Endocrinology and Metabolism

Original Articles

Comparison of Ultrasensitive and Highly Sensitive Assay to Predict Stimulated Thyroglobulin Levels Using Unstimulated Levels in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients: Jinsun Jang, Hyun Joo Kim, Seunggyun Ha, Kyong Yeun Jung, Gyeongseo Jung, Sun Wook Cho, Do Joon Park, Gi Jeong Cheon, Young Joo Park; Received January 6, 2025 Accepted March 20, 2025 Published online June 5, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2025.2302 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background
Thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement is an essential aspect of monitoring for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. This study compared the performances of ultrasensitive Tg (ultraTg) and highly sensitive Tg (hsTg) assays in predicting stimulated Tg levels without thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation.
Methods
Overall, 268 DTC patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy and either radioiodine treatment or I-123 diagnostic scanning were included. Unstimulated and stimulated Tg levels were measured using hsTg (BRAHMS Dynotest Tg-plus) and ultraTg (RIAKEY Tg immunoradiometric assay) assays. Correlations of each assay with the ability of unstimulated Tg levels to predict stimulated Tg ≥1 ng/mL were analyzed.
Results
hsTg and ultraTg showed a strong correlation (R=0.79, P<0.01); the correlation was weaker in Tg antibody-positive patients (R=0.52). UltraTg demonstrated higher sensitivity in predicting stimulated Tg ≥1 ng/mL compared with hsTg. The optimal cut-off for ultraTg was 0.12 ng/mL (sensitivity, 72.0%; specificity, 67.2%). hsTg at 0.105 ng/mL had lower sensitivity (39.8%) but higher specificity (91.5%). Eight discordant cases with low hsTg (<0.2 ng/mL) but elevated ultraTg (>0.23 ng/mL) were identified; three developed structural recurrence within 3.4 to 5.8 years. Two patients had an excellent response according to hsTg but an indeterminate or biochemical incomplete response according to ultraTg.
Conclusion
UltraTg demonstrated higher sensitivity in predicting positive stimulated Tg levels and potential recurrence compared with hsTg. However, its lower specificity may lead to more frequent classifications of biochemical incomplete response. UltraTg may be beneficial in clinically suspicious cases where hsTg falls below the cut-off, but its broader applicability requires further investigation.

Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Core Needle Biopsy: Byeong-Joo Noh, Won Jun Kim, Jin Yub Kim, Ha Young Kim, Jong Cheol Lee, Myoung Sook Shim, Yong Jin Song, Kwang Hyun Yoon, In-Hye Jung, Hyo Sang Lee, Wooyul Paik, Dong Gyu Na; Received November 28, 2024 Accepted March 10, 2025 Published online May 28, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2256 [Epub ahead of print]

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This study assessed risk stratification and diagnostic performance for malignancy in thyroid nodules diagnosed as follicular neoplasm (FN) based on core needle biopsy (CNB) subcategories.
Methods
A total of 313 consecutive nodules (>1 cm) diagnosed as FN on CNB with corresponding surgical histology were included. FN subcategories were classified retrospectively for nodules diagnosed before 2022 (retrospective dataset) and prospectively for nodules diagnosed since 2022 (prospective dataset). CNB subcategories were determined using histologic criteria based on architectural uniformity and nuclear atypia, as modified from the 2019 Korean CNB pathology guideline. The diagnostic performance of CNB subcategories, nodule size, and ultrasound risk stratification systems (RSSs) for malignancy was assessed.
Results
CNB subcategory IVb showed a significantly higher malignancy risk compared to other subcategories in both datasets (34.5%–83.7% vs. 4.2%–13.6%, P<0.001). It was also identified as an independent predictor of malignancy in both datasets (P< 0.001), whereas nodule size and all ultrasound RSSs were not predictive of malignancy, including noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) (P≥0.079). CNB subcategory IVb demonstrated higher sensitivity for malignancy and a lower surgical rate for benign nodules compared to the nodule size criterion (>2 cm). The combined criterion of CNB subcategory IVb or nodule size >3 cm identified all malignant tumors, excluding NIFTP, in the prospective dataset.
Conclusion
CNB subcategory IVb effectively stratifies malignancy risk in thyroid nodules and outperforms nodule size (>2 cm) and ultrasound RSSs in diagnostic performance. Non-IVb nodules ≤3 cm can be safely managed with ultrasound surveillance instead of immediate surgery.

