Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33763983›Full record

ArticleCancer medicine2021

The gray zone of thyroid nodules: Using a nomogram to provide malignancy risk assessment and guide patient management.

Elham Yousefi, Gloria H Sura, Jonathan Somma

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Elham YousefiDepartment of Pathology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Gloria H SuraDepartment of Pathology, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4817-458X
Jonathan SommaDepartment of Pathology, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5617-833X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThyroid nodules have a low prevalence of malignancy and most proven cancers do not behave aggressively. Thus, risk-stratification of nodules is a critical step to avoid surgical overtreatment. We hypothesized that a risk management system superior to those currently in use could be created to reduce the number of clinically indeterminate nodules (i.e., the "gray zone") by concurrently considering the malignancy risks conferred by clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic variables.

methodsThyroidectomy cases were reviewed from three institutions. Their benign versus malignant outcome was used to evaluate the variables for correlation. A binary logistic regression model was trained and, using indeterminate nodules with Bethesda III and IV results, validated. A scoring nomogram was designed to demonstrate the application of the model in clinical practice.

resultsOne hundred thirty thyroidectomies (28% malignant) met inclusion criteria. The final logistic regression model included difficulty in swallowing, hypothyroidism, echogenicity, hypervascularity, margins, calcification, and cytology diagnosis as input parameters. The model was highly successful in determining the outcome (p value: 0.001) with a R

conclusionsWe report a model for risk assessment of thyroid nodules that has the potential to significantly reduce indeterminates and surgical overtreatment. We illustrate its application via a straightforward nomogram, which integrates clinical, ultrasonographic, and cytologic data, and can be used to create clear, evidence-based management plans for patients.

Indexed as

NomogramsDiagnosis, DifferentialDisease ManagementFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMargins of ExcisionMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentThyroidectomyThyroid NeoplasmsThyroid Nodulefine-needle biopsyrisk assessmentthyroidectomythyroid neoplasmsthyroid nodulesultrasonography

Identifiers

PMID33763983
PMCPMC8026948

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.