Cellular and Histopathological Characteristics of Ultrasonically Underdiagnosed 3/4a Thyroid Nodules

WU Weiqi; XU Cunbao; LI Youjia; SU Chunyang; ZHANG Fengshun; CHEN Yifeng

doi:10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16040

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Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1) : 23-28. DOI: 10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16040

Original Article

Cellular and Histopathological Characteristics of Ultrasonically Underdiagnosed 3/4a Thyroid Nodules

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Abstract

Objective To analyze the cellular and histopathological characteristics of underdiagnosed thyroid nodules of Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS) categories 3 and 4a,thus improving the understanding of these lesions. Methods The data of ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology were collected from 683 nodules diagnosed based on pathological evidence in 549 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.The cellular and histopathological characteristics of C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules were analyzed. Results Two hundred and sixty-eight nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 3,including 236 benign nodules,12 low-risk ones,and 20 (7.46%) malignant ones.Two hundred and twenty-one nodules were classified as C-TIRADS category 4a,including 133 benign nodules,7 low-risk ones,and 81 (36.65%) malignant ones.The malignancy rates differed between C-TIRADS 3 and 4a nodules (χ²=58.93,P<0.001),and both were higher than the recommended malignancy rate in the guidelines for malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules (C-TIRADS) (both P<0.001).According to the pathological evidence,the underdiagnosed C-TIRADS 3/4a nodules were mainly papillary thyroid carcinoma,especially in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis.There was not a consistent one-to-one match between each ultrasound result and each cytological classification of low-risk thyroid nodules.Conclusions When the malignant features in preoprative ultrasound imaging are atypical or absent,papillary thyroid carcinoma (especially with Hashimoto thyroiditis),follicular carcinoma,and medullary carcinoma are likely to be underdiagnosed as C-TIRADS 3 or 4a nodules.Therefore,efforts should be made to fully understand the cellular and pathological characteristics of these lesions.

Key words

thyroid nodule / underdiagnosed malignancy risk / blood glucose / pathology / Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system

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WU Weiqi , XU Cunbao , LI Youjia , et al . Cellular and Histopathological Characteristics of Ultrasonically Underdiagnosed 3/4a Thyroid Nodules[J]. Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae. 2025, 47(1): 23-28 https://doi.org/10.3881/j.issn.1000-503X.16040

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Cited in this article [1] Abstract

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Cited in this article [1] Abstract

目的探究在甲状腺结节细针穿刺活检(FNA)过程中针道增强技术使用效果的影响因素,并建立预测模型对结节是否适合使用该技术做出预测。方法前瞻性纳入175例中日友好医院超声医学科行甲状腺结节FNA的患者,对199个结节使用针道增强技术前后针尖显示情况进行对比,记录使用针道增强前针尖显示不清结节的位置、与被膜的位置关系、超声特征以及穿刺部位软组织条索结构分布,并根据美国放射学会编订的甲状腺影像报告和数据系统进行风险分级。应用Lasso-Logistic回归筛选影响针道增强技术使用效果的因素并建立列线图预测模型。结果使用针道增强技术前135个(67.8%)结节针尖显示不清,使用后53个(26.6%)结节针尖显示不清,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。基于结节与被膜的位置关系、纵横比、血供以及穿刺部位皮下条索结构分布建立预测使用针道增强技术后针尖显示不清概率的列线图,其C指数为0.75(95%CI=0.67~0.84),校准曲线拟合良好,受试者工作特征曲线下面积为0.72,内部验证C指数为0.70。结论针道增强技术在超声引导下甲状腺结节FNA中可提高针尖显示清晰度。基于结节与被膜的位置关系、纵横比、血供以及穿刺部位皮下条索结构分布构建的列线图可对结节是否适合使用针道增强技术进行预测。