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Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction–based detection of thyroid‐specific gene expression in fine‐needle aspirate for thyroid cancer recurrence evaluation: A case report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Azoury Saïd C.,
Aufforth Rachel,
He Mei,
Yang Zhiming,
Nilubol Naris,
Kebebew Electron
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24054
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid cancer , papillary thyroid cancer , follicular thyroid cancer , thyroid , thyroidectomy , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction , pathology , thyroglobulin , thyroid peroxidase , cytology , fine needle aspiration , adenoma , gene expression , gene , biopsy , biology , biochemistry
Background Despite improved surveillance for patients after total thyroidectomy for cancer, there has yet to be a diagnostic method that detects recurrence with 100% accuracy. Methods A 60‐year‐old woman with a family history of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation. On postoperative surveillance, ultrasound examination of the neck demonstrated a focus concerning for recurrence and a fine‐needle aspirate (FNA) was performed. The cytology report was nondiagnostic and, hence, RNA was extracted from the specimen followed by reverse transcription (cDNA), and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) to detect thyroid‐specific gene expression (thyroglobulin = Tg ; sodium‐iodide symporter = NIS ; thyroperoxidase = TPO ). Results Expression of select thyroid‐specific genes was demonstrated, and given the patient's remarkable cancer and family history, surgical resection was elected. Final pathology demonstrated follicular adenoma. Conclusion This case demonstrates a novel approach used in the evaluation for recurrent thyroid cancer as an adjunct to FNA cytology. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: E165–E168, 2015