title: Is galectin-3 a good method for the detection of malignancy in patients with thyroid nodules and a cytologic diagnosis of "follicular neoplasm"? A critical appraisal of the evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid nodules are the most common surgical disease of the thyroid. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the most commonly employed tool for establishing a diagnosis. However, 15% to 25% of FNAB reports yield inconclusive results. Immunostaining of cytological smears from FNAB with galectin-3 has been proposed as a tool for differentiating between benign and malignant nodules. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the utility of galectin-3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective studies of nodules with FNAB reports of "follicular neoplasm" and with a definitive diagnosis confirmed by histopathology were selected. Calculations of individual sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The articles selected were those with the best methodological quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 could be a good tool to guide therapeutic decision in patients with thyroid nodules and FNAB results of follicular neoplasm, but available information has methodological flaws that precludes a definitive answer about galectin-3 utility in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Universidad de La Sabana, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanabria
authors.forename: André Lopes
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piana de Andrade
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pablo Rodrigo
authors.forename: José Guilherme
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Vartanian
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: Mauro Kazuo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Kenneth Owen
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Devaney
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magrin
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Augusto Soares
authors.forename: Alfio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferlito
authors.forename: Luiz Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3