Endocrine Abstracts

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid gland is the most effective examination in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. To describe our experience with FNAB of the thyroid and compare the results with palpation versus ultrasonography-guided (UG) methods in an endemic goiter area in Turkey.

Methods: We studied on 176 patients whom 140 were females and 36 males, submitted to FNAB of thyroid nodules at outpatient clinic of a university hospital in an endemic goiter area of southwest of Turkey. We performed FNAB to direct palpable thyroid nodules without ultrasonography guidance at outpatient clinic for one year. After this period we performed FNAB to all thyroid nodules (palpable and nonpalpable) with ultrasonography guidance for three months. We compared the results with palpation versus ultrasonography-guided FNAB of thyroid nodules.

Results: Of 176 individual 257 thyroid nodules FNAB were performed. The ratio of the overall multinoduler goiter was 80%. Palpation-guided FNAB group was made up of 117 patients, aged 18–84 years. Ultrasonography-guided FNAB group was made up of 140 patients, aged 18–78 years. The mean nodule size was 20.6 mm in ultrasonography-guided FNAB group and 27.5 mm in palpation-guided FNAB group. Rates of nondiagnostic specimens after the single puncture were 32% in palpation-guided group and 29% in ultrasonography-guided group and the difference was not statistically significant. Rates of malignant and suspicious cytologic results were 2.5% in palpation-guided group and 4.3% in ultrasonography-guided group.

Conclusion: We recommended that FNAB of multinoduler thyroid in endemic goiter areas should be done with ultrasonography guidence.