Immunocytochemistry with cytokeratin 19 and anti-human mesothelial cell antibody (HBME1) increases the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid fine-needle aspirations: preliminary report of 150 liquid-based fine-needle aspirations with histological control.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are relatively common (7% of the population) but are malignant in only 5%-10% of cases. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to detect cancer can have > 90% sensitivity but only 50%-65% specificity because of false-positive results, which necessitates surgical controls. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of immunocytochemistry (ICC) of thyroid FNA to improve its sensitivity and specificity. METHODS: We prospectively collected 2038 thyroid FNAs, of which 1397 were FNA biopsies with liquid-based cytology (Thin-Prep-Hologic®). ICC with cytokeratin 19 and HBME1 antibodies (Dako® A/S) was used for all malignant cases and cases of atypical cells of undetermined significance (AUS), follicular neoplasm (FN), and nodules suspicious for malignancy-papillary thyroid carcinoma (SM-PTC) as well as some benign cases (abnormal features on radiography or benign on secondary FNA). ICC results were defined as "non-contributory," "favoring benign," "favoring malignant," or "indeterminate." Results for 150 cases were compared with histological controls for diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Of these 150 cases ICC was helpful for benign or malignant triage of 48 cases of AUS, FN, and SM-PTC (42% of these lesions). Six (4%) ICC results were false positive (favoring malignant with benign histology) but none were false negative (favoring benign with malignant histology). Results for indeterminate cytological cases favored malignant or benign disease with sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of 100%, 85.2%, 100%, and 86.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ICC of thyroid FNAs with cytokeratin 19 and HBME1 antibodies can reduce the false-positive and false-negative results of single morphological analyses. It can increase the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis, thus improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the need for surgical controls.

[Necessity to define thyroid reference values for better clinical interpretation]. / De la nécessité de bien définir les valeurs de référence des hormones thyroïdiennes pour une meilleure interprétation clinique.

Discordances were observed with thyroid reference range from BCF Access 2 analyser. The purpose of this study was to establish specific reference range value for free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyrotropin (TSH) in adult Meaux Hospital population. Samples from 308 adults aged from 18 to 65 years were studied. Patients (no pregnancy and no iodine contrast media used) after informed consent, were exempted of thyroidal, cardiac, renal, multiple-organ-failure illnesses. Thyroid assays, anti-TPO and anti-TG levels were measured on the BCF Access2 immunoassay system. This work exposes difficulties to define range values in order to better use the biomarker in the clinical context.

Clinical and biochemical characteristics of normotensive patients with primary aldosteronism: a comparison with hypertensive cases.

OBJECTIVE: It is unknown why some patients with biochemical evidence of primary aldosteronism (PA) do not develop hypertension. We aimed to compare clinical and biochemical characteristics of normotensive and hypertensive patients with PA. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Retrospective comparison of 10 normotensive and 168 hypertensive patients with PA for office or ambulatory blood pressure, serum potassium, plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations; the aldosterone:renin ratio, and tumour size. Comparison of initial hormonal pattern and drop in blood pressure following adrenalectomy in five normotensive and nine hypertensive patients matched for age, sex and body mass index. RESULTS: The 10 normotensive patients were women and presented with hypokalemia or an adrenal mass. Age, plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations were similar in normotensive and hypertensive cases, but kalemia and body mass index were significantly lower in the normotensive patients. Mean tumour diameter was larger in the normotensive patients than in the hypertensive matched patients with an adenoma (P < 0.01). In normotensive patients, diastolic blood pressure and upright aldosterone correlated negatively with kalemia. Blood pressure was lowered similarly after adrenalectomy in five normotensive PA patients and in their matched hypertensive counterparts. Aldosterone synthase expression was detected in four out of five adrenal tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Blood pressure may be normal in patients with well-documented PA. The occurrence of hypokalemia, despite a normal blood pressure profile, suggests that protective mechanisms against hypertension are present in normotensive patients.