Analysis of Relationship between Prognostic Factors and Number of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) Prior to Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma According to Size / 대한내분비외과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is defined as a papillary thyroid carcinoma 10 mm. Indication of FNAC based only on tumor size is still in debate. Some favor the criteria of a size 5 mm, n=156) and the prognostic factors and number of pre-surgical FNAC procedures were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gender, age, site, accompanying benign disease, multifocality and bilaterality. Group 2 patients displayed more advanced features than group 1 patients concerning capsular invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumor stage. The number of FNAC procedures prior to the decision of surgery was not different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: PTMC exceeding 5 mm in size showed advanced features than smaller tumors. Further study about the use of FNAC according only to the size of thyroid nodules is warranted.