Thyroid neoplasm is among the most common cancers in women and its annual incidence, about 2.5%, increased over the last two decades mainly because of our improved ability to diagnose malignant transformation in small non-palpable thyroid nodules. Most of the epithelial thyroid cancers are denoted as differentiated Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas (PTC) and Follicular Thyroid Carcinomas (FTC) which are thought, following dedifferentiation, to give rise to the more aggressive Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (PDTC), and the incurable Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinomas (ATC). Although derived from the same cell type, the different thyroid neoplasms show definite histological features, biological activities and degree of differentiation as a result of different genetic alterations. Over the last few years, different clinical aspects involved in the management of patients affected by thyroid nodules or thyroid malignancies, including diagnosis, treatment modality and follow-up, are rapidly changing with the aim to resolve the still present clinical uncertainties.
Over the last years, a great advance in the comprehension of the molecular pathogenesis underlying thyroid cancer progression, particularly of the papillary thyroid cancer (representing the most common thyroid malignancy), has led to a new classification of thyroid lesions into molecular subtypes with potential positive impact: i) on the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid lesions; ii) prediction of disease outcome; iii) patient’s tailored therapy. In addition, ultrasound (US) assessment of thyroid parenchyma has witnessed over the last decade a dramatic improvement with the introduction of new US software, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and US-elastography, with the latter now recognized as an essential part of thyroid nodule ultrasound examination. Along with new surgical approaches for the initial thyroid cancer therapy and the design of small molecules inhibitors shown to be effective in the treatment of the more aggressive thyroid cancers, these are paving the way for an increased diagnostic accuracy and the adoption of patient’s tailored follow up and therapy ultimately capable to increase patient’s quality of life.
Main aim of the present issue is to provide to the journal's readers the most updated information regarding the different clinical aspects involved in the management of thyroid cancer patients. Main topics to be included in the issue are:
- State of art in the cytological diagnosis of thyroid nodules;
- New advances in ultrasound examination of thyroid nodules;
- Clinical utility of the new molecular and histological classification of thyroid lesions;
- State of art of radiometabolic therapy in thyroid cancer patients in response to diagnoses;
- Emerging approaches in the prognostic stratification and follow up of thyroid cancer patients;
- E-learning approaches to the clinical management of thyroid cancer patients.
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology
Thyroid neoplasm is among the most common cancers in women and its annual incidence, about 2.5%, increased over the last two decades mainly because of our improved ability to diagnose malignant transformation in small non-palpable thyroid nodules. Most of the epithelial thyroid cancers are denoted as differentiated Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas (PTC) and Follicular Thyroid Carcinomas (FTC) which are thought, following dedifferentiation, to give rise to the more aggressive Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (PDTC), and the incurable Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinomas (ATC). Although derived from the same cell type, the different thyroid neoplasms show definite histological features, biological activities and degree of differentiation as a result of different genetic alterations. Over the last few years, different clinical aspects involved in the management of patients affected by thyroid nodules or thyroid malignancies, including diagnosis, treatment modality and follow-up, are rapidly changing with the aim to resolve the still present clinical uncertainties.
Over the last years, a great advance in the comprehension of the molecular pathogenesis underlying thyroid cancer progression, particularly of the papillary thyroid cancer (representing the most common thyroid malignancy), has led to a new classification of thyroid lesions into molecular subtypes with potential positive impact: i) on the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid lesions; ii) prediction of disease outcome; iii) patient’s tailored therapy. In addition, ultrasound (US) assessment of thyroid parenchyma has witnessed over the last decade a dramatic improvement with the introduction of new US software, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and US-elastography, with the latter now recognized as an essential part of thyroid nodule ultrasound examination. Along with new surgical approaches for the initial thyroid cancer therapy and the design of small molecules inhibitors shown to be effective in the treatment of the more aggressive thyroid cancers, these are paving the way for an increased diagnostic accuracy and the adoption of patient’s tailored follow up and therapy ultimately capable to increase patient’s quality of life.
Main aim of the present issue is to provide to the journal's readers the most updated information regarding the different clinical aspects involved in the management of thyroid cancer patients. Main topics to be included in the issue are:
- State of art in the cytological diagnosis of thyroid nodules;
- New advances in ultrasound examination of thyroid nodules;
- Clinical utility of the new molecular and histological classification of thyroid lesions;
- State of art of radiometabolic therapy in thyroid cancer patients in response to diagnoses;
- Emerging approaches in the prognostic stratification and follow up of thyroid cancer patients;
- E-learning approaches to the clinical management of thyroid cancer patients.
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology
