Molecular Tests for Risk-Stratifying Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: An Overview of Commercially Available Testing Platforms in the United States

Abstract

The past decade has witnessed significant advances in the application of molecular diagnostics for the pre-operative risk-stratification of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules. The tests that are currently marketed in the United States for this purpose combine aspects of tumor genotyping with gene and/or microRNA expression profiling. This review compares the general methodology and clinical validation studies for the three tests currently offered in the United States: ThyroSeq v3, Afirma GSC and Xpression Atlas, and ThyGeNEXT/ThyraMIR.

Keywords

• thyroid
• fine-needle aspiration
• indeterminate cytology
• molecular testing
• Afirma
• ThyroSeq