Effectiveness of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vincent Vander Poorten, Nathan Goedseels, Asterios Triantafyllou, Alvaro Sanabria, Paul M. Clement, Oded Cohen, Pawel Golusinski, Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Cesare Piazza, Gregory W. Randolph, Alessandra Rinaldo, Ohad Ronen, Maria E. Cabanillas, Ashok R. Shaha, Yong Teng, Ralph P. Tufano, Michelle D. Williams, Mark Zafereo, Alfio Ferlito

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Both anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and thyroid lymphoma (TL) clinically present as rapidly enlarging neck masses. Unfortunately, in this situation, like in any other thyroid swelling, a routine fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the first and only diagnostic test performed at the initial contact in the average thyroid practice. FNA, however, has a low sensitivity in diagnosing ATC and TL, and by the time the often “inconclusive” result is known, precious time has evolved, before going for core-needle biopsy (CNB) or incisional biopsy (IB) as the natural next diagnostic steps. Objectives: To determine the diagnostic value of CNB in the clinical setting of a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass, via a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data on CNB reliability in the differential diagnosis of ATC and TL. Methods: A PubMed, Embase and Web of Science database search was performed on June 23th 2021. Population of interest comprised patients who underwent CNB for clinical or ultrasonographical suspicion of ATC or TL, patients with a final diagnosis of ATC or TL after CNB, or after IB following CNB. Results: From a total of 17 studies, 166 patients were included. One hundred and thirty-six were diagnosed as TL and 14 as ATC following CNB. CNB, with a sensitivity and positive predictive value of 94,3% and 100% for TL and 80,1% and 100% for ATC respectively, proved to be superior to FNA (reported sensitivity for TL of 48% and for ATC of 61%). Furthermore, the need for additional diagnostic surgery after CNB was only 6.2% for TL and 17.6% for ATC. Conclusions: Immediately performing CNB for a suspected diagnosis of ATC and TL in a rapidly enlarging thyroid mass is more appropriate and straightforward than a stepped diagnostic pathway using FNA first and awaiting the result before doing CNB.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number971249
JournalFrontiers in Endocrinology
Volume13
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 20 2022

Keywords

  • anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC)
  • core needle biopsy
  • fine needle aspiration
  • thyroid lymphoma
  • thyroid neoplasms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effectiveness of core needle biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid lymphoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this