Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the procedure of choice in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Nodules with indeterminate cytological categories, Bethesda III and IV, pose challenges in clinical practice and are frequently submitted to diagnostic surgery. Immunohistochemistry provides complementary information to cytological findings but its reliable use on FNA samples is hampered by technical problems. CytoFoam Core (CFCS), an absorbent foam device inserted into th...

The majority of thyroid nodules do not need treatment after the exclusion of malignancy or abnormal thyroid function due to the usually slow growth rate of benign thyroid lesions. Clinical and US follow-up should be performed every 1–2 years. A repeated US-FNA is appropriate only in case of relevant nodule growth or suspicious US changes. A minority of benign nodules present a progressive growth that causes local pressure symptoms or patient’s concern. To avoid unnec...

Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the diagnostic procedure of choice in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Nodules with indeterminate cytological categories, Tir3A and Tir3B according to Italian cytological classification, pose diagnostic challenges in clinical practice and are frequently submitted to diagnostic surgery. CytoFoam Core (CF) (Diapath, Martinengo, Italy) uses an absorbent foam device inserted into the needle hub to collect the cytological sample aspirat...

Objectives: The use of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment aiming to improve fertility in euthyroid women with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), is not supported by the available evidence, however the extent to which this is applied in clinical practice is unknown. The aim of the study was to document the demographic, work-related characteristics, and therapeutic choices of European physicians in the case of euthyroid infertile women positive for TPOAb.<p class="ab...

Objectives: Some hypothyroid patients are critical of their care, although this appears to vary between countries. The quality of thyroid care delivered, and the perceived patient experience may be influenced by characteristics of specialists such as age, sex, experience, and workplace setting. Here, we aimed to explore geographical differences in thyroid specialist characteristics.Methods: THESIS is a large European questionnaire survey of thyroid speci...

Background: Hypothyroidism is one of the most frequent conditions in endocrinology. Despite of that fact, indications for treatment differ among specialists in Spain.Aims: To identify attitudes of Spanish endocrinologists in the use of levothyroxine (LT4) therapy and the management of hypothyroidism.Methods: The members of the Sociedad Española de Endocrinología y Nutrición (Spanish Society of Endocrinology ...

The detection of thyroid nodules has been increasing over time, resulting in an extensive use of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and cytology. Tailored methods are required to improve the management of thyroid nodules, including algorithms and web-based tools. To assess the performance of the Thyroid Nodule App (TNAPP), a web-based, interactive algorithmic tool, in improving the management of thyroid nodules, we carried out a preliminary analysis on a cohort of outpatients. One h...

Objective: Thermal ablations (TA) are gaining ground as alternative options to conventional therapies for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. Little is known on the impact of nodule biology on the outcomes of TA. The aim of our study was evaluating the baseline immunocytochemistry profile of thyroid nodules that are poorly responsive to TA, in order to identify potential predictors of treatment response.Methods: we retrospectively selected by propensity ...

Background: Liver metastases occur in about 40–85% of patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET). NET usually run a rather indolent course but the 5-year survival is about 40% in patients with liver metastases versus 75–99% in subjects free of hepatic lesions. The most effective management and timing of treatment for patients with surgically unresectable metastases remains still unsettled.Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and clinic...

Background: Obesity represents a threatening worldwide epidemic but, beyond the guidelines recommendations, its modalities of treatment in the medical community appear as variable and not clearly defined. Aim of our survey was to assess the present real-world approach to obesity management in Italy.Methods: Online anonymous survey among the 2248 members of the Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AME). The survey included 8 questions about d...