Undercover active surveillance of small highly suspicious thyroid nodules without fine needle aspiration.

Purpose: Active surveillance (AS) is an alternative treatment approach for small, low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). This study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of small, highly suspicious nodules lacking initial cytological confirmation.

Methods: This study included 112 patients with highly suspicious nodules measuring ≤ 10 mm who underwent serial ultrasound at Asan Medical Center, Korea, between 2010 and 2023.

Changes in peripheral blood immune cell population in thyroid cancer patients treated with lenvatinib.

This study evaluated changes in the peripheral blood immune cell population in patients with advanced thyroid cancer receiving lenvatinib treatment to confirm the immune-modulatory effect of lenvatinib. After obtaining informed consent from patients, we prospectively collected 20 ml of whole blood at 2-3 months intervals 2-4 times from each patient; peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated, and the Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay was performed. A total of 10 patients were enrolled, and 31 blood samples were obtained.

Inflammatory biomarkers predict outcomes of patients with radioactive iodine refractory thyroid cancer treated with sorafenib.

Background: The objective of this multicenter, retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the ability of inflammatory biomarkers representing the host immune system to predict outcomes in 70 patients with progressive radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory thyroid cancer who were treated with sorafenib.

Method: Patients were divided into low and high inflammatory biomarker groups based on median values. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed based on the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Serum thyroglobulin testing after thyroid lobectomy in patients with 1-4 cm papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The role of measuring serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in patients who have undergone lobectomy has not been proven. The goal of this research is to see if serum Tg levels can predict the recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after lobectomy.

Methods: The 463 patients with 1-4 cm PTC who underwent lobectomy between January 2005 and December 2012, were included in this retrospective cohort study.

Long-term follow-up result of antithyroid drug treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism in a large cohort.

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of antithyroid drugs (ATDs) and risk factors associated with the recurrence of Graves' hyperthyroidism using a comprehensive retrospective cohort.

Methods: We included 1829 patients newly diagnosed with Graves' hyperthyroidism, with sufficient follow-up data. Clinical outcomes of the patients and risk factors associated with recurrence-free survival, including the changes in thyrotropin receptor antibody, were evaluated.

Prognosis of Patients with 1-4 cm Papillary Thyroid Cancer Who Underwent Lobectomy: Focus on Gross Extrathyroidal Extension Invading Only the Strap Muscles.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic implication of gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE) invading the strap muscles after thyroid lobectomy in patients with 1-4 cm papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with 1-4 cm PTC who underwent thyroid lobectomy from 2005 to 2012. Overall, 595 patients were enrolled after excluding patients with aggressive variants of PTC, gross ETE into a major neck structure, and lateral cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis.

Lenvatinib Compared with Sorafenib as a First-Line Treatment for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory, Progressive, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Real-World Outcomes in a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Sorafenib and lenvatinib have been widely adopted to treat radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, limited data exist regarding a direct comparison of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of two TKIs as first-line therapy in patients with distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC in real-world practice.

Limitations of fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsies in the diagnosis of tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The tall cell variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (TCV-PTC) shows aggressive behaviour. Thus far, the diagnosis of TCV-PTC can only be confirmed using the postoperative specimen. This study aims to evaluate whether fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) could diagnose TCV-PTC preoperatively.

Effects of dabrafenib and erlotinib combination treatment on anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Dabrafenib is a BRAF kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of BRAF-mutated anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) in combination with trametinib. Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of EGF receptor (EGFR). We evaluated effects of dabrafenib and erlotinib combination treatment on ATC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Graves' disease diagnosed in remnant thyroid after lobectomy for thyroid cancer.

Background: The coexistence of Graves' disease with thyroid cancer is well-known and total thyroidectomy is recommended in such cases. However, Graves' disease might be dormant at the time of surgery and diagnosed after lobectomy for thyroid cancer.

Methods: We assessed the incidence and clinicopathological characteristic of newly developed Graves' disease after lobectomy for thyroid cancer between 2010 and 2019.

Comparison of Tc Pertechnetate Thyroid Uptake Rates by Gamma Probe and Gamma Camera Methods for Differentiating Graves' Disease and Thyroiditis.

Background: Technetium-99 m (Tc) pertechnetate thyroid uptake rate can be measured with a gamma probe or gamma camera. This study was performed to compare their diagnostic accuracy for evaluating patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed Tc pertechnetate thyroid uptake rate records of patients by both gamma probe and camera methods at a tertiary center in Korea from November 2019 to June 2020.

