Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules
Conditions
Keywords
Indeterminate thyroid nodule, Thyroid carcinoma
Brief summary
Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, affecting 0.2-1.5% of individuals worldwide. The rising incidence rate of TC is mostly related to the expanding use of high-quality imaging techniques, with an increase in the detection of thyroid nodules. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the most accurate, rapid, safe, and cost-effective test for the evaluation of thyroid nodules, with high specificity and sensitivity. Nevertheless, FNAC is particularly unreliable in differentiating between benign and malignant nodules that fall under the category of indeterminate thyroid nodules (class III and class IV according to Bethesda Classification\[2\]). In fact, in these cases, the expected malignancy rates are 5-15% and 15-30%, respectively. Thus, most patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules undergo an operation that is indeed unnecessary, while representing a risk for surgical complications and a cost for health-care systems. We aim to evaluate different approaches to indeterminate nodules across different countries in the world.
Interventions
PROCEDUREThyroidectomy
Total thyroidectomy or lobectomy
Sponsors
University of Cagliari
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients with Bethesda III / Bethesda IV thyroid nodules
Exclusion criteria
* Patients with preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastases
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rate of malignancy | 36 months | Number of cancers over the total patients submitted to thyroidectomy for indeterminate thyroid nodules |
| Surgical approach to indeterminate thyroid nodules | 36 months | Number of lobectomies over the total patients submitted to thyroidectomy for indeterminate thyroid nodules |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed