Final pathology findings after immediate or delayed surgery in patients with cytologically benign or follicular thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we reviewed our experience with thyroid cytological findings showing benign or follicular tumor and evaluated the outcomes in patients who had undergone immediate or late surgical treatment.

METHOD

In 2007, 445 patients underwent initial surgical therapy for benign or follicular thyroid nodules according to our criteria for surgical indication. Of these, 320 patients underwent thyroid excision immediately. In the remaining 125 patients, surgery was performed after follow-up for more than 18 months.

RESULTS

In this series, the frequencies of finding thyroid carcinoma pathologically were 11.6 and 6.4% in patients undergoing immediate and late surgery, respectively. In these 445 patients, there was no significant difference in age, tumor size, serum thyroglobulin, or nodule growth rate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. There was, however, a significant difference in ultrasonographic classification.

CONCLUSIONS

Our criteria for surgical indication of nodules diagnosed as cytological benign or follicular tumors were considered appropriate. Ultrasonographic evaluation is an important and useful basis for therapeutic decision making in choosing either immediate surgery or observation for cytologically diagnosed benign or follicular tumors.