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Detected by Routine Health Screening Had Better Clinical Outcome and Survival: Ji Hyun Yoo, Da Eun Leem, Bo Ram Kim, Tae Hyuk Kim, Sun Wook Kim, Jae Hoon Chung; Received October 22, 2024 Accepted January 8, 2025 Published online March 5, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2214 [Epub ahead of print]

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The benefits of early detection in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) are not well established. This study investigates the impact of early detection of MTC on clinical outcomes.
Methods
This retrospective study evaluated 144 patients diagnosed with MTC at Samsung Medical Center between 1995 and 2019, classified as asymptomatic (mostly detected through routine health check-ups, including ultrasonography, calcitonin, or carcinoembryonic antigen levels) and symptomatic. Initial treatment response, final clinical outcomes, and cancer-specific survival were compared.
Results
MTC was diagnosed in 104 (72.2%) asymptomatic and 40 (27.8%) symptomatic patients. The symptomatic group showed a significantly larger primary tumor size, more frequent lateral neck lymph node metastasis, more advanced tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging, and higher pre- and postoperative serum calcitonin levels. For initial treatment response, the proportion of excellent responders was significantly higher in the asymptomatic group (71.2% vs. 40.0%), while that of patients with biochemical incomplete response (37.5% vs. 26.9%) and structural incomplete response (22.5% vs. 1.9%) was significantly higher in the symptomatic group (all P<0.001). For the final clinical outcomes, the rate of patients with no evidence of disease was higher in the asymptomatic group (67.3% vs. 30.0%), while the rate of patients with structurally identifiable disease was higher in the symptomatic group (45.0% vs. 7.7%) (P<0.001 for both). The symptomatic group had significantly poorer cancer-specific survival than the asymptomatic group (log-rank P=0.023).
Conclusion
Compared with late diagnosis through symptomatic presentation, early diagnosis in asymptomatic patients results in significantly better initial treatment response, final clinical outcomes, and cancer-specific survival in patients with MTC.

Thyroid
Prognostic Indicators and Comparative Treatment Outcomes in High-Risk Thyroid Cancer with Laryngotracheal Invasion: Eman A. Toraih, Jessan A. Jishu, Mohammad H. Hussein, Aly A. M. Shaalan, Manal S. Fawzy, Emad Kandil; Endocrinol Metab. 2025;40(2):201-215. Published online January 22, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2033

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Laryngotracheal invasion occurs in a subset of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) and is associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to analyze patterns and predictors/outcomes related to this high-risk manifestation.
Methods
This population-based analysis utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry (2000 to 2015) to identify WDTC patients. Temporal trends and geographic variation in invasion rates were assessed. Logistic regression and propensity score matching were employed to identify predictors of secondary malignancy, mortality, and treatment impact on overall and thyroid cancer (TC)-specific survival.
Results
Of 131,721 WDTC patients, 1,662 (1.3%) had tracheal invasion and 976 (0.7%) had laryngeal invasion at diagnosis. Tracheal and laryngeal invasion rates declined from 3.7%–0.7% and 1.5%–0.6%, respectively, from 2000 to 2015. Compared to 98,835 noninvasive cases, patients with laryngotracheal invasion were older and more often male, Asian, and Hispanic (all P<0.001). This group had larger tumors with higher rates of nodal (N1: 61.8% vs. 15.1%) and distant metastases (M1: 9.3% vs. 0.4%). Age ≥55 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19; P=0.004) and metastases (HR, 1.75; P<0.001) increased TC-specific mortality, whereas the converse pattern was found for Asian race (HR, 0.63; P=0.002) and surgery (HR, 0.35; P<0.001). In rigorously matched groups to control confounding, adding radioactive iodine to surgery reduced mortality by 30% (P<0.001). However, external beam radiation and systemic therapy did not improve survival over surgery alone.
Conclusion
Laryngotracheal invasion is present in 0.7% to 1.3% of cases, conferring over double the mortality risk. Radioactive iodine with surgery improves outcomes in this aggressive WDTC subset.

Diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Tirzepatide and Cancer Risk in Individuals with and without Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: A.B.M. Kamrul-Hasan, Muhammad Shah Alam, Deep Dutta, Thanikai Sasikanth, Fatema Tuz Zahura Aalpona, Lakshmi Nagendra; Endocrinol Metab. 2025;40(1):112-124. Published online January 15, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2164

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Background
Data on the carcinogenic potential of tirzepatide from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are limited. Furthermore, no meta-analysis has included all relevant RCTs to assess the cancer risk associated with tirzepatide.
Methods
RCTs involving patients receiving tirzepatide in the intervention arm and either a placebo or any active comparator in the control arm were searched through electronic databases. The primary outcome was the overall risk of any cancer, and secondary outcomes were the risks of specific types of cancer in the tirzepatide versus the control groups.
Results
Thirteen RCTs with 13,761 participants were analyzed. Over 26 to 72 weeks, the tirzepatide and pooled control groups had identical risks of any cancer (risk ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.53 to 1.16; P=0.22). The two groups had comparable cancer risks in patients with and without diabetes. In subgroup analyses, the risks were also similar in the tirzepatide versus placebo, insulin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist groups. The overall cancer risk was also comparable for different doses of tirzepatide compared to the control groups; only a 10-mg tirzepatide dose had a lower risk of any cancer than placebo. Furthermore, compared to the control groups (pooled or separately), tirzepatide did not increase the risk of any specific cancer types. Despite greater increments in serum calcitonin with 10- and 15-mg tirzepatide doses than with placebo, the included RCTs reported no cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Conclusion
Tirzepatide use in RCTs over 26 to 72 weeks did not increase overall or specific cancer risk.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Dietary and pharmacological energy restriction and exercise for healthspan extension
Maria Lastra Cagigas, Isabella De Ciutiis, Andrius Masedunskas, Luigi Fontana
Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.2025; 36(6): 521. CrossRef
GLP-1 receptor agonists in the context of cancer: the road ahead
Isabelle R. Miousse
American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology.2025; 328(6): C1822. CrossRef
Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus - a current view of the different drug classes and strategies for their use
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Vnitřní lékařství.2025; 71(3): 144. CrossRef
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Impact of 1-Year Tirzepatide Use on Glycemic and Metabolic Profile in Oerweight to Obese People with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Thyroid Big Data Articles (National Health Insurance Service Database)
Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures among Patients with Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study: Eu Jeong Ku, Won Sang Yoo, Yu Been Hwang, Subin Jang, Jooyoung Lee, Shinje Moon, Eun Kyung Lee, Hwa Young Ahn; Endocrinol Metab. 2025;40(2):225-235. Published online January 15, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2101

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background
The associations between thyroid cancer and skeletal outcomes have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to investigate the risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that in a matched control group.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included 2,514 patients with thyroid cancer and 75,420 matched controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC, 2006–2019). The rates of osteoporotic fractures were analyzed, and associations with the levothyroxine dose were evaluated.
Results
Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.94; P=0.006). Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years (older cancer group) had a significantly lower risk of fracture than did those in the control group (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.85; P<0.001), especially those diagnosed with spinal fractures (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.85; P=0.001). Patients in the older cancer group started osteoporosis treatment earlier than did those in the control group (65.5±7.5 years vs. 67.3±7.6 years, P<0.001). Additionally, a lower dose of levothyroxine was associated with a reduced risk of fractures.
Conclusion
In the clinical setting, the risk of fracture in women diagnosed with thyroid cancer after the age of 50 years was lower than that in the control group, which was caused by more proactive osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women with thyroid cancer.

Thyroid
Deep Learning Technology for Classification of Thyroid Nodules Using Multi-View Ultrasound Images: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Clinical Application: Jinyoung Kim, Min-Hee Kim, Dong-Jun Lim, Hankyeol Lee, Jae Jun Lee, Hyuk-Sang Kwon, Mee Kyoung Kim, Ki-Ho Song, Tae-Jung Kim, So Lyung Jung, Yong Oh Lee, Ki-Hyun Baek; Endocrinol Metab. 2025;40(2):216-224. Published online January 13, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2058