Effect of TSH levels during active surveillance of PTMC according to age.

We previously reported that high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are associated with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) progression during active surveillance. However, validation with multicenter, long-term data, and identification of appropriate age or TSH levels are needed. This multicenter retrospective study enrolled PTMC patients under active surveillance with TSH measurements and ultrasonography.

Mutation in Genes Encoding Key Functional Groups Additively Increase Mortality in Patients with -Mutant Advanced Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

The prognosis of -mutant papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ranges from indolent to highly aggressive courses. To better define the genetic diversity of this subtype, we evaluated the survival according to the presence of an additional mutation in genes encoding functional groups (FGs) in -mutant advanced PTC patients. Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed in primary tumors of 50 -mutant PTCs with distant metastasis or aggressive variants.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Coexisting Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Graves' Disease: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Background: The association between Graves' disease (GD) and co-existing thyroid cancer is still controversial and most of the previously reported data have been based on surgically treated GD patients. This study investigated the clinicopathological findings and prognosis of concomitant thyroid cancer in GD patients in the era of widespread application of ultrasonography.

Methods: Data of GD patients who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer between 2010 and 2019 in three tertiary hospitals in South Korea (Asan Medical Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, and Pusan National University Hospital) were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Hürthle Cell Carcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study in South Korea.

Background: Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC), a type of thyroid carcinoma, is rare in South Korea, and few studies have investigated its prognosis.

Methods: This long-term multicenter retrospective cohort study evaluated the clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes in patients with HCC who underwent thyroid surgery between 1996 and 2009.

Results: The mean age of the 97 patients included in the study was 50.

Active Surveillance as an Effective Management Option for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma.

Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has been accepted worldwide as safe and effective. Despite the growing acceptance of AS in the management of low-risk PTMCs, there are barriers to AS in real clinical settings, and it is important to understand and establish appropriate AS protocol from initial evaluation to follow-up. PTMC management strategies should be decided upon after careful consideration of patient and tumor characteristics by a multidisciplinary team of thyroid cancer specialists.

Tumor Volume Doubling Time in Active Surveillance of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study in Korea.

Some papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs) may progress with tumor enlargement or development of new lymph node (LN) metastasis during active surveillance (AS). This study evaluated the relevant predictors of disease progression, especially new cervical LN metastasis. This was a long-term follow-up study conducted using a previous multicenter cohort of AS in Korea.

Clinical implications of age and excellent response to therapy in patients with high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background: Patients with American Thyroid Association (ATA) high-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) have poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of age and response to therapy classification in patients with ATA high-risk DTC.

Design And Patients: This study included 222 patients with high-risk DTC who initially underwent therapy between 2000 and 2010 in a single tertiary center in Korea.

Gender-Dependent Reference Range of Serum Calcitonin Levels in Healthy Korean Adults.

Background: Serum calcitonin measurement contains various clinical and methodological aspects. Its reference level is wide and unclear despite sensitive calcitonin kits are available. This study aimed to identify the specific reference range in the healthy Korean adults.

Five-year follow-up results of thermal ablation for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomas: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Confidence in long-term treatment results of thermal ablation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is required in comparison with active surveillance. The objective of this meta-analysis is to report 5-year follow-up results of thermal ablation for PTMC.

Methods: Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched through May 30, 2020, for studies reporting outcomes in patients with PTMC treated with thermal ablation and followed up for at least 5 years.

Genetic Profiles of Aggressive Variants of Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas.

Aggressive variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have been described with increasing frequency and are associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. However, limited data exist on the comprehensive genetic profile of these variants. We performed targeted next-generation sequencing in 36 patients with aggressive variants of PTC and compared it to PTC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project and poorly differentiated thyroid cancers (PDTCs)/anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATCs) from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Mitofusin-2 modulates the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in thyroid cancer progression.

Here, we investigated the potential roles of Mitofusin-2 (MFN2) in thyroid cancer progression. MFN2 regulates mitochondrial fusion/division in cells and plays an important role in various aspects of cell metabolism. MFN2 might involve in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and differentiation, and it might play a role as a tumor suppressor in carcinogenesis.

Clinical Outcomes after Early and Delayed Radioiodine Remnant Ablation in Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The clinical outcomes of delayed radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) therapy in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the interval between total thyroidectomy (TT) and RRA therapy in patients with low-risk PTC.

Methods: We included 526 patients who underwent TT and RRA for low-risk PTC with a primary tumor size of >1 cm between 2000 and 2012.