title: Thyroid nodules with atypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS): analysis of variables associated with outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is one of the main classification systems for thyroid nodules. It expects that 7% of all fine needle aspiration biopsies will be reported as atypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significance, and 5-15% of these undetermined nodules are malignant. Our study is a retrospective analysis of variables that may be associated with outcome in patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent thyroidectomy in our institution between 2010 and 2014 were retrieved from the institutional records database. Patient demographics and medical histories were recorded. All ultrasonography reports were examined for nodule features and biochemical blood levels, hormone levels and complete blood counts were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 103 patient cytopathology reports were regarded as belonging to the undetermined category. Some 35% of patients had malignant nodules. Median preoperative red cell distribution width (RDW) level was 13.6 inthe benign group, while it was 14.3 in patients with malignancy, demonstrating a significant correlation (p=0.003). Only calcification presence was significantly different between benign and malignant groups on ultrasonography (p=0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography is one of the primary tools for this matter. RDW levels may become another promising tool to predict malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey E-mail : kayilioglu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Selami Ilgaz
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kayilioglu
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dinc
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sozen
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.forename: Kagan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katar
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabeyoglu
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tez
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coskun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine