title: Final pathology findings after immediate or delayed surgery in patients with cytologically benign or follicular thyroid nodules.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, we reviewed our experience with thyroid cytological findings showing benign or follicular tumor and evaluated the outcomes in patients who had undergone immediate or late surgical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007, 445 patients underwent initial surgical therapy for benign or follicular thyroid nodules according to our criteria for surgical indication. Of these, 320 patients underwent thyroid excision immediately. In the remaining 125 patients, surgery was performed after follow-up for more than 18 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this series, the frequencies of finding thyroid carcinoma pathologically were 11.6 and 6.4% in patients undergoing immediate and late surgery, respectively. In these 445 patients, there was no significant difference in age, tumor size, serum thyroglobulin, or nodule growth rate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. There was, however, a significant difference in ultrasonographic classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our criteria for surgical indication of nodules diagnosed as cytological benign or follicular tumors were considered appropriate. Ultrasonographic evaluation is an important and useful basis for therapeutic decision making in choosing either immediate surgery or observation for cytologically diagnosed benign or follicular tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kuma Hospital, 8-2-35 Shimoyamate-Dori, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, 650-0011 Hyogo, Japan. kihara@kuma-h.or.jp
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kihara
authors.forename: Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miya
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyauchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult