A expressão galectina-3 como marcador de malignidade de neoplasias de tireóide

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

Fine needle aspiration biopsy is considered to be the best propedeutic method used in evaluation of a thyroid nodule. However, in some situations, it is impossible to cytologically distinguish a malignant and a begnin disease; therefore, surgeons must indicate thyroidectomy for a diagnostic purpose. This results that most suspect nodules are referred to surgery and, in histopathologic analysis, more than two thirds are considered begnin (goiters, hiperplasias and adenomas). This situation lead to a search for a molecular marker that could discriminate, on cytological smears, those obtained from malignant nodules. Galectin-3 is considered a strong candidate for that function. To test this hypothesis a retrospective study was conducted in order to evaluate the expression of galectin-3 in thyroidectomy specimens using immunohistochemistry. Fifteen cases of nodular goiter, 24 of follicular adenoma, 29 of papillary carcinoma and 22 of follicular carcinoma were selected. Galectin-3 expression was compared to histopathologic diagnosis (gold-standard). Values for sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio were 92,16%, 94,38%, 90,38%, 95,45%, 93,57%, 16,40 and 0,08. Prevalence of disease was corrected for 5%, leading to positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy of 46,33%, 99,56% and 94,27%. This data, suggest that galectin-3 could be an important aid in diagnostic definition.

ASSUNTO(S)

galectina-3 medicina imunohistoquímica neoplasias de tireóide

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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