Cold benign thyroid nodule volume reduction predictability after percutaneous ethanol injection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), a suppressive therapy for cold benign thyroid nodules (CBNs), on cytology.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 31 CBNs, treated with PEI for 1 year, aspirated before and while the patients were on suppressive therapy. A control group consisting of 22 patients, whose nodule characteristic, PEI treatment and follow-up were similar to those of the study patients group, was monitored to confirm the results. By analogy with a similar study, the following factors were considered: an initial volume of the CBNs > 25 mL, abundant colloid, degree of cellular hyperplasia and presence ofdegenerative changes. To verify these hypotheses, we tested the differences using the t test for the initial volume and the Mann-Whitney U test for the remaining features.


RESULTS
The study has proved the unpredictability of the volume reduction in a single nodule on the basis of cytologic evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of cytologic features that can be considered statistically predictive of large nodule reduction as a result of PEI treatment confirms that fine needle aspiration cytology may help establish the correct diagnosis.
Nirchio
Vincenzo
V
U. O. S. Cytopathology, Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti, Foggia, Italy. vnirchio@ospedaliriunitifoggia.it
Nirchio
Francesco
F
Crocetti
Umberto
U
Tizzani
Paola
P
Trischitta
Vincenzo
V
Zingrillo
Matteo
M
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000431:Ethanol