Risk of malignancy in Thy3 thyroid nodules.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Cytopathology

Background:

• Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy.
• Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the primary diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules.
• Thyroid cytology grading includes Thy1 to Thy5, with Thy3 presenting diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the malignancy risk associated with Thy3 cytology.
• To provide clear risk information for preoperative patient counseling.
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC for thyroid nodules.

Main Methods:

• A study of 101 patients with preoperative Thy3 cytology.
• All patients underwent diagnostic hemithyroidectomy.
• Histological results were compared with preoperative cytology findings.

Main Results:

• The overall malignancy rate was 30.7% (including incidental micro-carcinomas) or 20.8% (excluding them).
• Of 101 patients, 70 had benign histology, 10 had incidental micro-carcinomas, and 21 had macro-carcinomas.
• The average age at diagnosis was 52.4 years.

Conclusions:

• Malignancy rates for Thy3 cytology align with existing literature.
• Clear communication of these risks is crucial for preoperative patient counseling.
• Biomarker advancements may enhance preoperative diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary surgeries.