From the Guidelines
NIFTP in French stands for "Néoplasie Folliculaire Thyroïdienne Non-Invasive avec Caractéristiques Nucléaires de Type Papillaire," which translates to Non-Invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features in English. This is a reclassification of what was previously considered a follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, as mentioned in the NCCN guidelines insights: thyroid carcinoma, version 2.2018 1. NIFTP represents an encapsulated thyroid nodule with follicular growth pattern and nuclear features resembling papillary thyroid cancer, but without capsular or vascular invasion. This reclassification is significant because it recognizes the indolent behavior of these lesions, which have an extremely low risk of recurrence or metastasis, as highlighted in the guidelines 1.
Key Points
- Patients diagnosed with NIFTP generally have an excellent prognosis and typically require less aggressive treatment than true thyroid cancers.
- Management usually involves surgical removal of the affected thyroid lobe without the need for radioactive iodine therapy or suppressive doses of thyroid hormone afterward.
- The NCCN guidelines provide recommendations for the management of different types of thyroid carcinoma, including papillary, follicular, Hürthle cell, medullary, and anaplastic carcinomas, and the recent updates include the expanding role of molecular testing for differentiated thyroid carcinoma and the implications of the new pathologic diagnosis of NIFTP 1.
Clinical Implications
- The reclassification of NIFTP has significant implications for patient management and treatment, as it allows for less aggressive treatment and avoids the psychological consequences of a cancer diagnosis.
- The use of molecular testing for differentiated thyroid carcinoma can help identify indolent subtypes that require less aggressive treatment, as mentioned in the guidelines 1.
- The NCCN guidelines provide a framework for the management of thyroid carcinoma, and the recent updates reflect the latest advances in the field, including the recognition of NIFTP as a distinct entity 1.
From the Research
Definition and Characteristics of NIFTP
- NIFTP stands for Non-Invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features, a reclassified entity of follicular adenoma of the thyroid in pathology 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- It is characterized by follicular architecture with papillary nuclear features but lacking classical papillary carcinoma features like papillae or psammoma bodies 3
- The diagnosis of NIFTP is based on histological examination and excludes cases with high-risk mutations like BRAFV600E 3
French Translation of NIFTP
- Unfortunately, there are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies do not include the French translation of NIFTP 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Key Features and Management of NIFTP
- NIFTP presents as a thyroid nodule with a round-to-oval, well-circumscribed mass with solid internal content on imaging 2
- It has a decreased risk of malignancy and is typically treated with lobectomy, with no further ablation therapy 2, 6
- The management of NIFTP involves postoperative monitoring of thyroglobulin levels and performing neck ultrasounds 3, 6