[A prospective study of thyroid nodules].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a procedure for studying thyroid nodules (TN) by means of echography and puncture aspiration with a fine needle (PAFN) in order to select those patients best suited for surgery.


METHODS
Prospective and descriptive. SITE. The counties of Terra Alta, Baix Ebre and Montsià with TN referred for investigation to out-patient clinics of Internal Medicine at Tortosa hospital.


METHODS
71 patients with TN were studied.


RESULTS
Application of the procedure between 1990 and 1992. 94.4% of the TN were benign and 5.6% malignant. PAFN sensitivity was 50% and its specificity, 88%. 25% of the total number of patients underwent a surgical intervention. 22% of those patients operated on had a carcinoma. The concordance between the cytology of the surgical and non-surgical TN and their histology was 0.54 (Kappa Index).


CONCLUSIONS
Applying the procedure allowed patients with malignant or suspect nodules to be selected for surgical intervention, leading to a considerable reduction in surgical morbidity and expenditure.
Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta, Tarragona.
J M
JM
Manresa
R
R
Caballol
J J
JJ
Sirvent
F
F
García Lorente
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013667:Technetium; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013667:Technetium