What are the risk factors of thyroid cancer? 6
NO CLEAR ASSOCIATION WITH:
- Dietary iodine
- Goiter (although follicular and anaplastic occur more commonly in areas of endemic goiter)
Aside from risk factors, what other questions on history should you ask on a thyroid neoplasm history? What should be done on physical exam?
OPQRST:
- Rapid growth
- Throat/neck pain rarely associated with carcinoma; may occur with hemorrhage into benign nodule
- Compressive symptoms (non-specific): voice change, hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea
- Symptoms of hyper/hypothyroid (mostly euthyroid)
EXAM:
- Palpable nodules are at least ~1cm long, malignant more likely to be hard & fixed to trachea/esophagus/straps
- Larger lesions have higher incidence of false negative on FNAb
- Pemberton Maneuver: lifting arms over head to elicit obstruction in setting of substernal goiter – subjective respiratory discomfort, venous engorgement resulting in facial suffusion
- Lymphadenopathy
- FNL for vocal cord examination (see 3 indications later)
What are concerns on history or physical or testing for diagnosis of thyroid cancer? 7
What are the initial tests that should be ordered for the work-up of thyroid nodules? 3
What tests are not as useful to perform initially? 1
Not as useful for initial workup:
- Thyroglobulin Tg (not recommended as also made by normal thyroid tissue - more useful for patients after total thyroidectomy for WDTC
What are the indications for CT/MRI with contrast for the pre-operative investigation of thyroid malignancy? 2
What are the indications for a PET scan in thyroid cancer? 4
Should every thyroidectomy patient have a pre-operative laryngeal exam according to ATA guidelines?
What are 3 indications for a laryngeal exam pre-op?
No, 3 reasons to do so:
1. Pre-operative voice abnormalities
2. History of cervical or upper chest surgery
3. Thyroid cancer with known posterior extension
What is the utility of thyroid isotope scanning in the work-up of thyroid nodules?
123-I or TECHNETIUM 99m SESTAMIBI:
- Assess the functional activity of a thyroid nodule and gland
- 123-I: Tests iodine transport and organification of iodine (2 days to complete, more expensive)
- 99m-Tc: Tests only iodine transport
RESULTS:
- Cold/non-functioning/hypo-functional nodules: Nodules with less radioactivity than surrounding tissue (lost functions of fully differentiated thyroid tissue and increased risk of containing carcinoma
CLINICAL UTILITY:
- Not routinely performed given evolution of FNA tests
MAIN INDICATIONS:
- Thyroid nodule + hyperthyroid or low TSH (to differentiate toxic nodule vs. Graves’ disease)
List the ultrasound features of a high suspicioun thyroid nodule, according to ATA guidelines? 7
Solid hypoechoic or solid hypoehoic component of a partially cystic nodule with ≥1 of 5:
1. Miicrocalcifications
2. Taller than wide
3. Irregular margins
4. Rim calcifications with small extrusive soft tissue component
5. Extrathyroid extension
List the ultrasound features of a intermediate suspicioun thyroid nodule, according to ATA guidelines?
List the ultrasound features of a low suspicioun thyroid nodule, according to ATA guidelines?
List the ultrasound features of a very low suspicioun thyroid nodule, according to ATA guidelines?
List the ultrasound features of a benign suspicioun thyroid nodule, according to ATA guidelines?
What is the estimated risk of malignancy for each ATA guideline ultrasound “level of suspicion” category?
For each US category, what is the size cutoffs for ordering FNA biopsy, according to ATA guidelines?
If patients don’t meet the size criteria for FNA, what is the follow up like, according to ATA guidelines?
Depends on the US risk
What is the TIRADS score?
TIRADS = THYROID IMAGING REPORTING DATA SYSTEM
- Guideline put out by the American College of Radiology
- Stratifies risk of thyroid nodules based on US
- Unclear whether ATA guidelines or TIRADS is superior (know both)
What are the five parameters the TIRADS system assesses?
All points from all categories are added together for a final score that tells you the risk and what to do
What are the 5 TIRADS categories of risk?
TR1: 0 points = benign (0.3%)
TR2: 2 poiints = not suspicious (1.5%)
TR3: 3 points = Midly suspicious (4.8%)
TR4: 4-6 points = Moderately suspicious (9.1%)
TR5: ≥7 points = Highly suspicious (35%)
Discuss the management of each TIRADS category
TR1, TR2: No FNA
TR3:
- ≥ 2.5cm = FNA
- ≥ 1.5cm = Follow (1, 3, 5 years)
TR4:
- ≥1.5 cm = FNA
- ≥ 1cm = Follow (1, 2, 3, 5 years)
TR5:
- ≥1 cm = FNA
- ≥0.5 cm = Follow (Annually x 5 years)
How often does incidental FDG-PET avid Thyroid nodules occur? How should they be managed?
Management:
- FNA if >1cm
- < 1cm - consider the U/S features and management from there
What are the 6 Bethesda categories and the associated risk of malignancy?
What is defined as an adequate FNA biopsy for thyroid, according to ATA guidelines?
The presence of at least 6 groups of well-visualized follicular cells, each group containing at least 10 well-preserved epithelial cells, preferably on a single slide
Discuss the management of multiple thyroid nodules > 1cm 2
When should you FNA cervical lymph nodes when thyroid nodules are positive for malignancy?
With a thyroglobulin washout test, what is a reasuring level, and what is concerning for malignancy if a patient has an intact thyroid?