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Determining When to Operate on Patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis with Nodular Lesions

OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the role of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in determining whether to request an operation.


STUDY DESIGN
Twenty-four consecutive patients (23 women and 1 man) with Hashimoto's thyroiditis combined with nodular lesions revealed by ultrasonography were included in the study. Ultrasound-guided FNAC was performed on their thyroid tissue compatible with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and nodular lesions.


RESULTS
Two of 24 patients (8.3%) had papillary thyroid cancer, which was diagnosed from aspirates of 31 nodular lesions and confirmed by operative pathologic findings.


CONCLUSION
If a patient with Hashimoto's thyroiditis has nodular lesions shown by ultrasonography, ultrasound-guided FNAC is helpful in elucidating the nature of the lesion and determining whether to request an operation.