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Thyroid : Official Journal of the... Jun 2015The American Thyroid Association appointed a Task Force of experts to revise the original Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Management Guidelines of the American Thyroid... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The American Thyroid Association appointed a Task Force of experts to revise the original Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Management Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association.
METHODS
The Task Force identified relevant articles using a systematic PubMed search, supplemented with additional published materials, and then created evidence-based recommendations, which were set in categories using criteria adapted from the United States Preventive Services Task Force Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The original guidelines provided abundant source material and an excellent organizational structure that served as the basis for the current revised document.
RESULTS
The revised guidelines are focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and hereditary MTC.
CONCLUSIONS
The Task Force developed 67 evidence-based recommendations to assist clinicians in the care of patients with MTC. The Task Force considers the recommendations to represent current, rational, and optimal medical practice.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Carcinoma, Medullary; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Disease Management; Genetic Testing; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Humans; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2b; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; Radiotherapy; Societies, Medical; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 25810047
DOI: 10.1089/thy.2014.0335 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism (Seoul,... Oct 2022The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification of thyroid neoplasms released in 2022 includes newly recognized tumor types, subtypes,... (Review)
Review
The fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification of thyroid neoplasms released in 2022 includes newly recognized tumor types, subtypes, and a grading system. Follicular cell-derived neoplasms are categorized into three families (classes): benign tumors, low-risk neoplasms, and malignant neoplasms. The terms "follicular nodular disease" and "differentiated high-grade thyroid carcinoma" are introduced to account for multifocal hyperplastic/neoplastic lesions and differentiated thyroid carcinomas with high-grade features, respectively. The term "Hürthle cells" is replaced with "oncocytic cells." Invasive encapsulated follicular and cribriform morular variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are now redefined as distinct tumor types, given their different genetic alterations and clinicopathologic characteristics from other PTC subtypes. The term "variant" to describe a subclass of tumor has been replaced with the term "subtype." Instead, the term "variant" is reserved to describe genetic alterations. A histologic grading system based on the mitotic count, necrosis, and/or the Ki67 index is used to identify high-grade follicular-cell derived carcinomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas. The 2022 WHO classification introduces the following new categories: "salivary gland-type carcinomas of the thyroid" and "thyroid tumors of uncertain histogenesis." This review summarizes the major changes in the 2022 WHO classification and their clinical relevance.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Papillary; Thyroid Neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; World Health Organization
PubMed: 36193717
DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2022.1553 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Oct 2019Medullary thyroid carcinoma (mtc) is a rare malignancy of the thyroid gland, and raising awareness of the recommended diagnostic workup and pathologic characteristics of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (mtc) is a rare malignancy of the thyroid gland, and raising awareness of the recommended diagnostic workup and pathologic characteristics of this malignancy is therefore important.
METHODS
We reviewed the current clinical practice guidelines and recent literature on mtc, and here, we summarize the recommendations for its diagnosis and workup. We also provide an overview of the pathology of mtc.
RESULTS
A neuroendocrine tumour, mtc arises from parafollicular cells ("C cells"), which secrete calcitonin. As part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia (men) type 2 syndromes, mtc can occur sporadically or in a hereditary form. This usually poorly delineated and infiltrative tumour is composed of solid nests of discohesive cells within a fibrous stroma that might also contain amyloid. Suspicious nodules on thyroid ultrasonography should be assessed with fine-needle aspiration (fna). If a diagnosis of mtc is made on fna, patients require baseline measurements of serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen. Calcitonin levels greater than 500 pg/mL or clinical suspicion for metastatic disease dictate the need for further imaging studies. All patients should undergo dna analysis for mutations to diagnose men type 2 syndromes, and if positive, they should be assessed for possible pheochromocytoma and hyperparathyroidism.
SUMMARY
Although the initial diagnosis of a suspicious thyroid nodule is the same for differentiated thyroid carcinoma and mtc, the remainder of the workup and diagnosis for mtc is distinct.
Topics: Calcitonin; Carcinoembryonic Antigen; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Germ-Line Mutation; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 31708652
DOI: 10.3747/co.26.5539 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism (Seoul,... Jun 2021Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor originating from the parafollicular cells. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the condition... (Review)
Review
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor originating from the parafollicular cells. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the condition are different from those used for well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Since the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of MTC, the latest, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European Association for Medical Oncology guidelines have been updated to reflect several recent advances in the management of MTC. Advances in molecular diagnosis and postoperative risk stratification systems have led to individualized treatment and follow-up strategies. Multi-kinase inhibitors, such as vandetanib and cabozantinib, can prolong disease progression-free survival with favorable adverse effects. In addition, potent selective rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitors (selpercatinib and pralsetinib) have shown a promising efficacy in recent clinical trials. This review summarizes the management of MTC in recent guidelines focused on sporadic MTC.
Topics: Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Humans; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 34154310
DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2021.1082 -
Hormone and Metabolic Research =... Aug 2020The diagnostic modalities, stratification tools, and treatment options for patients with thyroid cancer have rapidly evolved since the development of the American... (Review)
Review
The diagnostic modalities, stratification tools, and treatment options for patients with thyroid cancer have rapidly evolved since the development of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines in 2015. This review compiles newer concepts in diagnosis, stratification tools and treatment options for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Newer developments apply precision medicine in thyroid cancer patients to avoid over-treatment in low risk disease and under-treatment in high risk disease. Among novel patient-tailored therapies are selective RET inhibitors that have shown efficacy in the treatment of MTC with limited systemic toxicity compared with non-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors have revolutionized management of mutant ATC. Several immunotherapeutic agents are being actively investigated in the treatment of all forms of thyroid cancer. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the diagnosis and management of DTC, MTC, and ATC, with an emphasis on novel treatment modalities.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Management; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Mutation; Prognosis; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 32040962
DOI: 10.1055/a-1089-7870 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Dec 2019
Topics: Humans; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Follow-Up Studies; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 31549998
DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz400 -
The Journal of International Medical... Jul 2022Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an uncommon malignancy of neuroendocrine origin derived from the parafollicular C cells. Although infrequent, the interest in this... (Review)
Review
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an uncommon malignancy of neuroendocrine origin derived from the parafollicular C cells. Although infrequent, the interest in this cancer exceeds its incidence owing to its distinctive features and its characteristic association with other endocrine tumors. Although the majority of MTCs are sporadic, hereditary varieties occur in isolation or as a part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome (MEN 2). Currently, complete surgical resection of the tumor and nodal metastases with a curative intent remains the mainstay of therapy. The role of adjuvant therapy is limited, although radiotherapy and newer targeted therapies are routinely used for metastatic disease. The lack of consensus in the available guidance regarding the most appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic and follow-up strategies has caused substantial variability in clinical practice. Therefore, this review summarizes the latest available evidence and guidelines on the management of MTC with an emphasis on diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up.
Topics: Carcinoma, Medullary; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Humans; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 35822284
DOI: 10.1177/03000605221110698 -
Genes Sep 2019Thyroid cancer is rare in the pediatric population, but thyroid carcinomas occurring in children carry a unique set of clinical, pathologic, and molecular... (Review)
Review
Thyroid cancer is rare in the pediatric population, but thyroid carcinomas occurring in children carry a unique set of clinical, pathologic, and molecular characteristics. In comparison to adults, children more often present with aggressive, advanced stage disease. This is at least in part due to the underlying biologic and molecular differences between pediatric and adult thyroid cancer. Specifically, papillary thyroid carcinoma (which accounts for approximately 90% of pediatric thyroid cancer) has a high rate of gene fusions which influence the histologic subtypes encountered in pediatric thyroid tumors, are associated with more extensive extrathyroidal disease, and offer unique options for targeted medical therapies. Differences are also seen in pediatric follicular thyroid cancer, although there are few studies of non-papillary pediatric thyroid tumors published in the literature due to their rarity, and in medullary carcinoma, which is most frequently diagnosed in the pediatric population in the setting of prophylactic thyroidectomies for known multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. The overall shift in the spectrum of histotypes and underlying molecular alterations common in pediatric thyroid cancer is important to recognize as it may directly influence diagnostic test selection and therapeutic recommendations.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Genetic Testing; Humans; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 31540418
DOI: 10.3390/genes10090723 -
Endocrine Aug 2023To summarize the more robust evidence about the performance of tools useful for diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) such as calcitonin (Ctn) and other... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To summarize the more robust evidence about the performance of tools useful for diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) such as calcitonin (Ctn) and other circulating markers, ultrasound (US), fine-needle aspiration (FNA), and other imaging procedures.
METHODS
This systematic review of systematic reviews was carried out according to a predefined protocol. A search string was created. An electronical comprehensive search of literature was performed on December 2022. Quality assessment of eligible systematic reviews was performed and main findings were described.
RESULTS
Twenty-three systematic reviews were included and several findings were achieved. Ctn is the most reliable diagnostic marker of MTC with no evidence of improvement with stimulation test. CEA doubling time is more reliable than Ctn in identifying MTC with poorer prognosis. US sensitivity is suboptimal in MTC and only just over half of cases are at high risk according to Thyroid Imaging And Reporting Data Systems. Cytology can correctly detect MTC in just over half of cases and measuring Ctn in washout fluid from FNA is necessary. PET/CT is useful for detecting recurrent MTC.
CONCLUSIONS
Future guidelines of both thyroid nodule management and MTC diagnosis should consider these evidence-based data.
Topics: Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroid Nodule; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Calcitonin; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Biopsy, Fine-Needle
PubMed: 36877452
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03326-6 -
Nature Reviews. Endocrinology Nov 2016During the past few decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased substantially in many countries, including the USA. The rise in incidence seems to be... (Review)
Review
During the past few decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased substantially in many countries, including the USA. The rise in incidence seems to be attributable both to the growing use of diagnostic imaging and fine-needle aspiration biopsy, which has led to enhanced detection and diagnosis of subclinical thyroid cancers, and environmental factors. The latest American Thyroid Association (ATA) practice guidelines for the management of adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer differ substantially from the previous ATA guidelines published in 2009. Specifically, the problems of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of a disease that is typically indolent, where treatment-related morbidity might not be justified by a survival benefit, now seem to be acknowledged. As few modifiable risk factors for thyroid cancer have been established, the specific environmental factors that have contributed to the rising incidence of thyroid cancer remain speculative. However, the findings of several large, well-designed epidemiological studies have provided new information about exposures (such as obesity) that might influence the development of thyroid cancer. In this Review, we describe the changing incidence of thyroid cancer, suggest potential explanations for these trends, emphasize the implications for patients and highlight ongoing and potential strategies to combat this growing clinical and public health issue.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Age Distribution; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Carcinoma, Papillary; Humans; Incidence; Medical Overuse; Obesity; Radiation Exposure; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Smoking; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroid Nodule; United States
PubMed: 27418023
DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2016.110