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This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of deep learning technology to thyroid ultrasound images for classification of thyroid nodules.
Methods
This retrospective analysis included ultrasound images of patients with thyroid nodules investigated by fine-needle aspiration at the thyroid clinic of a single center from April 2010 to September 2012. Thyroid nodules with cytopathologic results of Bethesda category V (suspicious for malignancy) or VI (malignant) were defined as thyroid cancer. Multiple deep learning algorithms based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) —ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet—were utilized, and Siamese neural networks facilitated multi-view analysis of paired transverse and longitudinal ultrasound images.
Results
Among 1,048 analyzed thyroid nodules from 943 patients, 306 (29%) were identified as thyroid cancer. In a subgroup analysis of transverse and longitudinal images, longitudinal images showed superior prediction ability. Multi-view modeling, based on paired transverse and longitudinal images, significantly improved the model performance; with an accuracy of 0.82 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.80 to 0.86) with ResNet50, 0.83 (95% CI, 0.83 to 0.88) with DenseNet201, and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.84) with EfficientNetv2_ s. Training with high-resolution images obtained using the latest equipment tended to improve model performance in association with increased sensitivity.
Conclusion
CNN algorithms applied to ultrasound images demonstrated substantial accuracy in thyroid nodule classification, indicating their potential as valuable tools for diagnosing thyroid cancer. However, in real-world clinical settings, it is important to aware that model performance may vary depending on the quality of images acquired by different physicians and imaging devices.

Thyroid
Distinct Impacts of Clinicopathological and Mutational Profiles on Long-Term Survival and Recurrence in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Moon Young Oh, Kyong Yeun Jung, Hoonsung Choi, Young Jun Chai, Sun Wook Cho, Su-jin Kim, Kyu Eun Lee, Eun-Jae Chung, Do Joon Park, Young Joo Park, Han-Kwang Yang; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(6):877-890. Published online November 5, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2027

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub: Background
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has a poorer prognosis than differentiated thyroid cancers; however, comprehensive data on the long-term outcomes of MTC remain scarce. This study investigated the extended clinical outcomes of MTC and aimed to identify prognostic factors.
Methods
Patients diagnosed with MTC between 1980 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics, longterm clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality were analyzed.
Results
The study included 226 patients (144 women, 82 men). The disease-specific survival (DSS) rates for all MTC patients at 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-year intervals were 92.7%, 89.4%, 74.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 71.1%, 56.1%, 40.2%, and 32.1% at these intervals. DSS was comparable between the groups from 1980–2009 and 2010–2020 (P=0.995); however, the 1980–2009 group had significantly lower RFS rates (P=0.031). The 2010–2020 group exhibited greater extents of surgical and lymph node dissection (P=0.003) and smaller tumors (P=0.003). Multivariate analysis identified extrathyroidal extension as the strongest prognostic factor for both RFS and DSS. Age >55 years and tumor size of ≥2 cm were also significant prognostic factors for DSS, while hereditary disease and lymph node metastasis were significant for RFS. Survival analysis after propensity-score matching of rearranged during transfection (RET)-negative and non-screened RET-positive groups showed comparable DSS but longer RFS in the RET-negative group.
Conclusion
Extrathyroidal extension was identified as the strongest prognostic factor for RFS and DSS. Older age and larger tumor size were associated with decreased DSS, while RET mutation and lymph node metastasis significantly impacted RFS.

Thyroid
Adequate Dose of Levothyroxine for Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Suppression after Total Thyroidectomy in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Hyun Jin Ryu, Min Sun Choi, Hyunju Park, Tae Hyuk Kim, Jae Hoon Chung, So Young Park, Sun Wook Kim; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(4):615-621. Published online August 7, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1896

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Background
The adequate dose of levothyroxine (LT4) for patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy (TT) for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is uncertain. We evaluated the LT4 dose required to achieve mild thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression in DTC patients after TT.
Methods
The electronic medical records of patients who underwent TT for DTC and received mild TSH suppression therapy were reviewed. Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between LT4 dose (μg/kg) and an ordinal group divided by body mass index (BMI). We also evaluated the trend in LT4 doses among groups divided by BMI and age.
Results
In total, 123 patients achieved mild TSH suppression (0.1 to 0.5 mIU/L). The BMI variable was divided into three categories: <23 kg/m² (n=46), ≥23 and <25 kg/m² (n=30), and ≥25 kg/m² (n=47). In the linear regression analysis, BMI was negatively associated with the LT4 dose after adjusting for age and sex (P<0.001). The LT4 doses required to achieve mild TSH suppression based on the BMI categories were 1.86, 1.71, and 1.71 μg/kg, respectively (P for trend <0.001). Further analysis with groups divided by age and BMI revealed that a higher BMI was related to a lower LT4 dose, especially in younger patients aged 20 to 39 (P for trend=0.011).
Conclusion
The study results suggest an appropriate LT4 dose for mild TSH suppression after TT based on body weight in patients with DTC. Considering body weight, BMI, and age in estimating LT4 doses might help to achieve the target TSH level promptly.

