RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The FNA-CT is useful for the diagnosis of MTC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of FNA-CT in TNs coexisting with CCH. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed the records of 11 patients with TNs submitted to thyroidectomy on the basis of elevated basal and/or stimulated serum CT values, which at histology were not confirmed to be MTC. The results obtained in this group were compared with those of a previously reported group of histologically proven MTC patients submitted to an identical presurgical evaluation. All patients, negative for known mutations in the RET proto-oncogene, were preoperatively submitted to neck ultrasound, FNA-cytology, and FNA-CT. RESULTS: Approximately 6 of 11 patients showed increased (>36 ng/mL, as established in previous studies not involving patients with CCH) FNA-CT. All these patients showed diffuse CCH at histology in the thyroid lobe submitted to FNA; 5 of them were benign at histology, while only one was malignant (papillary thyroid carcinoma, PTC). The remaining 5 of 11 patients had low FNA-CT (<36 ng/mL), and all of them showed only focal CCH in the lobe submitted to FNA; three of them were malignant (2 PTC, 1 follicular carcinoma), while two were benign. CONCLUSIONS: Employing the currently proposed cut-off values, false-positive FNA-CT results may be observed in benign/malignant TNs with coexisting diffuse CCH. FNA-CT must therefore be cautiously used in the diagnostic approach for patients with TNs and a slightly increased basal or stimulated serum CT concentration in order to avoid unnecessary surgery.
RESUMEN
A positive correlation between Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Body Mass Index (BMI) has been reported in many studies, but data on this topic remain controversial, especially when TSH values are in the normal range. Moreover, few studies have evaluated the co-existence of thyroid autoimmunity. This study investigated the role of thyroid autoimmunity in the interconnection between TSH, BMI, and waist circumference (WC) in euthyroid patients with overweight or obesity. We enrolled 902 patients (213 males; mean age ± SD: 45 ± 14 years; mean BMI ± SD: 35.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2), with normal serum TSH concentration; anti-thyroid autoantibodies (ATAs) were evaluated in 752 patients (186 males). Patients were divided into four BMI classes, based on WHO criteria, and the relationship between BMI, WC, and TSH was evaluated in the whole sample and compared to ATAs positivity, observed in 235 patients (44 males). No significant difference was found between TSH levels in the BMI classes. A statistically significant correlation between TSH and BMI was found only in ATAs-positive females (N = 191, Spearman rho: 0.149; p-value: 0.040). However, this finding was not confirmed when considering the WC. Our study shows a positive correlation only between TSH and BMI in obese women with positive ATAs, suggesting that in these patients, the high normal levels of TSH could be attributed to a mild thyroid failure with a possible worsening obesity-related effect, and both need a careful evaluation.
RESUMEN
Lenvatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects indicated for the treatment of progressive, locally advanced or metastatic progressive thyroid carcinoma, refractory to radioactive iodine therapy. Antiangiogenic therapies induce ischemic necrosis of tumor tissue, with increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. The management of hemorrhagic risk is based on precautionary measures and for any surgical procedure, it is advised to interrupt the treatment in order to avoid complications. 'Flare-up' of tumor activity may follow TKI interruption. However, it is not known if continuing TKIs during minimally invasive interventions is safe. We report here the first case in which an embolization of metastasis is performed without interrupting lenvatinib treatment. The procedure was successful and free of complications.