Telomerase activity in solitary thyroid nodule

Abstract EN

Background : The measurement of telomerase activity may be useful for the detection of malignant cells within the thyroid.

This sensitive assay could become a useful adjunct to microscopic cyto pathology in the detection of cancer cells in FNAB of the thyroid.

Objective : To study the telomerase activity in thyroid nodules as a complement to FNAB cytology in evaluating suspicious thyroid nodules.

Study Design : The study was conducted on 16 patients (14 females anti 2 males) having solitary thyroid nodules between the age of 16-70 were selected for the study, after obtaining an informed consent.

The duration of the nodules ranged from 2 months to 10 years.

The anatomy and function of the solitary nodule was diagnosed by ultrasonography, Color-Doppler imaging and Technetium 99m thyroid scan.

In addition, thyroid hormones estimation including TSH was done.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy was done.

Cytological fragments, obtained by FNAB were divided into two parts a part was ejected in sterile tubes and preserved at 70C for telomerase activity estimation.

The other part was smeared on slides immediately after aspiration, alcohol fixed then stained with haematoxylin and eosin.

Cytological examination was done by an experienced cytopathologist.

Telomerase activity was measured, by PCR ELISA kit developed by Roche Biochemicals based on telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP).