Abstract

Aim: The management of "suspicious" cytology of the thyroid nodule remains a controversial topic. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, although very sensitive in other types of thyroid cancer, has limited accuracy for follicular lesions. The incidence of "suspicious" cytology for thyroid lesions varies from 4% to 25%. In this study, we present our malignancy rates of FNA, management and outcomes of the cases with a thyroid nodule. Methods: Forty three patients with diagnosis of suspicious cytology by FNA vuere evaluated according to age, gender, type of surgery, histopathological diagnosis and complications af ter surgery. Results: Thirty-seven (86.0%) patients were female, and 6 (14%) patients were male (age range, 23-76 years). The mean nodule size was 2.4±1.2 cm. The surgical procudere was[lobectomy in 11 (25.6%) cases, total thyroidectomy in 32 (74.4%). Frozen section was performed in 18 (41.9%) patients. Malignancy was diagnosed in 9 cases (20.9%). Conclusions: Clinical and cytologic features are inaccurate predictors of malignancy, although atypical features and follicular neoplasm cytology are associated strongly with malignancy. Surgery is necessary after diagnosis of cytologically suspicious nodule in FNA examination. We think that frozen section is the complementary technique for evaluating thyroid nodules with suspicious cytology.