Differentiating oncocytic carcinoma from oncocytic adenoma: a comprehensive evaluation of preoperative characteristics and diagnostic approaches in a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Oncocytic carcinoma (OCA) has been reclassified from follicular thyroid carcinoma due to its unique features. Its rarity has resulted in limited studies on differentiating OCA from oncocytic adenoma (OA). This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and preoperative features of OCA and OA and evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonography and cytology.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 83 patients (23 with OCA and 60 with OA) who underwent thyroid surgery between 2011 and 2024. We reviewed clinical, ultrasonographic, cytologic, and histopathologic data to assess diagnostic performance.

Results: OCA cases had larger tumors than OA in both sonographic (4.2 ± 1.7 cm vs. 2.7 ± 1.4 cm, P < 0.001) and pathologic measurements (3.8 ± 1.7 cm vs. 2.3 ± 1.4 cm, P < 0.001). K-TIRADS (the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System) did not effectively distinguish OCA from OA; however, ACR TI-RADS (the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System) categorized more OCA cases into higher-risk groups (17.4% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.016). Trabecular formation and intranodular vascularity were more frequent in OCA (17.4% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.019; 65.2% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.049). Cytologically, 87% of OCAs were classified as follicular neoplasms compared to 20% of OAs.

Conclusion: Predicting malignancy in oncocytic neoplasms is challenging. Larger tumor size, higher ACR TI-RADS scores, and trabecular formation are potential indicators for OCA. Cytologic subcategorization within Bethesda IV suggests follicular neoplasms carry a higher malignancy risk than oncocytic neoplasms. Multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings.