Histopathological Characterization and Whole Exome Sequencing of Ectopic Thyroid: Fetal Architecture in a Functional Ectopic Gland from Adult Patient.

Ectopic thyroid results from a migration defect of the developing gland during embryogenesis causing congenital hypothyroidism. But it has also been detected in asymptomatic individuals. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological, functional, and genetic features of human ectopic thyroids.

Hypermethylation of a New Distal Sodium/Iodide Symporter (NIS) enhancer (NDE) is associated with reduced NIS expression in thyroid tumors.

Context: In thyroid tumors, reduced radioiodine uptake is associated with worse patient outcome concomitantly with low sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) mRNA expression. Previous studies showed that CpG-island methylation in the NIS proximal promoter does not correlate with mRNA expression.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify new CpG-islands within the NIS 5'region and investigate the involvement of their methylation in NIS expression.

Notch pathway is activated by MAPK signaling and influences papillary thyroid cancer proliferation.

Mutually exclusive genetic alterations in the RET, RAS, or BRAF genes, which result in constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, are present in about 70% of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). However, the effect of MAPK activation on other signaling pathways involved in oncogenic transformation, such as Notch, remains unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the MAPK pathway regulates Notch signaling and that Notch signaling plays a role in PTC cell proliferation.

BRAF: a tool in the decision to perform elective neck dissection?

Background: Some studies have demonstrated a correlation between the presence of a BRAF mutation and aggressive characteristics, including lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) has been proposed for treatment of PTC. Given the potential complications of CND, we undertook a prospective study to determine the correlation between the BRAF mutation and lymph node metastasis.

Classification of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma according to size and fine-needle aspiration cytology: Behavior and therapeutic implications.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess and classify cases of papillary microcarcinoma according to size (up to 0.5 cm and between 0.6 and 1.

Expression of SMAD proteins, TGF-beta/activin signaling mediators, in human thyroid tissues.

Objective: To investigate the expression of SMAD proteins in human thyroid tissues since the inactivation of TGF-beta/activin signaling components is reported in several types of cancer. Phosphorylated SMAD 2 and SMAD3 (pSMAD2/3) associated with the SMAD4 induce the signal transduction generated by TGF-beta and activin, while SMAD7 inhibits this intracellular signaling. Although TGF-beta and activin exert antiproliferative roles in thyroid follicular cells, thyroid tumors express high levels of these proteins.

Latin American thyroid society recommendations for the management of thyroid nodules.

Several guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules and cancer have recently been published. However, recommended practices are not always appropriate to different settings or countries. The aim of this consensus was to develop Clinical Guidelines for evaluation and management of patients with thyroid nodules applicable to Latin American countries.

Recommendations of the Latin American Thyroid Society on diagnosis and management of differentiated thyroid cancer.

The aims of these recommendations were to develop clinical guidelines for evaluation and management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer applicable to Latin American countries. The panel was composed by 13 members of the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) involved with research and management of thyroid cancer from different medical centers in Latin America. The recommendations were produced on the basis of the expert opinion of the panel with use of principles of Evidence-Based Medicine.

Thyroid tissue analysis through Raman spectroscopy.

The diagnosis of thyroid pathologies is usually made by cytologic analysis of the fine needle aspiration (FNA) material. However, this procedure has a low sensitivity at times, presenting a variation of 2-37%. The application of optical spectroscopy in the characterization of alterations could result in the development of a minimally invasive and non-destructive method for the diagnosis of thyroid diseases.

Anatomic landmarks for localization of the spinal accessory nerve.

This anatomical study examines the anatomic topography and landmarks for localization of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) during surgical dissections in 40 fresh human cadavers (2 females and 38 males; ages from 22 to 89 years with a mean of 60 years). In the submandibular region, the SAN was found anteriorly to the transverse process of the atlas in 77.5% of the dissections.

Association of low sodium-iodide symporter messenger ribonucleic acid expression in malignant thyroid nodules with increased intracellular protein staining.

Context: The expression of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is required for iodide uptake in thyroid cells. Benign and malignant thyroid tumors have low iodide uptake. However, previous studies by RT-PCR or immunohistochemistry have shown divergent results of NIS expression in these nodules.

[Thyroid microcarcinoma: experience and management in private clinic].

Objective: The study of papillary microcarcinoma observed during the thyroidectomies in our private clinic.

Material And Methods: We reviewed clinical and histopathological results of 1,930 consecutive patients submitted for thyroidectomies in the period from 2002 to 2006, 606 had thyroid carcinomas but only 332 were papillary microcarcinoma. We studied gender, age, histologic type, size, multifocality, frequency of neck dissection, and results of Whole Body Scan and thyroglobulin.

[Polymorphism on codon 98 of the galectin-3 gene is not associated to benign and malignant thyroid tumors].

Galectin-3 is a multifunctional protein highly expressed in thyroid cancer. The galectin-3 gene (LGALS3) has several annotated candidates SNPs, however the relationship between galectin-3 SNPs and specific phenotypic variations relevant to health has not been evaluated. In this study, we investigated SNPs in the galectin-3 gene and a putative association with thyroid tumorigenesis.

Total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease.

Objectives/hypothesis: The use of total thyroidectomy in thyroid cancer treatment is not unanimous, and it is even more controversial when this procedure is advocated for benign diseases. On the other hand, the complication risk may have an increase up to 20 times in repeat operations for recurrence. The objective of the study was to evaluate the use of total thyroidectomy in benign diseases, multinodular goiter, and Graves disease to justify the authors' preference.

Activin betaB expression in rat experimental goiter and human thyroid tumors.

Activins are dimeric proteins of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, which exhibit multiple functions in gonadal and extragonadal tissues. Expression of activin A, composed of two betaA subunits, has been shown in the thyroid, whereas there has been no study regarding activin B (betaBbetaB) in this gland. In other tissues, such as the gonads, pancreas, and adrenal cortex, expression of both activin betaA and activin betaB has been described.

Galectin-3 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein are expressed in benign thyroid tumors.

Galectin-3 is a protein of the lectin family that has been associated with neoplastic processes in various tissues. In the thyroid, expression of this protein has been described in differentiated follicular cancer, suggesting that the immunohistochemical study of galectin-3 may be a potential marker of malignancy in thyroid neoplasms. The confirmation of these results may represent an extremely useful tool for presurgical diagnosis and medical conduct.