engleski

Diagnostic Relevance of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology for Follicular Lesions of the Thyroid : Retrospective Study

Aim was to determine diagnostic relevance of cytologic subclassification of follicular lesions of the thyroid and its role in the therapeutic approach. We performed a retrospective analysis of the data of patients who underwent thyroid surgery at the Sisters of Mercy University Hospital, Zagreb, between March 1995 and February 2001, and had a report of preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of thyroid follicular lesions, which comprises cellular follicular lesion, "suspicious for follicular neoplasm", or follicular neoplasm. Out of 110 patients with preoperative FNA biopsy diagnosis of follicular lesion, 86 (78%) had a lesion corresponding histologically to a neoplasm. However, a malignant tumor was found in only 6% of patients. In the diagnostic categories of cellular follicular lesion and lesion "suspicious for follicular neoplasm, "the rate of malignancy was even lower, 3% and 4% respectively. We found significant difference between FNA and histologic findings in distinguising non-neoplastic from neoplastic thyroid lesions in the category of cellular follicular lesion and follicular neoplasm. Due to the low malignancy rate in patients with FNA biopsy diagnoses of cellular follicular lesion or lesion "suspicious for follicular neoplasm" of the thyroid, we suggest close clinical follow-up of such patients, rather that immediate surgical intervention.

adenocarcinoma ; follicular ; biopsy ; needle ; thyroid diseases ; thyroid neoplasms

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