Current Guidelines for Fine Needle Aspiration of Thyroid Nodules / 대한내분비외과학회지

ABSTRACT

Thyroid cancer is a hot issue in Korea because there is debate on screening and diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Therefore, we reviewed the guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules of other countries. Western countries accepted the criteria of fine needle aspiration including the tumor size of thyroid nodules, although ultrasonographic morphologic characteristics are more important to diagnose the thyroid cancer than tumor size. This recommendation is based on good prognosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. However, small subset of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma has aggressive behavior, which we cannot discern from those with benign behavior before operation. Therefore, further researches are necessary to resolve these problems and improve the management of papillary thyroid cancer avoiding overtreatment and mismanagement.