RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid is less common than papillary carcinoma and so with a few clinical data. OBJECTIVES: We performed this study for the purpose of getting further understanding and more supporting idea for diagnosis and treatment of follicular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred thirty patients with thyroid tumors were treated from 1991 to 1995. Twenty two patients were histopathologically proved as follicular carcinoma. All but one without treatment were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 430 patients, 382(88.8%) were malignant and 48(11.2%) were benign. In malignant tumors, 317(83.0%) were papillary carcinoma and 22(5.8%) were follicular carcinoma. Fine-needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) was performed in 17/21 which revealed malignancy only in 7 patients. Total thyroidectomies were performed in 18 patinets;12 patients had completion thyroidectomies. Cervical lymph node metastases presented in 3 patients and distant metastases were detected in 6 patients. According to the AMES risk group, 9 patients were in low and 12 patients were in high risk group. CONCLUSION: Follicular carcinoma of the thyroid reveals higher rate of distant metastases and lower accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology and frozen section biopsy. Therefore, the more aggressive treatment should be considered in high risk group after confirmation of distant metastases through careful evaluation.