The prevalence and associated predictors for Bethesda III–VI for reporting thyroid cytopathology in Royal Commission Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer is increasing globally and is currently the most prevalent endocrine malignancy. Recent data show an increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are the cornerstones in managing thyroid nodules. We conducted this study to evaluate the prevalence and the associated predictors for thyroid nodule Bethesda III–VI in eastern KSA. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between January 2015 and 31 August 2021. The participants were recruited patients who received a thyroid ultrasound and ultrasound-guided thyroid FNAC, using the thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and the Bethesda Classification, respectively. Result: Three hundred and ten patients who underwent thyroid FNAC were enrolled in the study. The median (interquartile, IQR) age was 47.0 (20.0) years, and 266 (85.8%) of them were females. The median (IQR) body mass index was 30.2 (7.6) kg/m2. Out of these participants, 64.8% were euthyroid, 27.4% had hypothyroidism and 7.7% had hyperthyroidism. The ACR TI-RADS-3, 4 and 5 were 51.3%, 46.1% and 2.6%, respectively. The Bethesda outcome of thyroid FNAC I–VI was 5.2%, 63.9%, 15.5%, 5.8%, 3.5% and 6.1%, respectively. The risk for malignancy (Bethesda III–VI) was documented in 31.0% and atypia of undetermined significance was most prevalent (15.5%). A higher ACR TI-RADS score was associated with a higher risk of malignancy: ACR TI-RADS-3 (20.8%), ACR TI-RADS-4 (39.2%) and ACR TI-RADS-5 (87.5%). In a multivariate analysis, only the ACR TI-RADS score was significantly associated with the outcome of thyroid FNAC: ACR TI-RADS-4 [OR = 2.59 (95% CI = 1.54–4.36)] and ACR TI-RADS-5 [OR = 29.03 (95% CI = 3.44–245.07)]. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of Bethesda III–VI and atypia of undetermined significance was most prevalent. A thyroid ultrasound report for TI-RADS was significantly associated with the outcome of thyroid FNAC and is a reliable tool in the absence of molecular testing for thyroid cancer.

The Prevalence and Associated Predictors for Diabetes Mellitus in Adult Patients With Thyroid Nodules

“…This may be explained by the influence of Dio2, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of T4 to T3 [ 40 ], which is associated with an increased risk of increased insulin resistance and T2DM [ 39 ]. The results of the present study are in accordance with the outcomes of many studies that have shown no significant associations between DM and other associated predictors (gender, FT4, TSH, thyroid status, hematological indices, vitamin D levels and the ACR TI-RADS scoring system) [ 38 , 58 - 60 ].…”

Thyroid Malignancy among Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid Lesions in a Tertiary Care Centre

“…Likewise, the observed prevalence in Saudi Arabia (6.1%), Ethiopia (11.5%), and the United Kingdom (18.3%) surpassed the findings of the current investigation. 3 , 4 This could be due to differences in variances in the definition of malignancy, the selection of study participants, the methods employed for data collection and analysis, and differences in the sample size can contribute to the observed differences.…”

“…2 The prevalence of thyroid cancer is increasing globally, and it is the most prevalent endocrine cancer worldwide. 3 About 1-5% of all cancers in women and less than two percent in men worldwide are thyroid cancers. 4 About 5-10% of thyroid lesions are malignant and require surgical and pharmaceutical treatment.…”