Thyroid cancer is one of the fastest-growing cancers in the United States. It is a type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland located in the neck that produces hormones.

While thyroid cancer can be treated successfully if detected early, it often goes undetected until it has spread to other parts of the body. As a result, patients with thyroid cancer often undergo unnecessary surgeries.

However, a new test for thyroid cancer has been developed that can help prevent unnecessary surgeries. The test, called the Afirma Xpression Atlas, is a molecular test that can accurately diagnose thyroid cancer.

What is the Afirma Xpression Atlas?

The Afirma Xpression Atlas is a molecular test developed by Veracyte, a company that specializes in genomic diagnostics. The test analyzes a patient’s thyroid tissue sample to determine whether or not they have thyroid cancer.

The test uses RNA sequencing technology to analyze the expression of genes in the thyroid tissue. By comparing the gene expression in the tissue sample to a database of known gene patterns, the test can accurately diagnose thyroid cancer.

How does the test prevent unnecessary surgeries?

One of the biggest problems with diagnosing thyroid cancer is that many of the symptoms are non-specific.

As a result, many patients with suspected thyroid cancer undergo surgery to remove all or part of their thyroid gland, even if they do not actually have thyroid cancer. This is because the only way to definitively diagnose thyroid cancer is to analyze the thyroid tissue under a microscope.

The Afirma Xpression Atlas test eliminates the need for unnecessary surgeries by accurately diagnosing thyroid cancer without the need for surgery.

By analyzing the gene expression in a patient’s thyroid tissue sample, the test can determine whether or not they have thyroid cancer. If the test results show that the patient does not have thyroid cancer, they can avoid unnecessary surgery.

How accurate is the Afirma Xpression Atlas?

The Afirma Xpression Atlas is highly accurate. In clinical studies, the test had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 62%.

This means that the test correctly identified 92% of patients with thyroid cancer and correctly ruled out thyroid cancer in 62% of patients who did not have the disease.

While the specificity of the test may seem low, it is important to note that many patients who do not have thyroid cancer may have other thyroid conditions that require surgery.

In these cases, the test can provide valuable information to help guide treatment decisions.

How is the test performed?

The Afirma Xpression Atlas test is performed on a patient’s thyroid tissue sample.

The tissue sample is obtained through a fine needle biopsy, a minimally invasive procedure that involves using a thin needle to collect a small sample of tissue from the thyroid gland.

The tissue sample is then analyzed using RNA sequencing technology to determine whether or not the patient has thyroid cancer. The results of the test are typically available within a few days.

What are the benefits of the Afirma Xpression Atlas?

The Afirma Xpression Atlas offers several benefits over traditional methods of diagnosing thyroid cancer:.

Accurate diagnosis: The test is highly accurate and can accurately diagnose thyroid cancer.
Prevents unnecessary surgeries: The test can help prevent unnecessary surgeries by accurately diagnosing thyroid cancer without the need for surgery.
Minimally invasive: The test is performed using a minimally invasive procedure that involves a fine needle biopsy, which is less invasive than surgery.
Faster results: The test typically provides results within a few days, which can help reduce patient anxiety and uncertainty.

Conclusion

The Afirma Xpression Atlas is a highly accurate molecular test that can help prevent unnecessary surgeries in patients with suspected thyroid cancer.

By analyzing the gene expression in a patient’s thyroid tissue sample, the test can accurately diagnose thyroid cancer without the need for surgery. This can help reduce patient anxiety and uncertainty, while also improving the accuracy of diagnosis and reducing the risk of unnecessary surgeries.