Citations

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Effects of 131I and TSH suppression therapy on METTL3, METTL14 levels and recurrence in thyroid cancer
Li-Guo Yang
American Journal of Cancer Research.2025; 15(1): 42. CrossRef
Developing a machine learning-based predictive model for levothyroxine dosage estimation in hypothyroid patients: a retrospective study
Tran Thi Ngan, Dang Huong Tra, Ngo Thi Quynh Mai, Hoang Van Dung, Nguyen Van Khai, Pham Van Linh, Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong
Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Tailoring TSH suppression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: evidence, controversies, and future directions
Xinxin Song, Xin Zhi, Linxue Qian
Endocrine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Risk of Osteoporotic Fractures among Patients with Thyroid Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Eu Jeong Ku, Won Sang Yoo, Yu Been Hwang, Subin Jang, Jooyoung Lee, Shinje Moon, Eun Kyung Lee, Hwa Young Ahn
Endocrinology and Metabolism.2025; 40(2): 225. CrossRef
Levothyroxine Dosing for Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Suppression in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer after Total Thyroidectomy
Mijin Kim
Endocrinology and Metabolism.2024; 39(4): 576. CrossRef

Thyroid
Prognosis of Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Ji Young Kim, Jae Kyung Myung, Soyun Kim, Kyung Tae, Yun Young Choi, Soo Jin Lee; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(4):590-602. Published online June 27, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.1927

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Background
Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) accounts for a small portion of thyroid carcinomas but contributes to a significant proportion of thyroid carcinoma-associated deaths. The clinicopathological prognostic factors and clinical outcomes of PDTC remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with PDTC after curative treatment.
Methods
A comprehensive search was performed up to September 2023. We included studies investigating treatment outcomes in patients with PDTC who underwent initial surgery. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted. In this meta-analysis, the enrolled PDTC histological criteria included 3rd, 4th, and 5th World Health Organization (WHO) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) classification. A random-effects model was used for the pooled proportion analysis. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic factors.
Results
Twenty retrospective studies published between 2007 and 2023, including 1,294 patients, met all inclusion criteria. Studies that diagnosed PDTC based on various histological criteria including 3rd WHO (n=5), 4th WHO (n=12), 5th WHO (n=2), and MSKCC (n=1) were included. Overall, 5-year DFS and 5-year OS were 49.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 42.3 to 56.4) and 73.8% (95% CI, 66.5 to 79.9), with moderate heterogeneity of 58% and 55%, respectively. In meta-regression analysis, extrathyroidal extension (ETE) was a prognostic factor for OS.
Conclusion
The meta-analysis of DFS and OS in patients with PDTC show the moderate heterogeneity with a variety of histological criteria. ETE appears to have a significant impact on OS, regardless of histological criteria.

Citations

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Aggressive Types of Malignant Thyroid Neoplasms
Maria Boudina, Eleana Zisimopoulou, Persefoni Xirou, Alexandra Chrisoulidou
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(20): 6119. CrossRef

Review Article

Thyroid
Metabolic Reprogramming in Thyroid Cancer: Sang-Hyeon Ju, Minchul Song, Joung Youl Lim, Yea Eun Kang, Hyon-Seung Yi, Minho Shong; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(3):425-444. Published online June 10, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1802

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Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy with increasing incidence globally. Although most cases can be treated effectively, some cases are more aggressive and have a higher risk of mortality. Inhibiting RET and BRAF kinases has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of thyroid cancer, particularly in cases of advanced or aggressive disease. However, the development of resistance mechanisms may limit the efficacy of these kinase inhibitors. Therefore, developing precise strategies to target thyroid cancer cell metabolism and overcome resistance is a critical area of research for advancing thyroid cancer treatment. In the field of cancer therapeutics, researchers have explored combinatorial strategies involving dual metabolic inhibition and metabolic inhibitors in combination with targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy to overcome the challenge of metabolic plasticity. This review highlights the need for new therapeutic approaches for thyroid cancer and discusses promising metabolic inhibitors targeting thyroid cancer. It also discusses the challenges posed by metabolic plasticity in the development of effective strategies for targeting cancer cell metabolism and explores the potential advantages of combined metabolic targeting.

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Original Articles

Thyroid
Utilizing Immunoglobulin G4 Immunohistochemistry for Risk Stratification in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Associated with Hashimoto Thyroiditis: Faridul Haq, Gyeongsin Park, Sora Jeon, Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa, Chan Kwon Jung; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(3):468-478. Published online May 20, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.1923

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Background
Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is suspected to correlate with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) development. While some HT cases exhibit histologic features of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease, the relationship of HT with PTC progression remains unestablished.
Methods
This cross-sectional study included 426 adult patients with PTC (≥1 cm) undergoing thyroidectomy at an academic thyroid center. HT was identified based on its typical histologic features. IgG4 and IgG immunohistochemistry were performed. Wholeslide images of immunostained slides were digitalized. Positive plasma cells per 2 mm² were counted using QuPath and a pre-trained deep learning model. The primary outcome was tumor structural recurrence post-surgery.
Results
Among the 426 PTC patients, 79 were diagnosed with HT. With a 40% IgG4 positive/IgG plasma cell ratio as the threshold for diagnosing IgG4-related disease, a cutoff value of >150 IgG4 positive plasma cells per 2 mm² was established. According to this criterion, 53% (43/79) of HT patients were classified as IgG4-related. The IgG4-related HT subgroup presented a more advanced cancer stage than the IgG4-non-related HT group (P=0.038). The median observation period was 109 months (range, 6 to 142). Initial assessment revealed 43 recurrence cases. Recurrence-free survival periods showed significant (P=0.023) differences, with patients with IgG4 non-related HT showing the longest period, followed by patients without HT and those with IgG4-related HT.
Conclusion
This study effectively stratified recurrence risk in PTC patients based on HT status and IgG4-related subtypes. These findings may contribute to better-informed treatment decisions and patient care strategies.

Citations

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Advanced pathological subtype classification of thyroid cancer using efficientNetB0
Hongpeng Guo, Junjie Zhang, You Li, Xinghe Pan, Chenglin Sun
Diagnostic Pathology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Thyroid
Clinical Manifestations of Malignant Struma Ovarii: A Retrospective Case Series in a Tertiary Hospital in Korea: Hyun Jin Ryu, Da Eun Leem, Ji Hyun Yoo, Tae Hyuk Kim, Sun Wook Kim, Jae Hoon Chung; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(3):461-467. Published online May 9, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1863

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Background
Malignant struma ovarii (MSO) is a very rare disease in which thyroid cancer originates from the ovary. Because it is rare for endocrinologists to encounter patients with MSO, endocrinologists may have a limited understanding of the disease. Therefore, we analyzed and introduced its incidence and clinical course in a tertiary hospital in Korea.
Methods
We retrospectively investigated the clinical data of 170 patients who underwent surgery for struma ovarii at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Samsung Medical Center from 1994 to May 2023.
Results
Among 170 patients with struma ovarii, 15 (8.8%) were diagnosed with MSO. The median age of patients with MSO was 48 years (range, 30 to 74), and the median tumor size was 3.3 cm (range, 0.5 to 11.0). Papillary thyroid carcinoma (46.7%) was the most common subtypes followed by follicular thyroid carcinoma (26.7%). All patients were diagnosed after surgery, with no predictions from preoperative imaging. The surgical extent of gynecological surgery was variable. Four patients (26.7%) underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, while one underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy for MSO with peritoneal metastasis. Except for one patient who underwent hemithyroidectomy, thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapy was performed in four patients. Only 53% of MSO patients were consulted by an endocrinologist. With a median follow-up period of 33 months (range, 4 to 156), 11 patients remained disease-free, one experienced progression with peritoneal seeding, and the remaining one was in treatment. There have been no recurrences or deaths due to MSO.
Conclusion
An endocrinologist should be involved in establishing a therapeutic plan for MSO, for which the overall prognosis is generally favorable.

Citations

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Diagnostic Value of Nuclear Hybrid Imaging in Malignant Struma Ovarii: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
Claudiu Peștean, Doina Piciu
Diagnostics.2024; 14(23): 2630. CrossRef
The Role of Radioiodine Therapy in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Arising from Struma Ovarii: A Systematic Review
Pietro Bellini, Francesco Dondi, Valentina Zilioli, Elisa Gatta, Maria Cavadini, Carlo Cappelli, Gian Luca Viganò, Francesco Bertagna
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(24): 7729. CrossRef

Thyroid
Prognostic Roles of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer Treated with Lenvatinib: Chae A Kim, Mijin Kim, Meihua Jin, Hee Kyung Kim, Min Ji Jeon, Dong Jun Lim, Bo Hyun Kim, Ho-Cheol Kang, Won Bae Kim, Dong Yeob Shin, Won Gu Kim; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(2):334-343. Published online April 4, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1854

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Background
Inflammatory biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), serve as valuable prognostic indicators in various cancers. This multicenter, retrospective cohort study assessed the treatment outcomes of lenvatinib in 71 patients with radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory thyroid cancer, considering the baseline inflammatory biomarkers.
Methods
This study retrospectively included patients from five tertiary hospitals in Korea whose complete blood counts were available before lenvatinib treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated based on the median value of inflammatory biomarkers.
Results
No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed among patients grouped according to the inflammatory biomarkers, except for older patients with a higher-than-median NLR (≥2) compared to their counterparts with a lower NLR (P= 0.01). Patients with a higher-than-median NLR had significantly shorter PFS (P=0.02) and OS (P=0.017) than those with a lower NLR. In multivariate analysis, a higher-than-median NLR was significantly associated with poor OS (hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.24 to 7.29; P=0.015). However, neither the LMR nor the PLR was associated with PFS. A higher-than-median LMR (≥3.9) was significantly associated with prolonged OS compared to a lower LMR (P=0.036). In contrast, a higher-than-median PLR (≥142.1) was associated with shorter OS compared to a lower PLR (P=0.039).
Conclusion
Baseline inflammatory biomarkers can serve as predictive indicators of PFS and OS in patients with RAI-refractory thyroid cancer treated with lenvatinib.

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Nomogram Model for Prognosis of Distant Metastatic DTC Based on Inflammatory and Clinicopathological Factors
Chenghui Lu, Guoqiang Wang, Zengmei Si, Fengqi Li, Xinfeng Liu, Na Han, Congcong Wang, Jiao Li, Xufu Wang
Journal of the Endocrine Society.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Thyroid Big Data Articles (National Health Insurance Service Database)
Risk of Subsequent Primary Cancers in Thyroid Cancer Survivors according to the Dose of Levothyroxine: A Nationwide Cohort Study: Min-Su Kim, Jang Won Lee, Min Kyung Hyun, Young Shin Song; Endocrinol Metab. 2024;39(2):288-299. Published online March 4, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2023.1815

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Background
Current research has not investigated the effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression therapy with levothyroxine on the risk for developing subsequent primary cancers (SPCs). This study aimed to investigate the association between levothyroxine dosage and the risk for SPCs in thyroid cancer patients.
Methods
We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study form Korean National Health Insurance database. This cohort included 342,920 thyroid cancer patients between 2004 and 2018. Patients were divided into the non-levothyroxine and the levothyroxine groups, the latter consisting of four dosage subgroups according to quartiles. Cox proportional hazard models were performed to evaluate the risk for SPCs by adjusting for variables including cumulative doses of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy.
Results
A total of 17,410 SPC cases were observed over a median 7.3 years of follow-up. The high-dose levothyroxine subgroups (Q3 and Q4) had a higher risk for SPC (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.14 and 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.24 and 1.17– 1.37; respectively) compared to the non-levothyroxine group. In particular, the adjusted HR of stomach (1.31), colorectal (1.60), liver and biliary tract (1.95), and pancreatic (2.48) cancers were increased in the Q4 subgroup. We consistently observed a positive association between high levothyroxine dosage per body weight and risk of SPCs, even after adjusting for various confounding variables. Moreover, similar results were identified in the stratified analyses according to thyroidectomy type and RAI therapy, as well as in a subgroup analysis of patients with good adherence.
Conclusion
High-dose levothyroxine use was associated with increased risk of SPCs among thyroid cancer patients regardless of RAI therapy.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Tailoring TSH suppression in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: evidence, controversies, and future directions
Xinxin Song, Xin Zhi, Linxue Qian
Endocrine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The Levothyroxine Odyssey: Navigating the Path of Survivorship in Thyroid Cancer
Jin Hwa Kim
Endocrinology and Metabolism.2024; 39(2): 283. CrossRef
Levothyroxine Dosage and the Increased Risk of Second Primary Malignancy in Thyroid Cancer Survivors
Young Joo Park
Clinical Thyroidology®.2024; 36(7): 258. CrossRef

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