Clinical significance of Hürthle cells in fine needle aspiration biopsy for multinodular goitre.
OBJECTIVE
So far, the significance of Hürthle cell predominance in fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in multinodular goitre (MNG) appears not definitely clarified. The aim of this study was to determine if there are any clinical factors that can be used to distinguish either malignant or benign disease with the aid of FNAB specimen that contains a predominance of Hürthle cells in multinodular goitre patients.


METHODS
Among 623 patients who were evaluated for multinodular goitre between July 2004 and March 2009, 411 had a FNAB specimen. In 37 (9% of them) the FNAB specimen was interpreted as consistent with a Hürthle cell lesion. These patients comprised the study population and were reviewed retrospectively and their demographical and clinical factors were investigated to determine if there is any predictor of malignancy.


RESULTS
Among 37 patients with Hürthle cell predominance in FNAB, 29 had benign diseases and 8 had malignant diseases resulting in 21.6% prevalence of malignancy. There were no differences in age, sex, functional status of the thyroid gland, and nodule size between patients with benign versus malignant disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Total thyroidectomy should be recommended for all multinodular goitre patients with Hürthle cell predominance in FNAB, since there is no preoperative predictor of malignancy in these cases.
Keskek
M
M
Fifth Department of General Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. keskekm@yahoo.com
Ocak
S
S
Ozalp
N
N
Koc
M
M
Tez
M
M
D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024862:Oxyphil Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy