Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
A Swin Transformer-Based Model for Thyroid Nodule Detection in Ultrasound Images
Published on: April 21, 2023
Diagnostic use of molecular markers in the evaluation of thyroid nodules
Matthew I Kim1, Erik K Alexander
1Thyroid Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, The Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Objective:
To describe the molecular markers thus far evaluated for use in the care of patients with clinically relevant thyroid nodules.
Methods:
We review the currently available molecular tests that have been applied to patients with thyroid nodules.
Results:
In the United States, approximately 450 000 diagnostic fine-needle aspirates will be performed on patients with thyroid nodules this year in an effort to identify thyroid cancer. Unfortunately, this test is imprecise and, at times, inaccurate. Because of this, novel diagnostic testing modalities have been pursued, the most promising of which involve molecular analysis of thyroid tissue. Immunohistochemical staining, analysis for mutations and gene rearrangements, and microarray analysis have all been investigated with regard to their performance characteristics in targeted patient populations.
Conclusions:
Molecular tests to evaluate thyroid nodules demonstrate variable performance characteristics. Further evaluation of available and emerging molecular tests will necessarily rely on prospective real-world test validation in the clinical setting.
