Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) in Mureș County, Romania: incidence and impact of reclassification over a six-year period (2016-2021)

Adela-Corina Nechifor-Boilă; Cota Ancuta; Szasz Emoke; Cătană Ramona; Borda Angela

doi:10.2478/amma-2023-0048

Adela-Corina Nechifor-Boilă Department of Histology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu-Mureş
Cota Ancuta 1. Department of Histology, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 38th Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540139
Szasz Emoke 1. Department of Histology, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 38th Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 5401392. Department of Pathology, Târgu-Mures Clinical County Hospital, 28 First December 1918 Street, Târgu-Mures, Romania, 540061
Cătană Ramona 1. Department of Histology, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 38th Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540139;3. Department of Endocrinology, Târgu-Mureș Emergency County Hospital, 50 Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540139
Borda Angela 1. Department of Histology, Center for Advanced Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, 38th Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540139;4. Department of Pathology, Târgu-Mureș Emergency County Hospital, 50 Gh. Marinescu Street, Târgu-Mureş, Romania, 540139.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amma-2023-0048

Keywords: NIFTP; incidence; impact; reclassification.

Abstract

Objective: NIFTP nomenclature was proposed in 2016 and revised in 2018. The aim of our study was to retrospectively assess the incidence and the epidemiological trend of NIFTP in Mures county, Romania, over a six-year period (2016-2021).

Methods: All NIFTP cases registered in Târgu-Mureş Pathology Departments between 2016-2021 were reviewed. The incidence of NIFTP was calculated by dividing the number of NIFTPs with the number of PTCs. Further on, the incidence of NIFTP between 2016-2018 was compared to the incidence between 2019-2021, 2018 marking the year when the diagnostic criteria of NIFTP were revised.

Results: Forty-six cases of NIFTP were diagnosed in our departments between 2016-2021, with an overall NIFTP incidence of 17.9 % [CI (95%): 7.6-32.5] among the 257 PTCs. When the incidence of NIFTP was compared between the two periods (2016-2018 versus 2019-2021), we found out that the overall incidence of NIFTP has dropped from 21.4 % [CI (95%): -14.5-60.1] to 15% [CI (95%): -8.2-43] in the second evaluated period (p=0.034).

Conclusion: The overall NIFTP incidence was low in our departments between 2016-2021. The fact that the incidence decreased after refining the diagnostic criteria in 2018, emphasize the need to apply very stringent histomorphologic criteria when making a diagnosis of NIFTP, in order to avoid overtreatment a misdiagnosis and/or an overtreatment of a tumor with indolent behavior.