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Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
Clinical-Pathological and Molecular Evaluation of 451 NIFTP Patients from a Single Referral Center
Paola Vignali1, Agnese Proietti1, Elisabetta Macerola1
1Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Background:
Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasms with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTPs) were introduced in thyroid pathology in 2016. NIFTPs are a group of follicular neoplasm with an indolent behaviour. In this study, we gathered a large retrospective cohort of NIFTPs and compared those presenting as solitary lesions and NIFTPs found in multifocal setting.
Methods:
A retrospective search of NIFTPs was performed, and the clinico-pathological features were recorded. For a subgroup of patients, pre-surgical ultrasound (US) evaluation, cytological diagnosis, and molecular analysis were available.
Results:
We collected 451 NIFTPs; 254 (56.3%) were truly solitary tumours, while 197 coexisted with one or more NIFTP/cancer. Contrasting unifocal and multifocal settings, NIFTPs size was the only significantly different parameter. Preoperatively, NIFTP nodules mostly showed low-risk US characteristics, indeterminate cytology and a RAS-like molecular profile.
Conclusion:
NIFTPs often coexist with collateral thyroid tumours. However, no clinical-pathological differences can be observed between solitary and "multifocal" NIFTPs. Despite the well-established clinical indolence of NIFTP, a careful monitoring of the contralateral lobe should not be excluded.
