Back to Search
Start Over
Growing thyroid nodules with benign histology and RET rearrangement
- Source :
- Endocrine Journal. 57:1081-1087
- Publication Year :
- 2010
- Publisher :
- Japan Endocrine Society, 2010.
-
Abstract
- Some benign thyroid nodules are stationary in size over time while others grow progressively, indicating that there is a broad individual variability within benign nodules. To date, it is very difficult to predict if a benign thyroid nodule will grow in size and which will be its trend over time. While BRAF(V600E) is a highly specific marker of thyroid cancer, RET rearrangements have been disclosed also in non malignant thyroid lesions and their biological significance is debated. We compared the clinical history of three histologically benign thyroid nodules harboring RET rearrangements with that of 6 benign nodules bearing wild type RET. The nodules negative for RET rearrangements were followed for 10 years by ultrasonographic evaluation, showing a slow, constant enlargement. Three patients with benign nodules diagnosed at FNAC, were followed for 11, 9 and 7 years by annual ultrasonographic evaluation. After several years of latency, the nodules had an unexpected and gradual increase in their dimensions, reaching a large final size. A second FNAC confirmed the previous cytologic diagnosis of benign lesion. Because of the increasing size of the nodules, the patients were advised to surgery. Before undergoing thyroidectomy, we performed molecular diagnostic tests that revealed the absence of BRAF(V600E) and the presence of RET/PTC-1 in one nodule and RET/PTC-3 in the two others. Despite the presence of this oncogene, the samples were histologically classified as benign hyperplastic nodules. These findings lead us to speculate that histologically benign hyperplastic thyroid nodules containing RET rearrangements might represent a subgroup of nodules with a rapid size increase.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Genetic Markers
Male
FNAC
Thyroid nodules
endocrine system
Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
endocrine system diseases
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
medicine.medical_treatment
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Non malignant
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RET/PTC
Endocrinology
medicine
Humans
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroid Nodule
Thyroid cancer
Aged
Ultrasonography
Gene Rearrangement
business.industry
RET Rearrangement
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
Thyroid
Thyroidectomy
Nodule (medicine)
Histology
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
medicine.anatomical_structure
Female
Nodular goiter
medicine.symptom
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 13484540 and 09188959
- Volume :
- 57
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Endocrine Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....73011ff4413e62d5087d503b9ec21b9f