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Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis
Published on: February 9, 2024
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Association of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with thyroid cancer
G Azizi1, J M Keller2, M Lewis2
1Wilmington Endocrinology1717 Shipyard Boulevard, Suite 220, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403, USAWilmington Pathology Associates1915 South 17th Street, Suite 100, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, USAChildren's Hospital Colorado13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USACarolina Arthritis1710 South 17th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401, USAUniversity of Connecticut Health Center263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA azizi@wilmingtonendo.com.
Endocrine-Related Cancer
|September 14, 2014
Summary
Elevated antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels and higher TSH indicate increased thyroid cancer risk in patients with thyroid nodules. Hashimoto
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid.
- Thyroid nodules (TNs) are common, and distinguishing benign from malignant is crucial.
- The relationship between HT and thyroid cancer (TC) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis markers and thyroid cancer risk in patients with thyroid nodules.
- To identify predictors of thyroid cancer in individuals with thyroid nodules.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 2023 adult patients with 2669 thyroid nodules (≥5mm).
- Blood tests included TSH, free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb).
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and pathological analysis of thyroidectomy tissue for TC diagnosis; logistic regression for analysis.
Main Results:
- 233 patients (248 nodules) had thyroid cancer.
- Elevated serum TgAb concentration was significantly associated with TC (20.6% vs 10.2%, P≤0.0001).
- TgAb (OR=2.24) and TSH ≥1 μIU/ml (OR=1.49) were independent predictors of TC. TPOAb was not associated with TC.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum TgAb and TSH ≥1 μIU/ml are independent predictors for thyroid cancer in patients with thyroid nodules.
- The association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and thyroid cancer is specific to antithyroglobulin antibodies.
- These findings aid in risk stratification for thyroid cancer in patients with thyroid nodules.
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