the existing association between clinical variables and methods of diagnosis in thyroid nodules of follicular type with the aim of defining risk of neoplasm. Ninety two patients with nodular goiters, of follicular origin by cytology, previously submitted to surgical treatment were analyzed. The studied variables were: sex, age, size of the nodule, ultrasound characteristics, cytological diagnosis, TSH level and results of the scintigraphy. Of 92 cases, 74 were neoplastic nodules (56 adenomas and 18 differentiated thyroid cancer) and 18 were non neoplastic nodules. Markers, that were related to high risk of follicular neoplasm corresponded to the cytological diagnosis of proliferation of high follicular degree, in iso or hypoechoic, and hypofunctioning nodules with I131. The carcinomas presented cytology of follicular proliferation of high degree, in hipoechoic nodules, of irregular edges with microcalcifications and hypofunctioning, in male patients or patients younger than 20 years. The presence of macrocalcifications and hypercaptation would be in favor of nodules of benign origin.The correlation of diagnostic methods and clinical variables in thyroid nodules of follicular type would allow us to differentiate the risk of neoplasm or carcinoma, and plan surgical selective treatments.

Avaliação pré-operatória com PET-18F-FDG de nódulos de tireóide com citologia indeterminada / Preoperative evaluation of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules with 18F-FDG PET

Esse artigo tem o objetivo de discutir o papel da tomografia por emissão de pósitrons (PET) com 18F-FDG na avaliação pré-operatória de pacientes com nódulos de tireóide com citologia indeterminada. Para o cálculo da sensibilidade, foram selecionados todos os estudos com pacientes com carcinoma de tireóide. Para o cálculo da especificidade, foram selecionados apenas estudos desenhados para avaliação dos pacientes com nódulos com citologia indeterminada. O achado de captação focal na PET-18F-FDG relacionou-se com a presença de carcinoma de tireóide na maioria dos estudos. A sensibilidade do exame foi bastante alta na detecção de malignidade tireoidiana, porém sua especificidade variou de 0 por cento a 66 por cento, sendo de 39 por cento em estudo brasileiro. Concluindo, os estudos indicam que a PET-18F-FDG pode reduzir o número de tireoidectomias desnecessárias em pacientes com nódulos de tireóide com citologia indeterminada. Entretanto, o percentual relativamente elevado de resultados falso-positivos, o alto custo, a baixa disponibilidade do exame em países em desenvolvimento e a pouca experiência clínica ainda limitam o uso da PET-18F-FDG com essa finalidade.

The aim of this article is to discuss the role of 18F-FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in the preoperative evaluation of patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. All studies with patients with thyroid cancer were selected to the calculation of sensitivity. Only studies aiming to evaluate patients with thyroid nodules whose cytological result was indeterminate were selected to establish the specificity. The finding of focal 18F-FDG uptake at PET was associated with the presence of thyroid malignancy in most of the studies. The sensitivity of the exam to the detection of thyroid malignancy was extremely high, but the specificity varied from 0 to 66 percent. In our experience, the specificity was 39 percent. In conclusion, the studies suggest that 18F-FDG PET can reduce the number of unnecessary thyroidectomies performed in patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. However, the relatively high percentage of false positive results, the high costs, the low availability of this exam in developing countries and the low clinical experience still restrict the use of 18F-FDG PET when recommended with this aim.