ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules and its influencing factors among medical staff of a hospital in Hengshui. MethodsA total of 2 190 medical workers in a hospital in Hengshui who underwent physical examinations in the Medical Examination Center of Harrison International Peace Hospital from January 2012 to July 2013 were included as the study subjects. Through physical examination, thyroid ultrasonography and questionnaire, we collected data and investigated the prevalence of thyroid nodules and its influencing factors. ResultsThe prevalence rate of thyroid nodules was 39.45% (864/2 190) in these medical staff. The prevalence rates of thyroid nodules in males and females were 32.34% (238/736) and 42.92% (624/1 454), respectively, with statistically significant difference between them (χ2=22.913, P<0.001). With increasing age, the prevalence of thyroid nodules increased gradually, and the prevalence of the same sex increased gradually too (P<0.001). The prevalence rate of women was significantly higher than that of men for each age group (P<0.05). Among the 864 subjects, there were 550 (63.66%) with multiple nodules and 314 (36.34%) with solitary nodules; there were 454 (52.55%) with nodules in both lobes of thyroid, 238 (27.54%) with nodules in the right lobe of thyroid, and 172 (19.91%) with nodules in the left lobe of thyroid; there were 504 (58.33%) with solid modules, 172 (19.91%) with cystic nodules, 114 (13.19%) with solid and cystic nodules, and 74 (8.56%) with calcification. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, educational degree, drinking history, taste habit, stress, agitation were correlated with the development of thyroid nodules. ConclusionThe prevalence of thyroid nodules is high among medical staff of this hospital. Thyroid nodules can be prevented through healthy lifestyle, limiting alcohol intake, emotional control, and relieving stress. Early diagnosis and early treatment should be done to prevent the development and spread of thyroid nodules.
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of the size of thyroid nodules on the diagnostic rate of ultrasound guided aspiration cytology (US-FNAB). MethodsThe data of 1 142 (performed by two doctors, 571 each) thyroid nodules between March 2011 and April 2014 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Yields of US-FNAB were divided into two levels of adequacy and inadequacy according to the classification standard of the Bethesda system. The thyroid nodules were classified into five groups according to the largest diameter:≤5 mm group, 5-10 mm group,10-20 mm group, 20-30 mm group, and <30 mm group. According to the grouping of the nodules and the efficiency of US-FNAB drawed curve, the adequacy rates of alone and total of two examiners in each group were analyzed, respectively. ResultsThe adequacy rates of US-FNAB of alone and total of two examiners in≤5 mm group, 5-10 mm group,10-20 mm group, 20-30 mm group, and <30 mm group was 68.42%, 83.72%, 86.08%, 84.62%, and 73.53% (examiner 1); 68.75%, 70.53%, 81.05%, 86.15%, and 73.91% (examiner 2); 68.59%, 77.53%, 83.59%, 85.47%, and 73.75% (total of two examiners), respectively. The total adequacy rate of US-FNAB of two examiners in≤5 mm group was lower than that in 10-20 mm group (P<0.001) and 20-30 mm group (P=0.001). The adequacy rate of US-FNAB of examiner 1 in 5-10 mm group was higher than that examiner 2 (P=0.001). ConclusionsThe size of thyroid nodules significantly influences the adequate diagnostic rate of US-FNAB. The adequacy rates of US-FNAB of the largest diameter≤5 mm or <3mm were lower. The low adequacy rate of US-FNAB may be associated with cystic degeneration in the larger nodules.
