Objective To evaluate extrathyroidal extension (ETE) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) with three-dimensional tomographic ultrasound imaging (3D-TUI). Methods A total of 97 thyroid nodules of 79 patients with PTMC treated in PUMC Hospital from February 2016 to January 2018 were included in this study.Two ultrasound experts performed independent blinded assessment of the relationship between thyroid nodules and thyroid capsule by two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) and 3D-TUI.The results of 2D-US and 3D-TUI in evaluating ETE were compared with intraoperative findings and postoperative histological and pathological results. Results Among the 97 nodules,54 (55.7%) nodules had ETE.The diagnostic sensitivity (68.5% vs.37.0%;χ²=10.737,P=0.002),accuracy (74.5% vs.56.7%;χ²=6.686,P=0.015),and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve[0.761 (95%CI=0.677-0.845) vs.0.592 (95%CI=0.504-0.680);Z=3.500,P<0.001] of 3D-TUI were higher than those of 2D-US.However,3D-TUI and 2D-US showed no significant difference in the specificity (84.1% vs.81.4%;χ²=0.081,P=0.776),negative predictive value (67.9% vs.50.7%;χ²=3.645,P=0.066),or positive predictive value (84.1% vs.71.4%;χ²=1.663,P=0.240). Conclusion Compared with 2D-US,3D-TUI demonstrates increased diagnostic efficiency for ETE of PTMC.
Humans ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology* ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

The presence of lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma usually occurs in the internal jugular and paratracheal space on the side of the lesion. For this reason, metastasis to the retropharyngeal lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma is rare. We currently experienced two cases of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma. Both patients had a history of total thyroidectomy and ipsilateral neck dissection and had undergone retropharyngeal lymph node dissection via transoral approach after the diagnosis of retropharyngeal node metastasis. We suggest that the metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes can be successfully removed through transoral apparoach. The diagnosis of this rare lymph node metastasis requires sufficient imaging studies such as MRI, CT or PET-CT as well as appropriate history taking and physical examination.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neck Dissection ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Physical Examination ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVES: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been used for the diagnosis of indeterminate results in fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. However, the role of IHC in core needle biopsy (CNB) is not clear and the efficacy of testing for molecular markers following CNB has not been evaluated. The aim of this study is to compare the role of IHC staining in CNB with that in FNA when examining thyroid nodules and to compare the sensitivity and usefulness of different molecular markers. METHODS: Consecutive cases of thyroid FNA and CNB accompanied by IHC from 2004 to 2014 were included in this study with retrospective review of medical record. The rate of remaining nondiagnostic result (unsatisfactory, atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance [AUS/FLUS]) and rate of strong expression of each molecular marker according to the diagnosis were evaluated. RESULTS: IHC was more frequently performed in CNB with multiple molecular markers compared to FNA (38.1% vs. 2.8%, 3 or 4 markers [Gal-3, HBME-1, CK19, and CD56] vs. 1 marker [Gal-3]). In the CNB group, 11.3% remained as AUS/FLUS after IHC, and the rate remaining nondiagnostic was significantly less than in the FNA group (42.9%). Gal-3 and CK19 showed higher specificity and expressed mainly in conventional type of papillary carcinoma and HBME-1 showed higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of carcinoma with expression in both conventional type and follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSION: With these data, we could conclude that IHC was more effective following CNB than following FNA.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

BACKGROUND: In the present multi-institutional study, the prevalence and clinicopathologic characteristics of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) were evaluated among Korean patients who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).METHODS: Data from 18,819 patients with PTC from eight university hospitals between January 2012 and February 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Pathology reports of all PTCs and slides of potential NIFTP cases were reviewed. The strict criterion of no papillae was applied for the diagnosis of NIFTP. Due to assumptions regarding misclassification of NIFTP as non-PTC tumors, the lower boundary of NIFTP prevalence among PTCs was estimated. Mutational analysis for BRAF and three RAS isoforms was performed in 27 randomly selected NIFTP cases.RESULTS: The prevalence of NIFTP was 1.3% (238/18,819) of all PTCs when the same histologic criteria were applied for NIFTP regardless of the tumor size but decreased to 0.8% (152/18,819) when tumors ≥1 cm in size were included. The mean follow-up was 37.7 months and no patient with NIFTP had evidence of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, or disease recurrence during the follow-up period. A difference in prevalence of NIFTP before and after NIFTP introduction was not observed. BRAF(V600E) mutation was not found in NIFTP. The mutation rate for the three RAS genes was 55.6% (15/27).CONCLUSIONS: The low prevalence and indolent clinical outcome of NIFTP in Korea was confirmed using the largest number of cases to date. The introduction of NIFTP may have a small overall impact in Korean practice.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, ras ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Mutation Rate ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Protein Isoforms ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the impact of thyroid-nodule size on the malignancy risk differs according to the ultrasonography (US) patterns of nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a post hoc analysis using data from the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) multicenter retrospective study which included 2000 consecutive thyroid nodules (≥ 1 cm) with final diagnoses. A total of 2000 consecutive thyroid nodules from 1802 patients (1387 women and 613 men; mean age, 51.2 ± 12.2 years) were enrolled in this study. The malignancy risk of the nodules was assessed according to the nodule size and US patterns (Korean-TIRADS). RESULTS: Overall, the malignancy risk did not increase as nodules enlarged. In high-suspicion nodules, the malignancy rate had no association with nodule size (p = 0.467), whereas in intermediate- or low-suspicion nodules there was a trend toward an increasing malignancy risk as the nodule size increased (p = 0.004 and 0.002, respectively). The malignancy rate of large nodules (≥ 3 cm) was higher than that of small nodules (< 3 cm) in intermediate-suspicion nodules (40.3% vs. 22.6%, respectively; p = 0.001) and low-suspicion nodules (11.3% vs. 7.0%, respectively; p = 0.035). There was a trend toward a decreasing risk and proportion of papillary carcinoma and an increasing risk and proportion of follicular carcinoma or other malignant tumors as nodule size increased (p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The impact of nodule size on the malignancy risk differed according to the US pattern. A large nodule size (≥ 3 cm) showed a higher malignancy risk than smaller nodules in intermediate- and low-suspicion nodules.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

Recent guidelines for the treatment of thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer include active surveillance as an alternative option for the treatment of low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). PTMC is defined as having a tumor diameter of ≤1 cm, and low-risk PTMC is defined as PTMC without currently known risk factors (e.g., metastases, local invasion, or cytologic evidence of aggressive disease). Some researchers have suggested that active surveillance can be the first-line treatment of low risk PTMC based on reports showing that the oncological outcomes of active surveillance and immediate surgery were similarly excellent and that immediate surgery can occasionally be accompanied by surgical complications. Nonetheless, many concerns still exist about the full implementation of active surveillance in current clinical practice because the biology of PTMC still has not been fully elucidated and there is little evidence regarding the long-term prognosis of active surveillance. In this review, we discuss the current concept of low-risk PTMC and its treatment modalities, comparing immediate surgery and active surveillance in terms of clinical applications, prognosis, adverse effects, quality of life, and medical costs. This review aims to enable healthcare providers to provide patients with well-balanced information about immediate surgery and active surveillance for the treatment of low-risk PTMC.
Biology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule

Objective To explored the risk factors of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) by analyzing the data from the Surveillance,Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.Methods The data of 31 017 patients with PTMC in the SEER database from 2002 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to explore the associations of the factors and the risk of lymph node metastasis in PTMC.Results Multivariate analysis revealed that male (OR=0.673,95%CI=0.605-0.748,P=0.001),age<55 years (OR=0.683,95%CI =0.623-0.749,P=0.001),tumor size >5 mm(OR=1.172,95%CI=1.153-1.191,P=0.001),follicular variant (OR=0.641,95%CI =0.574-0.716,P=0.001),and multifocal (OR=1.662,95%CI=1.516-1.821,P=0.001) and external thyroid extension (ETE) (capsular invasion OR=1.232,95%CI=1.183-1.543,P=0.001;minor invasion OR=2.119,95%CI=1.377-3.263,P=0.001;and gross invasion OR=2.546,95%CI=2.218-2.921,P=0.001) were significantly associated with central lymph node metastasis (CLNM). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor size >5 mm(OR=1.112,95%CI =1.091-1.133,P=0.001),male (OR=0.36,95%CI=0.322-0.401,P=0.001),age<55 years (OR=0.503,95%CI=0.453-0.559,P=0.001),follicular variant (OR=0.625,95%CI =0.549-0.711,P=0.001),multifocal (OR=2.265,95%CI =2.039-2.517,P=0.001),ETE (capsular invasion OR=2.105,95%CI=1.681-2.637,P=0.001;minor invasion OR=4.601,95%CI=3.994-5.300,P=0.001;and gross invasion OR=7.093,95%CI=4.910-10.246,P=0.001),and distant metastasis (OR=11.948,95%CI=7.523-18.975,P=0.001) were significantly associated with lateral lymph node metastasis.Conclusions Male,young age(<55 years),large tumor(>5 mm),follicular variant-PTMC,ETE,and multifocality are the risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis. Distant metastasis is associated with lateral lymph node metastasis. For patients at high risk of PTMC,prophylactic neck lymph node dissection is recommended.
Carcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; SEER Program ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; pathology

PURPOSE: A papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) measures 1 cm or less in diameter. The diagnosis, and thus the apparent incidence, of PTMC has recently increased owing to an increase in the detection of subclinical small and low-risk carcinomas with ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology. However, central neck lymph node metastasis (CLNM) can occur in patients with PTMC. We evaluated the factors influencing CLNM in patients with PTMC. METHODS: We reviewed medical records including clinical information and pathologic reports, and analyzed 622 patients with PTMC who underwent thyroid surgery from January 2002 to December 2012. RESULTS: CLNM was detected in 119 patients (19.1%) of the 622 with PTMC. Lymph node metastasis occurred more frequently in males (P=0.025), and those with bilateral tumors (P=0.016), more than two tumors (P=0.035), tumor size greater than 5 mm (P<0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (P=0.024). There were no statistically significant differences in age and capsular invasion. Multivariate analysis showed that significant factors affecting lymph node metastasis included age at operation (odds ratio [OR]=0.647, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.422∼0.990, P=0.045), sex (OR=0.489, 95% CI=0.268∼0.891, P=0.020), tumor size (OR=3.034, 95% CI=1.761∼5.224, P<0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (OR=15.036, 95% CI=1.450∼155.911, P=0.023). CONCLUSION: Age less than 45 years, male sex, tumor size greater than 5 mm, and lymphovascular invasion were risk factors associated with CLNM.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck* ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Gland* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) is a category that encompasses a heterogeneous group of thyroid aspiration cytology. It has been reclassified into two subgroups based on the cytomorphologic features: AUS with cytologic atypia and AUS with architectural atypia. The nuclear characteristics of AUS with cytologic atypia need to be clarified by comparing to those observed in Hashimoto thyroiditis and benign follicular lesions. METHODS: We selected 84 cases of AUS with histologic follow-up, 24 cases of Hashimoto thyroiditis, and 26 cases of benign follicular lesions. We also subcategorized the AUS group according to the follow-up biopsy results into a papillary carcinoma group and a nodular hyperplasia group. The differences in morphometric parameters, including the nuclear areas and perimeters, were compared between these groups. RESULTS: The AUS group had significantly smaller nuclear areas than the Hashimoto thyroiditis group, but the nuclear perimeters were not statistically different. The AUS group also had significantly smaller nuclear areas than the benign follicular lesion group; however, the AUS group had significantly longer nuclear perimeters. The nuclear areas in the papillary carcinoma group were significantly smaller than those in the nodular hyperplasia group; however, the nuclear perimeters were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: We found the AUS group to be a heterogeneous entity, including histologic follow-up diagnoses of papillary carcinoma and nodular hyperplasia. The AUS group showed significantly greater nuclear irregularities than the other two groups. Utilizing these features, nuclear morphometry could lead to improvements in the accuracy of the subjective diagnoses made with thyroid aspiration cytology.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hashimoto Disease ; Hyperplasia ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUNDThe clinical behavior and management of poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) are very different from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). By comparing the clinical and ultrasonographic features between the two tumors, we proposed to provide more possibilities for recognizing PDTC before treatment.

METHODSThe data of 13 PDTCs and 39 age- and gender-matched PTCs in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between December 2003 and September 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and ultrasonic features between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe frequencies of family history of carcinoma, complication with other thyroid lesions, lymph node metastases, recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, and distant metastases were higher in PDTCs (30.8%, 61.6%, 69.2%, 23.1%, and 46.2%, respectively) than those in PTCs (2.6%, 23.1%, 25.6%, 2.6%, and 2.6%, respectively) (P < 0.05). The mortality rate of PDTCs was greatly higher than PTCs (P < 0.01). Conventional ultrasound showed that the size of PDTCs was larger than that of PTCs (3.1 ± 1.9 cm vs. 1.7 ± 1.0 cm). Clear margins and rich and/or irregular blood flow were found in 92.3% of PDTCs, which differed substantially from PTCs (51.7% and 53.8%, respectively) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPDTC is more aggressive and its mortality rate is higher than PTCs. Accordingly, more attention should be given to suspicious thyroid cancer nodules that show large size, regular shape, and rich blood flow signals on ultrasound to exclude the possibility of PDTCs.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Ultrasonography