Indeterminate Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspirations in Pediatrics: Exploring the Clinicopathologic Features and Utility of Molecular Profiling

Abstract Introduction: The diagnostic utility of molecular profiling for the evaluation of indeterminate pediatric thyroid nodules is unclear. We aimed to assess pediatric cases with indeterminate thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) alongside clinicopathologic features and mutational analysis. Methods: A retrospective review of 126 patients with indeterminate cytology who underwent FNA between January 2010 and December 2021 at the Children ’s Hospital of Philadelphia was performed. Indeterminate cases defined by The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (AUS/FLUS or TBSRTC III; FN/SFN or TBSRTC IV; SM or TBSRTC V) were correlated to clinicopathologic and genetic characteristics. Results: Of the 114 surgical cases, 48% were malignant, with the majority of malignant cases diagnosed as follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (28/55). Risk of malignancy increased with TBSRTC category: 23% for AUS/FLUS, 51% for FN/SFN, and 100% for SM nodules. There were significant differences in surgical approach (p
Source: Hormone Research in Paediatrics - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research