Nuclear atypia appears to be an important predictor of malignancy in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules, researchers concluded after conducting a meta-analysis of 20 trials involving >3,500 nodules. Investigators calculated the odds of having a malignant cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodule in participants with vs without nuclear atypia. Among the findings:

• There were 1,162 nodules in patients with nuclear atypia, and 2,370 in those without.
• Patients with nuclear atypia were >3 times more likely have a malignant nodule, vs those without nuclear atypia.

The authors noted that screening for nuclear atypia should become a part of standard clinical practice.