Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules is the most frequently performed ambulatory and recommendations for its performance are quite accurately described in the national and international guidelines. However, there is always a need to analyze the effectiveness of such proceedings.

The aim of this study was to analyze such effectiveness in group of hospitalized patients.

Method: The reason for hospitalization in the vast majority are not thyroid disease, and indications for ultrasound of the thyroid, as well as indications for biopsy, as well as pathological evaluation, determine the guidelines of national endocrine society.

Results: We perform a biopsy of the thyroid in about 20–25% of hospitalized patients (from 476 to 693). From 2 to 5% of biopsies required consultation with the national center of oncology and/or were qualified for surgical removal of the change. Thyroid cancer was confirmed in up to two patients per year (<0.3%). We do not have any information on the subsequent detection of thyroid cancer assessed changes in our department as mild. The estimated cost of the detection of one thyroid cancer was ~ 10 000 Euros.

Commentary: Our method have sufficient sensitivity, the cost of one cancer diagnosis was relatively high, however much cheaper than other methods of screening tests. The incidence of thyroid cancer in our region is likely to be significantly lower than in other parts of Europe. So perhaps the experts should develop regionally differentiated recommendations of diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Conclusion: Performing a biopsy of the thyroid according to the recommendations has a very high sensitivity, but in regions with low incidence of thyroid cancer cost of such a diagnosis is quite high.