Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review

Abstract Background The American Thyroid Association published revised guidelines in 2015 on the management of differentiated thyroid cancer in adults. One of the key changes introduced in the revision proposes that diagnostic biopsy be based on ultrasound findings (i.e. size and nodule characterist...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: D. S. Chan, K. Gong, M. G. Roskies, V. I. Forest, M. P. Hier, R. J. Payne
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2018-09-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-018-0296-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846097072587014144
author D. S. Chan
K. Gong
M. G. Roskies
V. I. Forest
M. P. Hier
R. J. Payne
author_facet D. S. Chan
K. Gong
M. G. Roskies
V. I. Forest
M. P. Hier
R. J. Payne
author_sort D. S. Chan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The American Thyroid Association published revised guidelines in 2015 on the management of differentiated thyroid cancer in adults. One of the key changes introduced in the revision proposes that diagnostic biopsy be based on ultrasound findings (i.e. size and nodule characteristics). The overall effect of these changes results in fewer nodules requiring biopsy. This study was conducted to determine if the changes to the guidelines will result in overlooked thyroid cancers, specifically malignancies with aggressive characteristics measuring between 1 and 1.49 cm. Methods Patients (n = 2083) with thyroid nodules who underwent total or subtotal/hemi thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection by a single surgeon between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic information and nodule characteristics were collected for all patients. Ultrasonography and final pathology reports were reviewed for patients with thyroid nodules between the sizes of 1–1.49 cm (n = 155). Results 45% (n = 70) of patients with nodules between 1 and 1.49 cm were “low suspicion” nodules according to ultrasound. 47 of these nodules contained malignancies on final histopathological examination, 100% of which were of the papillary subtype. 21% (n = 10) of these malignant nodules demonstrated extrathyroidal extension and 34% (n = 16) were associated with regional metastases. Conclusions Reliance on sonographic patterns alone could result in missed cancer diagnoses in patients with thyroid nodules measuring between 1 and 1.49 cm. Moreover, a portion of these malignancies may be associated with aggressive features. The effect of this finding on long-term outcomes is unclear.
format Article
id doaj-art-2c0687b55aa14d77892718d22ab5c3f2
institution Kabale University
issn 1916-0216
language English
publishDate 2018-09-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
spelling doaj-art-2c0687b55aa14d77892718d22ab5c3f22025-01-02T04:59:14ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162018-09-014711610.1186/s40463-018-0296-5Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective reviewD. S. Chan0K. Gong1M. G. Roskies2V. I. Forest3M. P. Hier4R. J. Payne5Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityFaculty of Medicine, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityAbstract Background The American Thyroid Association published revised guidelines in 2015 on the management of differentiated thyroid cancer in adults. One of the key changes introduced in the revision proposes that diagnostic biopsy be based on ultrasound findings (i.e. size and nodule characteristics). The overall effect of these changes results in fewer nodules requiring biopsy. This study was conducted to determine if the changes to the guidelines will result in overlooked thyroid cancers, specifically malignancies with aggressive characteristics measuring between 1 and 1.49 cm. Methods Patients (n = 2083) with thyroid nodules who underwent total or subtotal/hemi thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection by a single surgeon between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic information and nodule characteristics were collected for all patients. Ultrasonography and final pathology reports were reviewed for patients with thyroid nodules between the sizes of 1–1.49 cm (n = 155). Results 45% (n = 70) of patients with nodules between 1 and 1.49 cm were “low suspicion” nodules according to ultrasound. 47 of these nodules contained malignancies on final histopathological examination, 100% of which were of the papillary subtype. 21% (n = 10) of these malignant nodules demonstrated extrathyroidal extension and 34% (n = 16) were associated with regional metastases. Conclusions Reliance on sonographic patterns alone could result in missed cancer diagnoses in patients with thyroid nodules measuring between 1 and 1.49 cm. Moreover, a portion of these malignancies may be associated with aggressive features. The effect of this finding on long-term outcomes is unclear.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-018-0296-5Thyroid noduleThyroid CancerFNABUltrasound
spellingShingle D. S. Chan
K. Gong
M. G. Roskies
V. I. Forest
M. P. Hier
R. J. Payne
Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Thyroid nodule
Thyroid Cancer
FNAB
Ultrasound
title Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
title_full Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
title_fullStr Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
title_full_unstemmed Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
title_short Re-visiting the ATA 2015 sonographic guidelines - who are we missing?: A retrospective review
title_sort re visiting the ata 2015 sonographic guidelines who are we missing a retrospective review
topic Thyroid nodule
Thyroid Cancer
FNAB
Ultrasound
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-018-0296-5
work_keys_str_mv AT dschan revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview
AT kgong revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview
AT mgroskies revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview
AT viforest revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview
AT mphier revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview
AT rjpayne revisitingtheata2015sonographicguidelineswhoarewemissingaretrospectivereview