A Clinical Analysis of 2,500 Cases of Thyroid Nodules in the Korean People / 대한내분비학회지

ABSTRACT

Background: Thyroid nodules are one of the most clinical problems encounted by physieian. Palpation, radianuclide imaging, and sonography do not deterrnine whether a thyroid nodule is benign and malignant. So, the purpose of this study is to investigate how many thyroid cancer consist in thyroid nodule by using the fine needle aspiration(FNA) technique. Methods: With a disposable #23 gauge needle attached to 5rnl disposable plastic syringe was inserted at the thyroid nodules of the patients after rectinilinear thyroid scanning or ultrasono- graphy. All cells aspirated from the thyroid nodules were smeared on the 3 slide glasses and then, 2 slide glasses were immersed in 95% ethanol for Papanicolaou staining and one slide was air dried m room temperature for Giemsa staining. After complete staining the cytologic diagnosis of all slide glasses were reviewed by general light mi~eroscope. Results: Approximately, three-quarters(73.0%) of thyroid nodules aspirated by FNA were diagnosed as benign or inflammatory nodules, rnalignant neoplasia including follicular neoplasia 12.5%, and indeterminate cases 14.5% of thyroid nodules. Conclusion: Fine needle aspiration(FNA) has become the diagnostic procedure of choiee in the evaluation of the nodular thyroid disease because of its easiness, safety, cost effectiveness, and high diagnostic accuracy. Malignant neopleasia including follicular neopleasia were found 12.5% of thyroid nodules in Korean, aspirated by FNA which was same category in prevalence rate compared to known abroad results(8~20%).