Singh Ospina, Naykky

AbstractBackgroundReflecting (“stop‐and‐think”) before rating may help patients consider the quality of shared decision making (SDM) and mitigate ceiling/halo effects that limit the performance of self‐reported SDM measures.MethodsWe asked a diverse patient sample from the United States to reflect on their care before completing the 3‐item CollaboRATE SDM measure. Study 1 focused on rephrasing CollaboRATE items to promote reflection before each item. Study 2 used 5 open‐ended questions (about what went well and what could be improved upon, signs that the clinician understood the patient's situation, how the situation will be addressed, and why this treatment plan makes sense) to invite reflection before using the whole scale. A linear analogue scale assessed the extent to which the plan of care made sense to the patient.ResultsIn Study 1, 107 participants completed surveys (84% response rate), 43 (40%) rated a clinical decision of which 27 (63%) after responding to reflection questions. Adding reflection lowered CollaboRATE scores (“less” SDM) and reduced the proportion of patients giving maximum (ceiling) scores (not statistically significant). In Study 2, 103 of 212 responders (49%) fully completed the version containing reflection questions. Reflection did not significantly change the distribution of CollaboRATE scores or of top scores. Participants indicated high scores on the sense of their care plan (mean 9.7 out of 10, SD 0.79). This rating was weakly correlated with total CollaboRATE scores (rho = .4, P = .0001).ConclusionReflection‐before‐quantification interventions may not improve the performance of patient‐reported measures of SDM with substantial ceiling/halo effects.

Abstract Evidence regarding the effects of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on adverse pregnancy outcomes and the ability of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment to prevent them is unclear. Available recommendations for the management of SCH during pregnancy are inconsistent. We conducted a nationwide survey among physicians assessing their knowledge of and current practices in the care of SCH in pregnancy and compared these with the most recent American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommendations. In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was sent to active US members of the Endocrine Society. This survey included questions about current practices and clinical scenarios aimed at assessing diagnostic evaluation, initiation of therapy, and follow-up in pregnant women with SCH. In total, 162 physicians completed the survey. ATA guidelines were reviewed by 76%, of whom 53% indicated that these guidelines actually changed their practice. Universal screening was the preferred screening approach (54%), followed by targeted screening (30%). For SCH diagnosis, most respondents (52%) endorsed a TSH level >2.5 mIU/L as a cutoff, whereas 5% endorsed a population-based cutoff as recommended by the ATA. The decision to initiate treatment varied depending on the specific clinical scenario; however, when LT4 was initiated, respondents expected a small/very small reduction in maternofetal complications. In conclusion, despite recently updated guidelines, there is still wide variation in clinical practices regarding the care of women with SCH in pregnancy. Highly reliable randomized trials are required to evaluate the effectiveness of the most uncertain treatment practices on the care of pregnant women with SCH.

AbstractObjectivesLong-term follow-up is important for determining performance characteristics of thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA).MethodsHistologic or 3 or more years of clinical follow-up was used to calculate performance characteristics of thyroid FNA before and after implementation of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC). The impact of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) classification was also investigated.ResultsFollow-up was obtained for 1,277/1,134 and 1,616/1,393 aspirates/patients (median clinical follow-up, 9.9 and 4.4 years, pre- and post-TBSRTC, respectively). Nondiagnostic, suspicious for follicular neoplasm, and suspicious for malignancy (SFM) diagnoses decreased and benign diagnoses increased post-TBSRTC, while atypical rate remained less than 1%. Negative predictive value for benign nodules and positive predictive value (PPV) for SFM increased significantly. Eleven nodules were reclassified as NIFTP, slightly decreasing PPV/risk of malignancy (ROM).ConclusionsAppropriate ROM for thyroid FNA can be achieved through application of TBSRTC terminology with minimal use of atypical category.

AbstractSubclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), a mild form of hypothyroidism defined as elevated TSH with normal free thyroxine levels, is a common diagnosis among women of reproductive age. In some, but not all, studies, it has been associated with infertility, an increased risk of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and possibly with an increased risk of neurocognitive deficits in offspring. Despite well-established recommendations on treatment of overt hypothyroid pregnant women, a consensus has not yet been reached on whether to treat women with SCH. This review focuses on examining the evidence informing the clinical strategy for using levothyroxine (LT4) in women with SCH during pregnancy and those who are planning conception. A crucial first step is to accurately diagnose SCH using the appropriate population-based reference range. For pregnant women, if this is unavailable, the recommended TSH upper normal limit cutoff is 4.0 mIU/L. There is evidence supporting a decreased risk for pregnancy loss and preterm delivery for pregnant women with TSH > 4.0 mIU/L receiving LT4 therapy. LT4 treatment has been associated with better reproductive outcomes in women with SCH undergoing artificial reproductive techniques, but not in those who are attempting natural conception. Thyroid function tests need to be repeated throughout pregnancy to monitor LT4 therapy. In addition to potential harms, LT4 contributes to treatment burden. During a consultation, clinicians and patients should engage in a careful consideration of the current evidence in the context of the patients’ values and preferences to determine whether LT4 therapy initiation is the best next step.

SummaryObjectiveThymic neuroendocrine tumour (TH‐NET) accounts for almost 20% of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)‐associated mortality. Identifying risk factors for the development of these rare tumours and prognostic factors for clinical outcomes will be helpful in clinical practice.Design and PatientsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients treated for TH‐NET associated with MEN1 in a single institution and meta‐analysis of literature reports. We used a fixed effect model to pool results across studies to evaluate the prevalence, clinical features and prognosis.ResultsTH‐NET was detected in 9 (7.4%) of 121 patients with MEN1 seen in our institution, and 5 (55.6%) were women. Seven additional studies were identified through a systematic review of the literature. The pool estimate of TH‐NET prevalence was 3.7% (n = 99) in MEN1 (n = 2710), sex ratio was 79:20 (male vs female), and the median age at diagnosis was 43.0 years (range, 16.0‐72.0 years). Forty‐three patients died with a median survival time of 8.4 years. Older age at diagnosis (HR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0‐1.8, P = .03), maximum tumour diameter (HR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0‐2.3, P = .04) and presence of metastasis (HR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0‐2.5, P = .04) were associated with worse outcome. A male predominance (91.9% vs 59.5%, P < .001) and history of smoking (59.0% vs 23.5%, P = .015) were more common in American/European series compared to Asian reports.ConclusionTH‐NET is a rare but fatal component of MEN1. Earlier detection of TH‐NET in patients with MEN1 may be recommended which should theoretically result in better outcomes. Different genetic backgrounds (race) appear to result in clinical difference.

We describe a family with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) caused by the D631Y RET mutation resulting in an atypical phenotype. The index case was a 24-year-old man with history of recurrent anaplastic ependymoma incidentally found to have the D631Y RET mutation. At first assessment, four family members had evidence of large pheochromocytomas. One patient was found to have micromedullary thyroid cancer at 79 years of age. None of the patients had primary hyperparathyroidism. Patients with MEN2A caused by a D631Y RET mutation most commonly present with pheochromocytomas. Medullary thyroid cancer is a less common part of the syndrome when compared with other RET mutations.