Interobserver variability in the fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of follicular lesions of the thyroid gland

OBJECTIVE: To study the degree of interobserver variability in the interpretation of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of the thyroid, specifically in the categorization of follicular lesions (FLs), and to examine the accuracy of FNA diagnosis of FLs with surgical follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty cases were chosen with surgical follow-up and a cytologic diagnosis of either FL (21) or follicular neoplasms (29). Representative slides were selected for each case and circulated to 4 pathologists for review. Interobserver variability was assessed using pairwise K statistics. Accuracy of the cytologic diagnoses in predicting a nonneoplastic or neoplastic outcome was determined by measuring sensitivity and specificity. Likelihood ratios and receiver operator characteristic curves were calculated for each reviewer. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement between the 4 pathologists was fair to substantial (K scores, 0.199-0.617). The accuracy of the 4 pathologists' cytologic diagnoses in predicting the surgical outcome was 77-90% for follicular neoplasms and 53-74% for nonneoplastic diagnoses. CONCLUSION: FLs present diagnostic difficulties as to cytologic categorization. A wide range of interobserver agreement was found in this study of 4 pathologists from the same institution. Some pathologists make greater use of intermediate categories, such as FL, favor nonneoplastic, or FL, favor neoplastic, whereas others show more definitive categorization into benign and neoplastic groups.     

Diagnostic utility of galectin-3 in aspirates of thyroid follicular lesions

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of galectin-3 in various thyroid follicular lesions, including diffuse hyperplasia, nodular hyperplasia, and benign and malignant follicular neoplasms, to clarify the diagnostic utility of galectin-3 in aspirates of follicular lesions. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 146 follicular lesions diagnosed cytologically, obtained from patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for either benign or malignant nodules, were evaluated using Papanicolaou-stained slides and cell blocks with galectin-3 immunostaining. We primarily categorized the aspirated specimens as benign, indeterminate or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm based on cellularity, architectural arrangement of the follicular cells and presence or absence of colloid. Galectin-3 immunostaining was evaluated according to the proportion and intensity of positively stained cells. Cytologic diagnoses were correlated with the results of galectin-3 and categorized into 3 groups (benign, indeterminate for malignancy, suspicious for malignancy) and compared with the corresponding histologic diagnoses. RESULTS: When the histologic diagnoses were compared with the cytologic diagnoses, the accuracy in the distinction between benign and malignant cases was 79.5% except for 8 cytologically and 3 histologically indeterminate cases. Except for 11 indeterminate cases, there were 18 (12.3%) discrepant cases. False positive cases included 8 of 62 (12.9%) nodular hyperplasias and 1 of 42 (2.4%) follicular adenomas. Of 9 false negative cases, 4 minimally invasive carcinomas and 2 widely invasive carcinomas were included. Three follicular tumors of uncertain malignant potential were cytologically categorized as malignant, and all cases showed positivity for galectin-3. CONCLUSION: Galectin-3 could be used as a useful supplementary marker for cytologic diagnosis, although it was not an absolute marker in determining whether a lesion was benign or malignant.     

甲状腺结节良恶性的彩色多普勒超声特征及其诊断价值分析

目的:研究甲状腺结节良恶性的彩色多普勒超声特征及其诊断价值。方法:选取从2016年3月~2019年2月于我院接受手术治疗的甲状腺疾病患者300例作为研究对象,均予以彩超检查,比较甲状腺良恶性结节的超声特征(主要包括直径、钙化情况、边界、回声、血流状况)。以病理活检结果为金标准,分析彩超诊断甲状腺结节良恶性的敏感性、特异性以及准确度。对比甲状腺良恶性结节的血流分型情况以及各项血流动力学参数。结果:恶性结节超声特征直径≥2 cm、有钙化、边界模糊、无回声/低回声、血流丰富人数占比均高于良性结节(均P<0.05)。以手术病理组织活检结果作为金标准,彩色多普勒超声诊断甲状腺结节的敏感性、特异性以及准确度分别为97.73%、86.11%、96.33%。甲状腺良性结节血流分型为Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型人数占比高于恶性结节,而Ⅲ型、Ⅳ型人数占比低于恶性结节(均P<0.05)。甲状腺良性结节的收缩期峰值血流速度(PSV)、阻力指数(RI)均低于恶性结节,而舒张末期血流速度(EDV)高于恶性结节(均P<0.05)。结论:彩色多普勒超声对甲状腺结节良恶性的鉴别价值较高,且具有较高的敏感性、特异性以及准确度,可为甲状腺良恶性结节的早期诊断、临床治疗提供重要的参考依据。     

高频彩色多普勒超声对甲状腺结节的临床诊断价值

目的:探讨彩色多普勒超声对甲状腺结节的临床诊断价值。方法:在我院经手术病理确诊的甲状腺结节患者142例中,使用彩色多普勒超声进行检查,记录结节的单多发类型、有无边界、有无声晕、内部回声、有无钙化和血流分布情况。结果:142例甲状腺结节患者中,有96例良性,46例恶性。超声诊断结果与病理结果比较,其准确性、灵敏度、特异度分别为81.69%、91.67%和79.66%。结论:甲状腺结节使用彩色多普勒超声检查,能获得很高的确诊率。     

超声多技术联合在良恶性甲状腺结节鉴别诊断中的应用价值

摘要 目的：分析超声剪切波弹性成像（SWE）、超声造影（CEUS）、声触诊组织成像及定量（VTIQ）、促甲状腺激素（TSH）多技术联合在甲状腺结节良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法：选取宁德市医院甲状腺不确定性质结节患者120例,以病理结果为金标准将其分为良性组和恶性组,分析两组SWE、CEUS、VTIQ各影像参数及术前TSH水平差异,绘制受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）评估上述技术联合对甲状腺结节良恶性的鉴别诊断价值。结果：120例患者共检出128个结节,其中良性47个,恶性81个;恶性组SWE中弹性模量值（Emax、Emin、Emean）均大于良性组（P＜0.01）;恶性组、良性组在CEUS中强化差异有显著性（P＜0.05）;VTIQ中恶性组剪切波速度（SWV）最大值、最小值、平均值均大于良性组（P＜0.01）;恶性组患者术前TSH水平高于良性组（P＜0.01）;ROC曲线分析显示,SWE、CEUS、VTIQ、TSH联合检测诊断甲状腺结节良恶性的效能最高,其灵敏度、特异度、准确度、曲线下面积（AUC）分别为85.19%、89.36%、86.72%、0.873。结论：SWE、CEUS、VTIQ、TSH联合对区分甲状腺结节良恶性有较高价值。     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules: how accurate is it and what are the causes of discrepant cases?

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is widely accepted as the most accurate, sensitive, specific and cost-effective diagnostic procedure in the assessment of thyroid nodules and helps to select people preoperatively for surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of thyroid FNAC in our institution and to determine the reasons for discrepancies between the cytological and histological diagnosis. We evaluated the cytological and histological results of 254 FNACs obtained from 231 patients who underwent subsequent thyroid surgery. All of the material was blindly reviewed for quality control, by one experienced cytopathologist. All FNACs were carried out under ultrasound guidance. The cytological diagnosis was classified as benign, suspicious, malignant or unsatisfactory. The definitive histological study showed benign lesions in 195 of the 231 patients (84%). A benign diagnosis based on FNAC was correct in 105 of the 108 benign cases (97%). FNACs diagnosed as 'suspicious' resulted in a distribution of 49 benign (79%) and 13 malignant (21%) diagnoses. FNAC showed malignancy in 34 cases (13%) and in only one case did the final histology differ from cytology (correlation 97%). The percentage of FNACs that were inadequate for diagnosis was 20%. Review of cytological and histological slides did not lead to any change in the original diagnosis. Our study revealed a cytological-histological discrepancy (2%) in only 4 out of 231 cases over a period of 10 years, due to either a diagnostic or sampling error.     

Canadian survey of thyroid cancer

We report the results of a multicentre retrospective chart review of 2214 patients with thyroid cancer registered at 13 radiotherapy centres between 1958 and 1978. The data analysed included sex, age at the time of diagnosis, pathological diagnosis, extent of disease before treatment, types of treatment and their complications, and the rates of recurrence and survival up to 24 years after diagnosis. Although papillary cancers were most common, anaplastic and miscellaneous tumours were more frequent than expected, which reflects the type of patients referred by endocrinologists and surgeons to radiotherapy centres. There were marked differences in patterns of referral to the centres. Some patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancers died of these cancers up to 20 years after diagnosis. The clinical manifestations, treatment and outcome of the rarer types of thyroid malignant tumours were of particular interest. The influence of age at the time of diagnosis on survival rates for patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer was highly significant, indicating much more aggressive behaviour of these cancers in older patients, particularly those beyond the age of 60 years. A more detailed analysis of tumour subtypes should provide new information on their natural history and lead to better management.     

钼靶和超声检查在乳腺癌临床诊断的准确性的比较分析

摘要 目的：比较与分析钼靶和超声检查在乳腺癌临床诊断的准确性。方法：2018年8月到2021年1月选择在本院进行诊治的乳腺肿瘤患者110例作为研究对象,所有患者都给予钼靶和超声检查,记录影像学特征并判断诊断价值。结果：在110例患者中,病理诊断为乳腺良性肿瘤76例、乳腺癌34例。恶性组钼靶的分叶征、钙化、大角征、毛刺征等比例高于良性组,病灶大小也高于良性组(P<0.05)。恶性组超声的形态不规则、边缘不光整、高回声晕、回声衰减、微钙化等比例高于良性组(P<0.05)。钼靶乳腺影像报告及数据系统(Breast imaging report and data system,BI-RADS)判断为乳腺良性肿瘤72例,乳腺癌38例;超声BI-RADS判断为乳腺良性肿瘤75例,乳腺癌35例,钼靶鉴别诊断乳腺癌的敏感性为93.4%,特异性为97.1%,准确性为94.5%;超声鉴别诊断乳腺癌的敏感性为98.7%,特异性为100.0%,准确性为99.1%。多因素logistic回归分析显示病灶大小、分叶征、回声衰减、毛刺征为导致误诊的重要因素(P<0.05)。结论：乳腺癌在钼靶和超声检查中都有明显的征象特征,超声诊断的准确性更高,病灶大小、分叶征、回声衰减、毛刺征为影响诊断效果的很重要因素。     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of intrathoracic masses.

During a 3.5-year period (January 1, 1987, to June 30, 1990) 420 percutaneous fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies were performed on 390 patients (309 males, 81 females) suffering from one or more intrathoracic, radiologically visible lesions. Aspirations were carried out using 21- or 23-gauge Chiba needles under fluoroscopic or computed tomographic control. The aspirates were used to make minibiopsies and cytologic smears. Diagnosis was possible in 373 cases (95.64%): on the first pass in 344 cases, on the second in 28 cases and on the third in 1. In 17 cases (4.36%) the aspirate was inadequate for diagnosis. There were complications in 10 cases (2.56%) (9 pneumothorax and 1 hemophtysis) requiring intensive care. The 373 percutaneous FNA biopsy diagnoses included 256 malignant tumors (68.63%), of which 234 were primary and 22 were secondary, and 117 benign lesions (31.37%), 5 of them neoplastic and 112 nonneoplastic. Three hundred two of 373 percutaneous FNA biopsy diagnoses were followed (80.96%). One hundred twenty-three follow-ups were histologic (40.73%), including secondary tumors, which could be compared with the primary histotype. Twenty-eight follow-ups were cytologic (9.27%), and 151 were clinical (50.00%), using progression of the disease or the beginning of chemoradiotherapy as a criterion for malignancy and a stable condition or regression of the lesion with nononcologic medical treatment as a criterion for benignity. Percutaneous FNA biopsy diagnoses were confirmed in 288 cases (221 true positives and 67 true negatives) and unconfirmed in 14 (1 false positive and 13 false negatives). Specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value and total diagnostic accuracy were, respectively, 98.52, 94.44, 83.75, 99.54 and 95.36%. The histologic typing accuracy of percutaneous FNA biopsy on 70 specimens of surgically removed malignant epithelial neoplasias was 70.00%. These results confirm that percutaneous FNA biopsy is a reliable method of diagnosing intrathoracic masses and reduces the need for diagnostic thoracotomy.     

Diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in histological grade 1 breast carcinomas: are we good enough?

