EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers

Background. The classification of nodules by Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) is important in guiding management. Whether sensitivity in identifying thyroid cancers varies with thyroid cancer phenotype remains unclarified. Methods. The ultrasound (US) characteristics of nodules of...

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Main Authors: Tamas Solymosi, Laszlo Hegedüs, Miklos Bodor, Endre V. Nagy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924041
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author Tamas Solymosi
Laszlo Hegedüs
Miklos Bodor
Endre V. Nagy
author_facet Tamas Solymosi
Laszlo Hegedüs
Miklos Bodor
Endre V. Nagy
author_sort Tamas Solymosi
collection DOAJ
description Background. The classification of nodules by Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) is important in guiding management. Whether sensitivity in identifying thyroid cancers varies with thyroid cancer phenotype remains unclarified. Methods. The ultrasound (US) characteristics of nodules of 26,908 nodular goiter patients were recorded. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) was performed in all nodules >1 cm irrespective of US findings (n = 25,025) and in nodules between 5 mm and 10 mm with suspicious US characteristics (n = 1,883). Of the 3281 operated cases, 221, 30, and 23 were papillary (PTC), follicular (FTC), and medullary (MTC) cancers, respectively. The US-based indication of FNA, as defined by EU-TIRADS scores, combined with lesion size, was calculated. This study design is unique in avoiding the common selection bias when TIRADS’ sensitivity is tested in a cohort selected for FNA and surgery based on the same US characteristics on which TIRADS is based. Results. The EU-TIRADS score influences decision of FNA in the 10–20 mm range. In such nodules (n = 118), the number of suspicious features (marked hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, irregular shape, and irregular border) per lesion was lower in FTC (0.7 ± 0.6) than in PTC (1.7 ± 1.0) or MTC (1.8 ± 0.7; p<0.02), resulting in EU-TIRADS scores of 4.1 ± 0.6, 4.8 ± 0.3, and 4.9 ± 0.2, respectively (p<0.01). The EU-TIRADS-based FNA indication rate was lower in FTC (55.5%) compared to PTC (85.0%) and MTC (88.9%) (p=0.02). Conclusions. EU-TIRADS-defined suspicious US features are less common in FTC than in PTC and MTC. Therefore, a substantial number of FTCs in the 10–20 mm range escape surgery.
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spelling doaj-art-f7a879a37d9f4092845eec410298c3fc2025-02-03T05:48:11ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99240419924041EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid CancersTamas Solymosi0Laszlo Hegedüs1Miklos Bodor2Endre V. Nagy3Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinic, Bugat Hospital, 20 Dozsa u, H-3200 Gyöngyös, HungaryDepartment of Endocrinology, Kløvervænget 6, 5.sal, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, DenmarkDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 98 Nagyerdei krt, H-4032 Debrecen, HungaryDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 98 Nagyerdei krt, H-4032 Debrecen, HungaryBackground. The classification of nodules by Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) is important in guiding management. Whether sensitivity in identifying thyroid cancers varies with thyroid cancer phenotype remains unclarified. Methods. The ultrasound (US) characteristics of nodules of 26,908 nodular goiter patients were recorded. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) was performed in all nodules >1 cm irrespective of US findings (n = 25,025) and in nodules between 5 mm and 10 mm with suspicious US characteristics (n = 1,883). Of the 3281 operated cases, 221, 30, and 23 were papillary (PTC), follicular (FTC), and medullary (MTC) cancers, respectively. The US-based indication of FNA, as defined by EU-TIRADS scores, combined with lesion size, was calculated. This study design is unique in avoiding the common selection bias when TIRADS’ sensitivity is tested in a cohort selected for FNA and surgery based on the same US characteristics on which TIRADS is based. Results. The EU-TIRADS score influences decision of FNA in the 10–20 mm range. In such nodules (n = 118), the number of suspicious features (marked hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, irregular shape, and irregular border) per lesion was lower in FTC (0.7 ± 0.6) than in PTC (1.7 ± 1.0) or MTC (1.8 ± 0.7; p<0.02), resulting in EU-TIRADS scores of 4.1 ± 0.6, 4.8 ± 0.3, and 4.9 ± 0.2, respectively (p<0.01). The EU-TIRADS-based FNA indication rate was lower in FTC (55.5%) compared to PTC (85.0%) and MTC (88.9%) (p=0.02). Conclusions. EU-TIRADS-defined suspicious US features are less common in FTC than in PTC and MTC. Therefore, a substantial number of FTCs in the 10–20 mm range escape surgery.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924041
spellingShingle Tamas Solymosi
Laszlo Hegedüs
Miklos Bodor
Endre V. Nagy
EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
International Journal of Endocrinology
title EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
title_full EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
title_fullStr EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
title_full_unstemmed EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
title_short EU-TIRADS-Based Omission of Fine-Needle Aspiration and Cytology from Thyroid Nodules Overlooks a Substantial Number of Follicular Thyroid Cancers
title_sort eu tirads based omission of fine needle aspiration and cytology from thyroid nodules overlooks a substantial number of follicular thyroid cancers
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9924041
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