PDF
ePub
Citation
Print
As numerous clinical and molecular pathological studies of recent years have shown, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a heterogeneous tumor group with differing pathogenesis and prognosis of the individual subtypes (1). To avoid overtreatment of the increasing number of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC), the new tumor node metastases (TNM) classification has therefore made significant changes in essential points (1). In addition, a tumor entity has been spun off, which is characterized by special clinical-morphological characteristics: the encapsulated follicular variant of PTC, now referred to as “noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP)” (234). A recent study, based on a comprehensive evaluation of a prospective multicenter NIFTP-based retrospective study, was intended to clarify whether NIFTP can metastasize and thus justify a reduced resection rate compared to classical PTC (2). In detail, all patients from 9 high-volume endocrine surgery departments who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2015 and whose final surgical pathology revealed noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (>10 mm) were included in a study (2). The primary outcome was to determine the potential for recurrent disease in these patients (2). Among the 363 patients with NIFTP, 345 patients (95%) underwent total thyroid resection. The median follow-up period was 5 years. Sixty-five (18.8%) subjects had an associated micro PTC. One hundred thirty-three (37%) patients underwent prophylactic lymph node dissection. One patient (0.7%) in this subgroup had a micrometastasis associated with micro PTC. One patient (1.5%) with an associated micro PTC had recurrent disease at 6 years (2). All patients with NIFTP features without micro PTC had no lymph node or distant metastasis or recurrent disease in the neck (2). The Authors of the present study concluded that NIFTP presents with indolent behavior. However, an associated micro PTC should be meticulously evaluated because coupled with node metastasis and/or of neck recurrence (2).
Due to the different molecular pathology of NIFTP and classical PTC, together with their different metastatic potential, it can be assumed that the NIFTP is indeed a separate, diagnostic-therapeutic subgroup of the PTC (125). However, since the NIFTP cannot be reliably diagnosed preoperatively by ultrasound and cytology, their therapeutic relevance arises essentially after primary hemithyroidectomy (1256).
Finally, for 3 reasons, Authors nicely recommend caution regarding a limited thyroid procedure (i.e. lobectomy vs. completion thyroidectomy): i) In the current literature, lymph node metastases have been described in 10 patients with NIFTP, and in 1 patient lung metastases (1256). ii) As reported for the first time in this study, nearly one-fifth of patients have NIFTP-associated PTMC with unclear potential for metastasis (2). iii) Observation periods are still relatively short and so far there are no agreed follow-up standards (127).
Further recommendations for managing NIFTP and other borderline tumors are expected to be issued and incorporated into clinical practice in the near future (1234567). The proposed reclassification should not be interpreted as indicative of a changed risk profile of an inherently low-risk neoplasm, or as supporting a nonsurgical approach to these neoplasms, as accurate preoperative identification of NIFTP has not yet been demonstrated (1234567).
XML Download