title: Comparison between thyroidectomy and hemithyroidectomy in treatment of single thyroid nodules identified as indeterminate follicular lesions by fine-needle aspiration cytology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to determine the optimal surgical approach for patients undergoing thyroid operation for indeterminate follicular lesions diagnosed by cytology and to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients treated by hemi or total thyroidectomy for these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to January 2010, 98 patients having a solitary thyroid nodule with a cytological diagnosis of "indeterminate follicular lesion" were selected retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 81 women and 17 men with a mean age of 56 years (range: 28-83). Hemithyroidectomy (HT) was performed in 57 patients (58%) and a Total thyroidectomy (TT) in 41 (42%). Postoperative morbidity was 3.50% in patients who underwent HT and 9.75% in those who underwent TT At the histological analysis 16 (16.32%) patients had a malignant lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HT was considered adequate treatment for 51 patients (89.48%) while in 6 patients (10.52%) has been necessary a completion thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy was not associated with clinically significant additive morbidity No permanent hypoparathyroidism and no definitive recurrent nerve palsies were observed in either group. Postoperative thyroid hormone replacement was required in 40.35% of lobectomy patients. Overall, in the indeterminate follicular lesions patient population, 57 hemithyroidectomies were performed and no further operation was required in about 90% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the high rate in which HT represents the adequate treatment, and the low rate of re-operation morbidity, HT seems to be the preferable initial surgical approach for indeterminate follicular lesions. Long-term ultrasonographic follow-up seems advisable.
authors: Istituto di Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Terapia Chirurgica, Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Anestesia, Chirurgia, Anatomia Patologica, Dermatologia, Epatologia e Scienze Molecolari, Ospedale di Cattinara, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Italia. ch_dobrinja@yahoo.it
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Dobrinja
authors: Giuliano
authors: G
authors: Trevisan
authors: Lanfranco
authors: L
authors: Piscopello
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Fava
authors: Gennaro
authors: G
authors: Liguori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*