Determining when to operate on patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis with nodular lesions: the role of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the role of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in determining whether to request an operation.


METHODS
Twenty-four consecutive patients (23 women and 1 man) with Hashimoto's thyroiditis combined with nodular lesions revealed by ultrasonography were included in the study. Ultrasound-guided FNAC was performed on their thyroid tissue compatible with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and nodular lesions.


RESULTS
Two of 24 patients (8.3%) had papillary thyroid cancer, which was diagnosed from aspirates of 31 nodular lesions and confirmed by operative pathologic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
If a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis has nodular lesions shown by ultrasonography, ultrasound-guided FNAC is helpful in elucidating the nature of the lesion and determining whether to request an operation.
Far Eastern Polyclinic, Chung-Hsiao Municipal Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Deng-Huang
DH
Su
Kuo-Meng
KM
Liao
Yung-Lien
YL
Hsiao
Tien-Chun
TC
Chang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013507:Endocrine Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000906:Antibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C056658:TPO protein, human; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase