Ground-breaking Study in Cornwall Aims to Reduce Unnecessary Thyroid Surgeries
A new diagnostic test being trialled in Cornwall could transform how thyroid lumps are assessed, potentially sparing hundreds of patients from unnecessary surgery while saving money for the NHS.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is leading the way with this pioneering research, which is being coordinated by Leonie Wheeldon, a Consultant Biomedical Scientist in Diagnostic Cytopathology. The study, supported by eight hospital sites across the UK, aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosing thyroid lumps.
Currently, thyroid lumps are assessed using a fine needle aspiration (FNA), a straightforward procedure that collects cells for analysis. While most results clearly identify whether a lump is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), about 25% of cases fall into a “grey zone” where results are inconclusive. This uncertainty can lead to unnecessary surgeries, with up to 75% of these operations later revealing no cancer.
The study will evaluate a new molecular test called ThyroidPrint, which analyses the genetic profile of cells collected during FNA. This test provides a risk score to determine whether a lump is low-risk (likely benign) or high-risk (concerning), helping doctors make more informed decisions. Importantly, the test can be carried out locally, using existing laboratory equipment already in use for other types of cancer testing, such as melanoma and colorectal cancer.
If successful, this innovation could reduce the need for invasive surgeries and the associated risks, improving care for patients and lowering costs for the NHS.
Leonie Wheeldon, Chief Investigator, stated, “This study has the potential to streamline thyroid cancer pathways, significantly reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries for patients, improving their quality of life and reducing costs for the NHS.”
From left to right in the above image:
- Leonie Wheeldon, Consultant Biomedical Scientist Diagnostic Cytopathology
- Sarah Martyn, Consultant Sonographer
- Gerard Little, Biomedical Scientist
- Mandy Keen, Clinical Imaging Assistant