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of both palpable and non-palpable breast carcinomas has a high accuracy and sensitivity in dedicated centres. It is generally thought that low-grade carcinomas have a distinctly lower sensitivity due to discrete cellular atypia that may be difficult to appreciate. Grade 1 carcinomas make up about 45% of screening-detected breast carcinomas and about 20% of symptomatic breast cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of grade 1 carcinomas and identify the critical features in the cytological diagnostic work-up of these tumours. Methods: There were FNAC smears from 494 histologically confirmed grade 1 carcinomas diagnosed during 1996–2004. The cytological diagnoses were compared with the histology. Results: A definitive malignant diagnosis (absolute sensitivity) was given in 382 cases (77.3%). Equivocal or suspicious diagnoses were given in 75 (15.2%), benign or probably benign (false negative) in 24 (4.8%). Thirteen cases (2.6%) were unsatisfactory. Complete sensitivity was 92.7%. Invasive ductal carcinomas comprised 81.3% of all cases; absolute sensitivity for these was 80.9%. Invasive lobular and tubular carcinomas comprised 7.3% and 5.9% of cases, respectively; absolute sensitivity for these diagnosis was 50.0% and 57.1%, respectively, significantly lower than for other subtypes (P ≤ 0.0001) whereas the difference for complete sensitivity was less but still significant (P = 0.017). Absolute and complete sensitivities were lower for tumours less than 1 cm size compared with more than 1 cm (P ≤ 0.00001). Conclusion: Preoperative FNAC diagnosis of grade 1 breast carcinoma has a high sensitivity, especially in ductal carcinomas. Invasive lobular and tubular carcinomas were less likely to receive a definite preoperative diagnosis. The main reason for not reaching a definitive malignant diagnosis was sampling error due to small tumours less than 1 cm in diameter, irrespective of tumour subtype.     

超声造影检查对早期甲状腺单发结节良恶性的鉴别诊断价值

目的:建立以甲状腺单发结节超声诊断为变量的回归模型,分析比较超声造影与常规超声检查对甲状腺单发结节良恶性的鉴别诊断价值。方法:选择来我院就诊的甲状腺单发结节患者274例,让所有患者均接受常规超声检查和超声造影检查,并手术后进行病理诊断,建立相应回归模型,评价超声造影对甲状腺单发性良恶性结节的鉴别诊断价值,为临床检查及治疗提供参考。结果:超声造影检查的良恶性检出率均优于常规超声检查。超声造影检查良性结节检出率为65.69%,恶性检出率为34.31%,敏感度96.70%,特异度95.65%,准确率96.35%,均优于常规超声检查。Logistic回归分析显示,钙化、达峰时间、增强程度及最大灌注强度以上四项特征出现的越多,待测的甲状腺结节越有可能是恶性结节。结论:超声造影对良、恶性甲状腺单发结节的鉴别具有重要的临床诊断意义。     

Potential diagnostic markers in nodular lesions of the thyroid gland: an immunohistochemical study

Aims: The differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules in routine practice can be problemmatic for both pathologists and clinicians. Effective treatment requires a determination of the biological nature of the lesions. For this reason, ancilliary diagnostic markers along with histological examination of the nodules may be useful. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of novel markers in the diagnosis of hyperplastic and neoplastic nodules. Methods: Forty eight thyroid lesions forming four diagnostic groups including adenomatous goiters (AS), follicular adenomas (FA), follicular (FC) and papillary carcinomas (PC) were examined using standard immunohistochemical methods. Monoclonal antibodies against galectin-3, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) -2 and -7 and endothelial markers CD31 and CD105 were used. Results: The cytoplasmatic expression of galectin-3 was positive in all cases of papillary carcinoma. Moreover, statistically significant differences between fused groups of benign (AS and FA) and malignant lesions (FC and PC) were found Fischer's exact test (p = 0.0001). No significant differences in cytoplasmic expression of MMPs -2 and -7 and in vascular density assessed by using of both endothelial markers between benign lesions and malignant tumors were revealed. Conclusions: Galectin-3 appears to be a useful marker in the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma only. The matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -7 are not helpful in distinguishing hyperplastic and neoplastic thyroid nodules. Endothelial markers do not appear to be suitable for thyroid differential diagnosis. A panel of antibodies in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodular lesions would seem most suitable and further studies with larger sets of patients are awaited.     

Algorithm for a DNA-cytophotometric diagnosis and grading of malignancy

An algorithm for processing data on nuclear DNA content obtained cytophotometrically was developed (1) to obtain an objective discrimination between benign and malignant lesions in conventional cytologic smears secondarily stained according to Feulgen and (2) to obtain an objective degree of tumor malignancy on a continuous scale of malignancy grades. Investigations in 258 malignant tumors (95 malignant lymphomas, 52 uterine cervix carcinomas, 28 prostate carcinomas, 18 breast carcinomas, 45 malignant bone tumors and 19 larynx carcinomas) and in 74 benign lesions in these organs yielded a diagnostic accuracy of no false-positive, no false-negative and 21% suspicious diagnoses. The probability that "suspicious" cases were malignant was 81%. The overall diagnostic accuracy for non-negative cases thus amounted to 100%. Results in 95 patients with different malignant lymphomas and in 16 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx demonstrated the prognostic validity of the DNA-grading system.     

Interpreting microbiopsies in cervical smears. A cytohistologic approach

OBJECTIVE: To assess interobserver variation in the diagnosis of thick tissue specimens (microbiopsies) in cytology smears and histologic sections taken from them, to evaluate the applicability of MIB-1 in histologic sections from microbiopsies and to evaluate whether processing microbiopsies in inconclusive smears has additional diagnostic value. STUDY DESIGN: Cytologic smears were selected in which there were diagnostic disagreements between pathologists and cytologists and microbiopsies were present. Interobserver variation among three pathologists and three cytologists in the diagnosis of these microbiopsies was investigated. The smears were processed for histologic sections, and interobserver variation between pathologist diagnoses were analyzed. An additional histologic slide stained for MIB-1 was used for consensus diagnosis. The consensus diagnosis was compared with available follow-up and its sensitivity and specificity determined. The value of applying the microbiopsy technique in slides diagnosed as inadequate or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) was analysed. RESULTS: From a series of 62,334 cervical smears, 49 with microbiopsies were selected. It was possible to derive histologic slides from 38 cases. Interobserver variability in the diagnosis of microbiopsies and histologic sections from them was moderate--kappa = .44 (SE = .06) and kappa = .44 (SE = .09), respectively. In the consensus meeting for all cases, a conclusive diagnosis was reached. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the consensus diagnosis and MIB-1 staining was r = .62. The sensitivity of the consensus diagnosis for the follow-up diagnosis was 71% and the specificity 60%. Diagnosis on approximately 50% of slides diagnosed as inadequate or ASCUS could be made. CONCLUSION: The histotechnical workup of microbiopsies is not difficult; however, their diagnosis can be a problem. Adequate diagnostic criteria are not available. Aided by MIB-1 staining, histologic sections from microbiopsies can be diagnosed, and the diagnoses correlated with follow-up in most cases. Processing of microbiopsies in smears with an inconclusive cytologic diagnosis or a diagnosis of ASCUS allowed correct diagnosis in 50% of cases in this study.     

超声弹性成像联合血清TSH、TT3、TT4在甲状腺结节良恶性诊断的临床价值研究

目的:探讨超声弹性成像联合血清促甲状腺激素(TSH)、总三碘甲状腺原氨酸(TT3)、总甲状腺素(TT4)在甲状腺结节良恶性诊断的临床价值。方法:选择2018年1月至2019年12月我院收治的甲状腺结节患者80例,根据病理检查结果分为良性结节组(48例),恶性结节组(32例),所有患者术前进行血清TSH、TT3、TT4及超声弹性成像检查,比较各组血清TSH、TT3、TT4水平及超声弹性成像评分,分析甲状腺结节患者血清TSH、TT3、TT4水平与超声弹性成像评分的相关性,超声弹性成像联合血清TSH、TT3、TT4在甲状腺恶性结节诊断的临床价值。结果:恶性结节组血清TSH、TT3、TT4水平显著高于良性结节组,超声弹性成像评分高分比例显著高于良性结节组(P<0.05),经Pearson相关分析显示,甲状腺结节患者血清TSH、TT3、TT4水平与超声弹性成像评分呈正相关(P<0.05)。以病理诊断为金标准,超声弹性成像联合血清TSH、TT3、TT4诊断甲状腺恶性结节的灵敏度为96.88%,特异度为93.75%,准确度为95.00%,灵敏度、特异度和准确度优于单独血清TSH、TT3、TT4检测和单独超声弹性成像检测。结论:超声弹性成像联合血清TSH、TT3、TT4对甲状腺结节良恶性的鉴别诊断具有较好的临床价值。     

