Determining when to operate on patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis with nodular lesions: The role of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology

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.