Preoperative evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule in patients with ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy

% thyroid nodulesKR nemaIntroduction: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) remains the cornerstone of thyroid cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to find how much ultrasound alone and jointly with FNAB, can differentiate benign from malignant nodules, in our circumstances. Patienets and methods: FNwas performed in 203 out of 290 (70 %) patients referred to the Department of Endocrine Surgery, Clinical Center Belgrade in four-year period for ultrasound evaluation of TNs with diameter to or greater than 10 mm. All the patients with suspicious or malignant FNfindings underwent surgery. The Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) classification was used. Results: Patients were aged between 26-88 years (mean 49 years). Out of 203 patients, 49 had an inadequate FNAB, 87 were checked on 6-12-36 months and found benign. Due to incomplete data required for a test 38 patients were excluded. Out of the 116 nodules underwent FNAB, 53 found to be benign, 30 suspicious and 33 malignant. At the final postoperative histopathologic examinations it was found 70 and 46 benign and malignant TNs, respectively The frequency of malignant TNs was slightly higher in the nodules with a diameter over 10mm in diameter than in those under 10mm (p<0.01). No sing parameter and even size nodules or microcalcifications is not sufficient to secure the assessment of malignancy or even FNis not enough but the accuracy increases by using US guided FNAB. Conclusion: In this study it was shown for the FNtechnique to be accurate, efficient and reliable in the diagnosis and evaluation of thyroid nodules. Histological type and local aggressiveness are not more favorable in microcarcinomas than in larger thyroid cancers.