title: Solitary thyroid nodule in adult Ethiopian patients. Analysis and experience in management in a teaching hospital.
abstract: Between February 1986 and January 1991, a total of 340 patients with thyroid diseases were seen; 115 (33.8%) had solitary nodules. Of the latter, 28 had toxic adenoma and 87 had euthyroid nodules (M:F = 0.14:7.21); the mean age for the non-toxic cases was 32.8 +/- 10.0 years and for the toxic cases, 40.2 +/- 15.2 years. Clinically, the toxic nodules were 0.5 to 6 cm in diameter, cystic in over 36% and firm in the rest; no regional lymph node enlargement was noted. Thyroid scan in 45 (52%) patients showed 38 'cold', 4 hypofunctioning and 3 hyperfunctioning nodules. Ultrasonography in 22 patients (25.3%) revealed 9 cystic and 13 solid nodules, consistent with the clinical finding. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in 61 patients (70.1%) showed 30 cystic, 15 benign, 2 follicular adenoma, 2 Hürtle cell adenoma, 1 papillary carcinoma and 1 thyroiditis. Ten patients were operated; histology confirmed the cytology diagnosis in all but 1 in whom the cytology was benign but histology showed papillary carcinoma. The fine needle aspiration was also useful in the treatment of cystic lesions; hence it should be adopted particularly in areas where there is bed shortage.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mengistu
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology