Growth factor receptors gene expression and Akt phosphorylation in benign human thyroid nodules are unaffected by chronic thyrotropin suppression.

Levothyroxine (L-T4)-based suppression of thyrotropin (TSH) secretion is widely used to prevent the growth of benign thyroid nodules, although the effectiveness of this approach has been demonstrated only in a subset of patients. In this study, we analyzed the in vivo effects of L-T4-mediated TSH suppression on elements of insulin/IGF-1-dependent growth-regulating pathways in tissues from patients with benign thyroid nodules. Nodular and non-nodular tissue specimens were collected from 63 patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

Identification of a neck lump as a lymph node metastasis from an occult contralateral papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid: key role of thyroglobulin assay in the fine-needle aspirate.

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) assay of material from fine-needle aspiration of neck masses can help distinguish neck masses of thyroid origin from other masses. We describe its utility in a patient with an unusual constellation of findings, a neck lump identified as a lymph node metastasis from a contralateral occult papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Summary: A 56-year-old woman was referred to our center for evaluation of a 15-mm right lateral cervical neck mass which was strongly hypoechoic, not homogenous and contained several microcalcifications.

Increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in Basilicata: an Italian study.

Objective: In recent years many authors have reported an increase in thyroid cancer (TC) incidence in several countries. The cause of such phenomenon remains unclear.

Design: This study was designed to estimate the incidence of TC in Basilicata, the smallest region of Southern Italy with a population of 596,546 people, between 2001 and 2004.