超声造影和超声弹性成像在甲状腺良恶性结节鉴别诊断中的临床价值

目的:探讨超声造影与超声弹性成像鉴别诊断甲状腺良恶性结节的临床价值。方法:回顾性分析2011年1月-2013年6月我院经病理证实的128例甲状腺占位性病变患者(160个结节)的超声影像学资料,其中恶性结节68个,良性占位92个,评估实时超声造影与超声弹性成像诊断甲状腺良性与恶性结节的敏感性、特异性、准确率、阳性预测值及阴性预测值。结果:甲状腺良性结节超声造影检查以快进慢出、高增强为主;恶性结节以慢进快出、低增强为主。超声造影诊断甲状腺良、恶性结节的灵敏度、特异度与阳性预测值、阴性预测值及其诊断符合率分别为91.18%、92.39%、91.18%、93.41%、91.88%;超声弹性成像分别为89.71%、90.22%、87.14%、92.22%、90.00%,联合检查分别为94.12%、95.65%、94.12%、95.65%、95.00%,均高于常规超声的57.35%、72.83%、60.94%、69.79%、65.63%,比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);联合检查灵敏度、符合率明显高于超声造影与超声弹性成像单一检查,比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声造影与超声弹性成像在鉴别诊断甲状腺良恶性结节中均具有较高的应用价值,两种方法联合检查灵敏度及准确性更高。     

Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy as a Preoperative Procedure in Patients with Malignancy in Solitary and Multiple Thyroid Nodules

Background

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a recognized technique for the basic, preoperative cytological diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Aim of the Study

To analyze the accuracy of FNAB in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer in patients with solitary and multiple thyroid nodules and to compare the demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with thyroid carcinoma in solitary and multiple tumors.

Materials and Methods

The case records of 2,403 patients with solitary and multiple thyroid tumors treated consecutively between 2008 and 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. We selected 1,645 for further analysis. A solitary thyroid nodule was observed in 493 patients, and multiple nodules were detected in 1,152 patients. Further classification of the patients in these two groups was performed on the basis of the FNAB results, type of surgery performed and histopathology. TC was histopathologically confirmed in 166 patients, and benign disease was found in 1,479. The TC patients were assigned to the study group, and those with benign thyroid disease were placed into the control group. The study group was divided into two subgroups according to the presence of cancer in a single thyroid nodule or in multiple nodules. Malignancy in a solitary thyroid nodule was diagnosed in 98 (59.0%) patients, and cancer in multiple nodules was diagnosed in 68 (41.0%). Comparative analyses of the demographic, clinical and histopathological characteristics were performed for both subgroups. The following statistical analyses were performed: comparative characteristic of subgroups, ROC analysis for study group and subgroup of patients, and multivariable logistic regression analysis for study group.

Results

The rate of prediction of TC by FNAB was three times higher in the patients with a solitary thyroid nodule compared with those with multiple thyroid nodules and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). The rate of total thyroid resection and lack of necessity for reoperation were also significantly higher in the TC patients with a solitary nodule. The histopathological results showed that significantly more patients with a solitary nodule had advanced-stage TC (stage III or IV) and tumor progression (pT3 or pT4) (p = 0.002 for both). ROC analysis demonstrated that the overall accuracy of FNAB as a predictor of thyroid cancer presence was high, especially for the subgroup of patients with a solitary thyroid nodule (AUC = 0.958, p<0.0001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed that a positive FNAB result was the sole predictor of the performance of total resection in the TC study group (p<0.0001), while a negative FNAB result and the presence of a papillary cancer type were independent predictors of the risk of reoperation (p<0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

FNAB often produces false-negative results in patients with multiple malignant thyroid tumors, which results in reoperation in many cases. False-negative FNAB results are rare in patients with a solitary tumor. Because of the low predictive capacity of FNAB for thyroid cancer in patients with multiple thyroid tumors, total thyroid excision should be considered in most cases despite a "negative" (no malignant) FNAB result.     

