Molecular profiling of low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (mPTC) on active surveillance.

Context: The active surveillance (AS) program for papillary thyroid carcinoma (≤ 1 cm) at low-risk (mPTC) showed a low percentage of progression.

Objective: The aim of this study was to find a molecular signature of cases that showed disease progression during AS, which would allow their early identification.

Methods: We performed next generation sequencing of 95 fine needle aspiration cytology specimens from cases prospectively enrolled in the AS program to analyze key somatic driver alterations or gene fusions implicated in PTC tumorigenesis.

Effect of Pregnancy and Menopause on Micropapillary Thyroid Carcinomas During Active Surveillance.

Background: The effect of estrogen and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin on micropapillary thyroid carcinoma (mPTC) is not defined. Pregnancy and menopause could represent critical moments during active surveillance (AS) for women with mPTC.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of either pregnancy or menopause on growth of mPTCs on AS.

Assessing mPTC Progression during Active Surveillance: Volume or Diameter Increase?

Active surveillance (AS) is considered an alternative to immediate surgery in micropapillary thyroid carcinoma (mPTC). However, the definition of clinical mPTC progression during AS is controversial. We evaluated changes in tumor size using both tumor diameters and volume in 109 patients with mPTC followed in an AS protocol for a mean period of 31 ± 18 months.

Nodular Thyroid Disease in the Era of Precision Medicine.

Management of thyroid nodules in the era of precision medicine is continuously changing. Neck ultrasound plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and several ultrasound stratification systems have been proposed in order to predict malignancy and help clinicians in therapeutic and follow-up decision. Ultrasound elastosonography is another powerful diagnostic technique and can be an added value to stratify the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules.

Patients with Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules at Cytology and Cancer at Histology Have a More Favorable Outcome Compared with Patients with Suspicious or Malignant Cytology.

Background: The outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer proven by histology in patients in whom cytology was Thy 3 (indeterminate; Thy 3 patients in this study) based on the Italian consensus classification compared with those in whom cytology was Thy 4 (suspicious for malignancy) or Thy 5 (indicative for malignancy) (Thy 4-5 patients here) remains unclear.

Objective: To analyze the outcome of 371 Thy 3 patients versus 269 Thy 4-5 patients homogeneously treated with total thyroidectomy and I activity.

Results: T1 stage was observed in 46.

Low Elasticity of Thyroid Nodules on Ultrasound Elastography Is Correlated with Malignancy, Degree of Fibrosis, and High Expression of Galectin-3 and Fibronectin-1.

Background: Thyroid ultrasound (US) elastography provides an estimation of tissue stiffness and is helpful to differentiate malignant from benign lesions. Tissue proprieties and molecules causing stiffness are not established. The aim of the study was to correlate US elastography findings with tissue properties in thyroid nodules.

The large majority of 1520 patients with indeterminate thyroid nodule at cytology have a favorable outcome, and a clinical risk score has a high negative predictive value for a more cumbersome cancer disease.

Context: Clinical management of patients with thyroid nodules indeterminate at fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is still unsettled.

Objective: Our objective was to establish the clinical outcome of patients with thyroid nodules indeterminate at cytology and to identify the features associated with malignancy.

Design And Patients: This was a retrospective evaluation of 1520 consecutive patients with indeterminate cytology among 100 065 patients who underwent FNA between January 2000 and December 2010.

Iodine contributes to thyroid autoimmunity in humans by unmasking a cryptic epitope on thyroglobulin.

Context: The mechanisms linking thyroid autoimmunity and iodine use in humans are unknown.

Objective: Our aim was to correlate iodine intake, thyroid autoimmunity, and recognition of thyroglobulin (Tg) epitopes after implementation of iodine prophylaxis.

Setting: The general community living in an Italian village was evaluated.