HBME-1 expression by thyroid neoplasms in a Nigerian tertiary health Centre

HBME-1 expression

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to review the histopathological diagnosis of thyroid neoplasms seen in OAUTHC Ile Ife using HBME-1 immunohistochemical marker.

Materials and methods: We studied all thyroid neoplasms diagnosed in the Department of Morbid Anatomy and Forensic Medicine OAUTHC, Ile-Ife from 1st July 1996 to 30th June 2016. We noted the age, sex of the patients, nature of histological diagnosis (benign and malignant) and the specific histologic diagnosis. We evaluated HBME-1 immunostain grade (0, 1+, 2+, 3+, 4+) for all the tumours.

Results: We studied only fifty-six cases (all neoplastic thyroid diseases). Sixteen (28.6%) and forty (71.4%) cases of the cases were benign and malignant, respectively. The Malignant thyroid neoplasms were 2.5 times more frequent than the benign thyroid lesions. There is a significant statistical relationship between HBME-1 expression and the nature of the neoplastic cases (p = 0.001). The sensitivity of HBME-1 in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid neoplasms in this study was 77.5%, the specificity was 87.5%, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 93.3% and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 60.1%.

Conclusion: There is a significant statistical association between HBME-1 and the nature of thyroid neoplasms. HBME-1 can be used as an added tool in distinguishing malignant thyroid neoplasms from the benign tumours.