Yuri E. Nikiforov, MD, PhD, professor of Pathology, vice chair of the Department of Pathology, director, Division of Molecular & Genomic Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, discusses research that demonstrated the need to reclassify a subtype of thyroid cancer as not cancerous.

Some subtypes of thyroid cancer are indolent while others are very aggressive, Nikiforov explains. However, a certain type of thyroid cancer is very indolent and rarely causes harm to patients. While conducting long-term folllow-up of this specific patient population, research concluded that most of the patients lived a normal live and did not experience any adverse outcomes associated with the disease.

Therefore, the name is suggested to be reclassified as noninvasive follicular tumors, also known as a noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features. They will no longer be labeled with the term 

Videos

Dr. Nikiforov on Reclassifying Subtype of Thyroid Cancer

Yuri E. Nikiforov, MD, PhD, Director of the Division of Molecular Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, believes that one of the most exciting new developments in the treatment of thyroid cancer is the identification of novel oncogenes that can be applied to the management of patients with thyroid nodules.

Nikiforov explains that thyroid nodules are very common in the general population; however, less than 5% of nodules are cancerous. Determining if a nodule is malignant and requires surgery has traditionally been assessed using a fine-needle aspiration biopsy that is examined under a microscope. On average, 1 in 5 of these assessments result in an indeterminate diagnosis and potentially unnecessary diagnostic surgical interventions.

To prevent unneeded surgery, a new molecular panel has been developed that reviews the fine-needle aspiration cytology for thyroid specific oncogenes, such as 

. This panel provides a more accurate preoperative assessment tool for thyroid nodules allowing for appropriate surgical intervention based on molecular aberrations.

View coverage from the 2012 ATA Annual Meeting

Dr. Yuri Nikiforov, from the University of Pittsburgh, on Molecular Testing to Diagnose Cancerous Thyroid Nodules.

Yuri E. Nikiforov, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Nikiforov on Reclassifying Subtype of Thyroid Cancer

Dr. Nikiforov on Molecular Testing of Thyroid Nodules