[Thin-needle aspiration biopsy of solitary formations of the thyroid gland].

The paper analyzes the use of thin-needle aspiration biopsy in 372 patients with thyroid solitary formations. By the results of clinical and instrumental studies and cytological examination of thyroid puncture specimens groups of patients with individual clinical and morphological types of the disease were identified. Differential surgical policy in each group of patients was shown on the basis of the finding. It is concluded that thin-needle aspiration biopsy should be integrated into the compulsory programme of comprehensive examination of patients with thyroid solitary formations. Having a high efficiency, the above method helps in most cases to make an accurate clinical and morphological diagnosis and to choose the optimal treatment policy for each specific patient admitted to a surgical hospital for an aggregate diagnosis of nodal euthyroid goiter. Some patients may avoid unjustifiable surgical intervention and be on conservative therapy under follow-up.