Evaluation of thyroid nodules in Turkish population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics of thyroid nodules by using fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and ultrasonography.


METHODS
FNAs of 1,004 patients with thyroid nodules between 2000 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. The surgical records of 101 of the patients were available and reviewed. The Odds ratios for nodule characteristics were calculated individually.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of FNA was 66.7% and the specificity was 95.2%. Positive predictive value was 72.7% and negative predictive value was 93.7%. Our diagnostic accuracy was 90.5%. Solitary nodules, irregular margins and microcalcifications were associated with increased risk of malignancy with Odds ratios 3.61 (95% CI: 1.25-10.42; p= 0,017); 5.44 (95% CI: 1.76-16.78; p= 0,003) and 39.29 (95% CI 8.32-185.47; p< 0.001) respectively. Macrocalcification, age, gender and thyroid status were not associated with increased risk of malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that FNA is a reliable, reproducible and valid method to evaluate thyroid nodules and ultrasonographic features, especially microcalcification is a very important predictor of malignancy.
Ugurlu
Serdal
S
Department of Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cumhuriyet, Sivas, Turkey. drsugurlu@yahoo.com
Caglar
Erkan
E
Yesim
Tijen Erdem
TE
Tanrikulu
Eda
E
Can
Gunay
G
Kadioglu
Pinar
P
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography