Defining the role of fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules in male patients: is it necessary?
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this investigation was to show that fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules in male patients may not be necessary in diagnosing thyroid cancer.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of 130 adult male patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from January 2000 to January 2006 at a single institution. The preoperative FNA data for these subjects were reviewed and compared with the surgical pathology reports.


RESULTS
During the study period, 70 of 130 (54%) had FNA, whereas 60 of 130 (46%) did not have FNA. Among all patients, 66 of 130 (51%) had a final pathology diagnosis of thyroid cancer and FNA was performed in 41 of 66 (62%) of these patients. The FNA pathology then was compared with the final pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study there was a high false-negative rate for FNA biopsy in the detection of thyroid malignancy in males. An alternative to FNA biopsy in male patients with thyroid nodules may be to go directly to surgery.
Berri
Richard N
RN
Division of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, 22151 Moross Rd., PB1 Suite 332, Detroit, MI 48236, USA. richard.berri@stjohn.org
Lloyd
Larry R
LR
D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy