title: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid. The problem of suspicious cytologic findings.
abstract: Cases in which thyroid nodules yielded suspicious cytologic findings on fine-needle aspiration biopsy were prospectively studied during a 3-year period. Of 1970 patients, 333 (17%) had suspicious cytologic findings; from this group, the cases of 253 patients were studied. The cytologic diagnoses were 96 (38%) H urthle cell neoplasms, 84 (33%) follicular cell neoplasms, and 73 (29%) nonspecific diagnoses. A thyroid scan was obtained in 123 of 203 (61%) patients with a solitary nodule, and the nodules were hypofunctional in 102 (83%). Malignant lesions were found in 60 (24%) of the 253 patients. Our findings are consistent with reports that 20% of patients who have a fine-needle aspiration biopsy will have suspicious cytologic findings and that of these, 20% may have a malignant lesion. Thyroid scanning will not distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid lesions that are suspicious on cytologic examination. Surgical excision of all suspicious lesions seems reasonable.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000473:pathology