title: Management of cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules: role of simple aspiration of internal fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of simple aspiration of cystic thyroid nodules by comparing with control groups to exclude the occurrence of spontaneous regression by the definition of current guidelines of American Thyroid Association.
  
  
  METHODS
  217 nodules from 210 patients with cystic thyroid nodules (cystic portion >50%) were included. Nodules were classified into three groups as follows: Group 1, observation only; Group 2, fine needle aspiration (FNA) without aspiration of internal fluid; and Group 3, FNA after aspiration of internal fluid. Significant nodule size change was defined as a difference in the largest diameter of 20%, as seen on the last follow-up ultrasound (US) compared to the initial US.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic characteristics did not show significant differences among the three groups except for the patient age (p = 0.039). Mean nodule size significantly decreased only in group 3 (p = 0.005). Significant nodule size reductions were observed in 22.0% (13/59) in group 1, 25.7% (28/109) in group 2, and 40.8% (20/49) in group 3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspiration of internal fluid should be considered as the first-line procedure for both the diagnosis and treatment of cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.
authors.forename: Woo Jung
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.
authors.forename: Jeong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.|c Department of Radiology , Ajou University School of Medicine , Suwon , Korea , and.
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.
authors.forename: Won Chan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology and.|d Department of Radiology , Soonchunhyang University Hospital , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: b Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism , University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center , Seoul , Korea .
authors.forename: Won Bae
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fine needle aspiration; fluid aspiration; thyroid; thyroid nodule; ultrasound