Clinical outcomes of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features: a single-center experience

Duarte Miguel Antonio; Ruivo Leonor Branquinho; Lopes Catarina Isabel; Grine Severino Mariana de; Lopes Marta Vaz; Carolina Peixe; Rocha Jose Vicente; Mariana Lopes-Pinto; Dolores Lopez-Presa; Vale Sonia do; Nobre Ema Lacerda

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.P1102

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 P1102 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.P1102

ECEESPE2025 Poster Presentations Thyroid (141 abstracts)

Clinical outcomes of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features: a single-center experience

Miguel António Duarte ¹ , Leonor Branquinho Ruivo ² , Catarina Isabel Lopes ¹ , Mariana de Griné Severino ¹ , Marta Vaz Lopes ¹ , Carolina Peixe ¹ , José Vicente Rocha ¹ , Mariana Lopes-Pinto ¹ , Dolores López-Presa ² , Sónia do Vale ^1,3 & Ema Lacerda Nobre ^1,3

Author affiliations

¹Serviço de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospital de Santa Maria, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal; ²Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Hospital de Santa Maria, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal; ³Clínica Universitária de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

JOINT3885

Introduction: Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is a thyroid tumor characterized by its indolent behaviour. Although similarities are found with papillary thyroid carcinoma, NIFTP is thought to be a pre-malignant lesion with hallmark features such as being non-invasive and contained within the tumor capsule. This study aims to analyse the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of NIFTP in order to optimize treatment and reduce overtreatment.

Materials and Methods: We reviewed our hospital’s pathology database for NIFTP cases between 2014 and 2024, excluding those with separate foci of carcinoma. Clinical data from 50 patients meeting these criteria was retrospectively analysed, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months.

Results: Of the 50 patients diagnosed with NIFTP, 74% (n = 37) were female and the mean age at diagnosis was 54.5 years. The median follow-up period was 20.3 months. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 82% (n = 41) of cases, while 9 patients underwent lobectomy. Tumor size ranged from 2 to 78 mm, with a median size of 22 mm. All tumors were fully excised, with clear margins in 92% (n = 46) and close margins in 4 cases. No lymph node metastases were observed at diagnosis, and in the patients with available nodal tissue (n = 12), there were no positive findings. None of the patients received postoperative radioactive iodine therapy. One patient required reoperation to remove remnant thyroid tissue due to compressive symptoms, which was confirmed as benign. At the latest follow-up, none of the patients had experienced recurrence.

Conclusion: This study reaffirms the very low recurrence risk associated with NIFTP, indicating an excellent prognosis even with less extensive surgical approaches, such as lobectomy. Our findings support the possibility of managing patients with NIFTP similarly to those with follicular adenomas, in the absence of separate foci of carcinoma or suspicious features like contralateral nodules in patients who underwent lobectomy.