Clinicopathological study of metallothionein immunohistochemical expression, in benign, borderline and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of cystein-rich metal-binding proteins, which are expressed in normal cells during fetal and postnatal life but also in a variety of human neoplasms. MT expression in human tumors has been linked to resistance to anticancer drugs and differentiation and progression in some types of tumors. This study examined the immunohistochemical expression of MTs in benign, borderline and malignant tumors of ovarian surface epithelium and the possible correlations with clinicopathological parameters and survival. A total of 87 cases with diagnosis of ovarian surface epithelial tumors were included. Specifically, 21 cases of benign cystadenomas (11 serous and 10 mucinous), 14 borderline (low malignant potential tumors, 8 mucinous and 6 serous) and 52 cases of ovarian cancer were analysed. Immunohistochemical expression of MT (cut-off level > 10% of tumor cells) was clearly associated with malignancy. A statistically significant correlation was found between the expression of MT in cancer cases and benign tumors (p < 0.0001) and cancer cases and borderline tumors p = 0.003. In cancer cases a difference was observed between grade I and III (p = 0.002). There was no correlation of MT overexpression with survival in the small number of ovarian carcinoma patients where it was analysed. MT constitutes a marker that characterizes aggressiveness and a high malignant potential in ovarian epithelial tumors. In diagnostic problems MT may help distinguish between benign, borderline and malignant tumors.     

常规高频超声联合超声弹性成像在甲状腺良恶性结节鉴别诊断中的应用价值

目的:研究常规高频超声与超声弹性成像在甲状腺结节良恶性鉴别诊断中的应用价值。方法:选择住院的甲状腺结节性疾病患者120例(146个甲状腺结节)。对患者进行常规高频超声和超声弹性成像检查,以术后病理检查为金标准,计算不同方法对甲状腺良恶性结节鉴别诊断的灵敏度、特异度、准确度。结果:120例患者,经手术病理检查证实有146个结节,其中良性结节98个,恶性结节48个。常规高频超声显示在形态、边界、包膜、内部回声、微钙化及RI值上,甲状腺良、恶性结节之间的差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。常规高频超声与弹性成像相比,诊断效能之间的差异无统计学意义(P0.05);常规高频超声与联合超声诊断的灵敏度(X~2=12.22,P0.01)、特异度(X~2=10.21,P0.01)、准确度(X~2=9.31,P0.01)相比较,差异具有统计学显著性;超声弹性成像与联合超声诊断灵敏度(X~2=6.51,P0.01)、特异度(X~2=5.82,P0.05)、准确度(X~2=4.56,P0.05)相比,差异具有统计学显著性。结论:常规高频超声联合超声弹性成像对甲状腺良恶性结节的诊断灵敏度和准确度高,值得进一步推广临床应用。     

超声检查联合MMP-2、MMP-9水平检测对甲状腺癌的诊断价值

目的:探讨超声检查联合基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)水平检测对甲状腺癌的诊断价值。方法:选取2014年6月-2016年6月我院收治的480例甲状腺结节患者作为研究对象,根据患者病情分为良性结节患者412例(良性结节组)和甲状腺癌患者68例(甲状腺癌组)。对所有患者进行超声检查与MMP-2、MMP-9水平检测,比较两组MMP-2、MMP-9水平,并比较超声检查与超声联合MMP-2、MMP-9水平检测对甲状腺癌的诊断价值。结果:甲状腺癌组MMP-2、MMP-9水平均显著高于良性结节组(P0.05),且甲状腺癌组超声弹性图像评分多为3~4分,良性结节组则多为0~2分,两组超声弹性成像评分所占比例比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);超声联合MMP-2、MMP-9诊断良性甲状腺结节的阴性率和甲状腺癌的阳性率均高于超声诊断,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);超声联合MMP-2、MMP-9的灵敏性、特异性、准确性分别为89.7%、85.2%、85.8%,均显著高于超声诊断的76.5%、68.7%、69.8%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:超声检查联合MMP-2、MMP-9水平检测能够有效鉴别甲状腺癌,其灵敏性、特异性、准确性均较高,值得在临床上推广。