ObjectiveTo explore the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography (USE) combined with long non-coding RNA actin filament associated protein 1 anti-sense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) mRNA in thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) wash-out fluid for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules. MethodsThe patients with thyroid nodules who were treated in the Shenzhen Futian District Second People’s Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were collected. Before operation, the patients’ thyroid nodules were evaluated by the USE score and the AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the thyroid FNA wash-out fluid was detected. The pathological result of the thyroid nodule after operation was as a gold standard for diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules. The clinical diagnostic value of USE score combined with AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the FNA wash-out fluid of the benign and malignant thyroid nodules were analyzed. ResultsA total of 174 thyroid nodules (124 patients) were detected in this study, of which 62 (45 patients) were histologically diagnosed as malignant. There was a statistical difference in the comparison of the composition ratio of USE score grading between the benign and malignant thyroid nodules (Z=8.82, P<0.001). The point of USE of the benign thyroid nodules was statistically lower than that of the malignant thyroid nodules [2.28±1.16 vs. 4.26±1.01, mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=2.98 (2.76, 3.20), t=30.85, P<0.001]. The AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the FNA wash-out fluid of the malignant thyroid nodules was statistically higher than that of the benign thyroid nodules [1.45±0.27 vs. 1.13±0.16, MD (95%CI)=1.45(1.39, 1.50), t=10.69, P<0.001]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the USE score of thyroid nodules and the expression of AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the FNA wash-out fluid (r=0.58, P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of USE score in combination with expression of AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the FNA wash-out fluid for diagnosing the malignant thyroid nodules by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 93.5% and 88.4% respectively. The area under the ROC curve (95%CI) was 0.91 (0.86, 0.96). Conclusion According to preliminary results of this study, USE score combined with AFAP1-AS1 mRNA in the thyroid FNA wash-out fluid is more sensitive and shows a potential diagnostic performance than USE score or AFAP1-AS1 mRNA detection alone for distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of BRAFV600E mutation test in high-risk thyroid nodules with easily underdiagnosed fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) results.MethodsRetrospectively collected 122 cases of thyroid nodule who treated in the Hebei Petrochina Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2018, all the cases admitted preoperative ultrasound and FNAB detection. All of the patients had the non-positive cytological results of FNAB and the high-risk features of ultrasound. Contrasted the postoperative pathological coincidence rate of combination of FNAB and BRAFV600E test with FNAB alone.ResultsThe BRAFV600E mutation rate was 27.0% (33/122). The positive rate of BRAFV600E mutation increased with the increase of ultrasound thyroid imaging reporting and data system(TI-RADS) grade (P<0.05), which was independent of patients’ age, gender, number of nodules, diameter of nodules, and FNAB results (P>0.05). The coincidence rate of FNAB combined with BRAFV600E mutation detection was higher than that of FNAB alone ［86.9% (106/122) vs. 69.7% (85/122), P<0.05).ConclusionsThe BRAFV600E mutation test can detect papillary thyroid carcinoma that might be missed by FNAB. We recommend that FNAB should be routinely accompanied by the BRAFV600E mutation test in the high-risk thyroid nodules.
Objective To compare differences of characteristics of ultrasonic elasticity imaging for benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with or without Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Methods The thyroid nodules with ≤1 cm size and the category 4A, 4B, 4C, and 5 of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) were included into this study, and a further examination of real-time elastography was performed. The final diagnosis was relied on the pathological diagnosis. The elasticity score and strain ratio (SR) were recorded and compared between these two groups, respectively. Results Of the 424 nodules, 103 nodules were accompanied with HT (thyroid nodule with HT group), 321 nodules were not accompanied with HT (thyroid nodule without HT group). In the thyroid nodule with HT group, the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of the elasticity score and the SR was 0.685 and 0.676, respectively; the optimal cut offs of the elasticity score and the SR was 3 points and 2.45 respectively, their corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 75.7%, 57.6%, 68.0% and 75.7%, 60.6%, 67.6%, respectively. In the thyroid nodule without HT group, the AUCs of the elasticity score and the SR was 0.692 and 0.692, respectively; the optimal cut offs of the elasticity score and the SR was 4 points and 2.84, respectively; their corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 57.5%, 74.2%, 69.2% and 76.1%, 59.7%, 67.7%, respectively. Conclusions Elastography is helpful in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant small thyroid nodules. While, standards of elasticity score and SR value in differential diagnosis are different between benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with HT and without HT, elasticity score and SR ratio decrease in benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with HT.