The treatment of thyroid cysts by ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration.

28 solitary thyroid cysts diagnosed by ultrasonic examination were punctured under guidance of ultrasound, as a therapeutic trial and for cytological evaluation. No case of malignancy was encountered. At follow-up 3--6 months later no cyst could be demonstrated in 20%, 30% of the cysts had decreased, while 50% were unchanged or increased in size.