Scholarlink

Background <p>While most thyroid nodules are benign, approximately 5–15% carry a risk of malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) remains a standard diagnostic tool; however, indeterminate cytological categories (Bethesda III and IV) pose a significant clinical challenge. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), especially microRNA-221 (miR-221), have been identified as potential non-invasive biomarkers for differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, offering new strategies to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and unnecessary surgeries. The study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of serum microRNA-221 expression in euthyroid Egyptian patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules, and to investigate its correlation with histopathological outcomes, Bethesda classification, TI-RADS scoring, and clinical data.</p> Results <p>Increasing TI-RADS and Bethesda scores were significantly associated with higher malignancy risk (<i>p</i> = 0.027). Serum miR-221 expression was significantly elevated in malignant cases, with a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 75%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 90%.</p> Conclusion <p>Circulating microRNA-221 is a promising non-invasive biomarker for predicting malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules, supporting its potential integration into diagnostic algorithms.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Evaluation of circulating microRNA-221 as a predictor of malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules among euthyroid patients

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月29日

查看全文
  • Asmaa Kassem,
  • Ghada Mohamed El-Sagheer,
  • Osama Abdelshakour Saif,
  • Hend Mohammed Moness,
  • Ahmed S. Issa,
  • Azza M. Abdel Zaher

摘要

Background

While most thyroid nodules are benign, approximately 5–15% carry a risk of malignancy. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) remains a standard diagnostic tool; however, indeterminate cytological categories (Bethesda III and IV) pose a significant clinical challenge. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), especially microRNA-221 (miR-221), have been identified as potential non-invasive biomarkers for differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, offering new strategies to reduce diagnostic uncertainty and unnecessary surgeries. The study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of serum microRNA-221 expression in euthyroid Egyptian patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules, and to investigate its correlation with histopathological outcomes, Bethesda classification, TI-RADS scoring, and clinical data.

Results

Increasing TI-RADS and Bethesda scores were significantly associated with higher malignancy risk (p = 0.027). Serum miR-221 expression was significantly elevated in malignant cases, with a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 75%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 90%.

Conclusion

Circulating microRNA-221 is a promising non-invasive biomarker for predicting malignancy in indeterminate thyroid nodules, supporting its potential integration into diagnostic algorithms.