Evaluation of thyroid nodules in Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of thyroid nodules by using fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and ultrasonography. PATIENTS AND METHODS: FNAs of 1,004 patients with thyroid nodules between 2000 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. The surgical records of 101 of the patients were available and reviewed. The Odds ratios for nodule characteristics were calculated individually. RESULTS: The sensitivity of FNA was 66.7% and the specificity was 95.2%. Positive predictive value was 72.7% and negative predictive value was 93.7%. Our diagnostic accuracy was 90.5%. Solitary nodules, irregular margins and microcalcifications were associated with increased risk of malignancy with Odds ratios 3.61 (95% CI: 1.25-10.42; p= 0,017); 5.44 (95% CI: 1.76-16.78; p= 0,003) and 39.29 (95% CI 8.32-185.47; p< 0.001) respectively. Macrocalcification, age, gender and thyroid status were not associated with increased risk of malignancy. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that FNA is a reliable, reproducible and valid method to evaluate thyroid nodules and ultrasonographic features, especially microcalcification is a very important predictor of malignancy.

Investigation of microalbuminuria in nondiabetic, normotensive obese women.

AIM: To investigate if obesity which is not accompanied by diabetes and/or hypertension is associated with microalbuminuria in female patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 77 obese female patients from the Outpatient Clinic of Endocrinology of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty and 30 age-matched, lean, healthy women were enrolled in the study. Patients with accompanying diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity associated with any endocrine abnormality, hepatic or renal disease, fever, infectious disease, malignancy were excluded. Weight, height, body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/hip ratio (WHR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were recorded. Albumin excretion in 24-hour urine samples (UAE) were measured using SYNCHRON LX System with MA Microalbumin kit in two separate 24-hour urine samples from every patient. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test and Pearson's correlation in SPSS 12.0 for Windows Program. RESULTS: The median albumin excretion in 24-hour urine sample was similar in obese and control groups (12.01 +/- 10.69 mg/day vs 9.35 +/- 4.09 mg/day; p= 0.211). There were no correlations between the albumin excretion in 24 hour urine samples and BMI, waist circumference, WHR, systolic or diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are known to be associated with microalbuminuria. In our study, microalbuminuria was not detected in obese women without diabetes and/or hypertension and UAE was similar in obese and lean women.