Role of ultrasonography in patients with cytologically follicular thyroid tumor

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of ultrasonography (US) in the management of thyroid nodules when the cytology is indeterminate as follicular tumor on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).

Methods: In 2006, 6586 patients with thyroid nodules, which were detected on US underwent FNAB in our department. Of these patients, we extracted 438 patients (6.7%) whose nodules were cytologically diagnosed as indeterminate. Of them, 227 patients were diagnosed as follicular tumor were enrolled in this study. Surgery was performed according to our criteria for surgical indication. We compared the results of clinical findings including US classification and final histopathological diagnosis.

Results: One hundred thirty-seven of 227 underwent surgical treatment. Thirty-three (24%) were diagnosed as malignancy pathologically. Large nodule or high serum thyroglobulin level were not associated with an increased risk of malignancy. Ultrasonographic evaluation as malignancy was directly linked to pathological diagnosis as thyroid carcinoma (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: US plays a crucial role in deciding whether surgical treatment is necessary for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules as follicular tumor.