Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada
In the past few decades, molecular characterization of thyroid cancer has made significant progress and is able to identify thyroid-cancer-related molecular markers that can then be applied clinically for improved decision making. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview about the mol...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/17/4140 |
| _version_ | 1797496080693198848 |
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| author | Mohannad Rajab Richard J. Payne Véronique-Isabelle Forest Marc Pusztaszeri |
| author_facet | Mohannad Rajab Richard J. Payne Véronique-Isabelle Forest Marc Pusztaszeri |
| author_sort | Mohannad Rajab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the past few decades, molecular characterization of thyroid cancer has made significant progress and is able to identify thyroid-cancer-related molecular markers that can then be applied clinically for improved decision making. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview about the molecular markers (mutations and alterations) of thyroid cancers, present several molecular tests, and discuss the clinical applications of identifying these markers supported by the clinical experience of several high-volume thyroid cancer specialists at the McGill university hospitals in Montreal, Canada. Our group experience showed that molecular testing can reclassify more than half of the patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III and IV) into benign and spare these patients from unnecessary diagnostic surgery. Furthermore, it can help optimize the initial management in thyroid cancers with no evidence of high risk of recurrence of disease preoperatively. While routine molecular testing is not firmly established for thyroid FNA specimens that are suspicious or positive for malignancy (Bethesda V and VI), knowledge of a thyroid nodule’s molecular risk group profile in such cases, together with its clinical and radiologic features, can help select the optimal surgical options (lobectomy versus upfront total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection), as demonstrated by our studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:58:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1abb4d23ae1143c69d18fb5834633e71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:58:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-1abb4d23ae1143c69d18fb5834633e712023-11-23T12:50:31ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942022-08-011417414010.3390/cancers14174140Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in CanadaMohannad Rajab0Richard J. Payne1Véronique-Isabelle Forest2Marc Pusztaszeri3Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, CanadaDepartment of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, CanadaDepartment of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, CanadaDepartment of Pathology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, CanadaIn the past few decades, molecular characterization of thyroid cancer has made significant progress and is able to identify thyroid-cancer-related molecular markers that can then be applied clinically for improved decision making. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview about the molecular markers (mutations and alterations) of thyroid cancers, present several molecular tests, and discuss the clinical applications of identifying these markers supported by the clinical experience of several high-volume thyroid cancer specialists at the McGill university hospitals in Montreal, Canada. Our group experience showed that molecular testing can reclassify more than half of the patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules (Bethesda III and IV) into benign and spare these patients from unnecessary diagnostic surgery. Furthermore, it can help optimize the initial management in thyroid cancers with no evidence of high risk of recurrence of disease preoperatively. While routine molecular testing is not firmly established for thyroid FNA specimens that are suspicious or positive for malignancy (Bethesda V and VI), knowledge of a thyroid nodule’s molecular risk group profile in such cases, together with its clinical and radiologic features, can help select the optimal surgical options (lobectomy versus upfront total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection), as demonstrated by our studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/17/4140thyroid nodulemolecular testingThyroSeqfine needle aspirationAfirmamutation |
| spellingShingle | Mohannad Rajab Richard J. Payne Véronique-Isabelle Forest Marc Pusztaszeri Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada Cancers thyroid nodule molecular testing ThyroSeq fine needle aspiration Afirma mutation |
| title | Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada |
| title_full | Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada |
| title_short | Molecular Testing for Thyroid Nodules: The Experience at McGill University Teaching Hospitals in Canada |
| title_sort | molecular testing for thyroid nodules the experience at mcgill university teaching hospitals in canada |
| topic | thyroid nodule molecular testing ThyroSeq fine needle aspiration Afirma mutation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/17/4140 |
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