Risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules with indeterminate (THY3f) cytology

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Cytopathology

Background:

• Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is crucial for thyroid nodule assessment.
• Indeterminate nodules (THY3a-f) require histological evaluation for definitive diagnosis.
• This study focuses on THY3f nodules to guide management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the malignancy risk in patients with THY3f thyroid FNAC.
• To identify potential risk factors for malignancy in THY3f nodules.
• To provide evidence for the management of THY3f thyroid nodules.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of thyroid FNAC cases classified as THY3f or THY3a.
• Analysis of clinical, operative, and outcomes data.
• Comparison of malignancy rates between THY3f and THY3a categories.

Main Results:

• 200 patients had THY3f cytology; 31 (20.4%) were diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma.
• Malignancy was found in 4 of 53 patients (7.5%) with THY3a cytology.
• No significant association was found between malignancy and previously suggested risk factors like gender, tumor size, or age.

Conclusions:

• Approximately 20% of THY3f thyroid nodules harbor malignancy, a significantly higher rate than THY3a.
• The study supports current recommendations for surgical management of THY3f nodules.
• No additional risk factors were identified to stratify THY3f nodule management.