Early diagnosis by genetic analysis of differentiated thyroid cancer metastases in small lymph nodes.
We report a PCR-based technique for detecting thyroid cancer metastases in small nodes <1.5 cm diameter by the amplification of thyroid specific transcripts TSH-receptor and thyroglobulin. A 100% correspondence with the histopathological diagnosis was observed in the 41/46 nodes (89%) in which an adequate sample was obtained at fine needle aspiration. The genetic analysis resulted more sensitive and accurate than both the cytological analysis (28% inadequate samples, 17% false negative diagnoses) and the thyroglobulin measurement in the aspirates (39% false negatives). The PCR-based genetic analysis may provide a useful tool for diagnosis and follow-up of thyroid cancer.
Arturi
F
F
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Universita di Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Italy.
Russo
D
D
Giuffrida
D
D
Ippolito
A
A
Perrotti
N
N
Vigneri
R
R
Filetti
S
S
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000235:genetics; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases