Skip to main content
Top
Published in: World Journal of Surgery 1/2016

01-01-2016 | Original Scientific Report

Negative Fine-Needle Aspiration in Patients with Goiter: Should We Doubt It?

Authors: Michal Mekel, Hayim Gilshtein, Abbas Al-Kurd, Bishara Bishara, Michael M. Krausz, Herbert R. Freund, Yoram Kluger, Ahmed Eid, Haggi Mazeh

Published in: World Journal of Surgery | Issue 1/2016

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Epidemiologic studies demonstrated higher incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with multinodular goiters compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of finding significant thyroid cancer in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for presumed benign disease.

Methods

The records of 273 patients operated for indications other than cancer or indeterminate cytology were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

202 (74 %) patients had a preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) performed. FNA was benign in 96 % of patients and non-diagnostic in 4 %. Malignancy was unexpectedly found in 50 (19 %) patients. Papillary carcinoma constituted 94 % of cancers and 86 % of cancers were incidental microcarcinomas. Only 7 (2.6 %) patients of the entire cohort had tumors greater than 1 cm, of those only 3 had a previous benign FNA (false-negative rate 1.5 %).

Conclusions

The rate of significant thyroid cancer found unexpectedly in resected goiters is extremely low. A negative FNA excludes significant cancer with near certainty.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Pinchera A, Aghini-Lombardi F, Antonangeli L, Vitti P (1996) Multinodular goiter. Epidemiology and prevention. Ann Ital Chir 67(3):317–325PubMed Pinchera A, Aghini-Lombardi F, Antonangeli L, Vitti P (1996) Multinodular goiter. Epidemiology and prevention. Ann Ital Chir 67(3):317–325PubMed
2.
go back to reference Derwahl M, Studer H (2001) Nodular goiter and goiter nodules: where iodine deficiency falls short of explaining the facts. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 109(5):250–260PubMedCrossRef Derwahl M, Studer H (2001) Nodular goiter and goiter nodules: where iodine deficiency falls short of explaining the facts. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 109(5):250–260PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Tan GH, Gharib H (1997) Thyroid incidentalomas: management approaches to nonpalpable nodules discovered incidentally on thyroid imaging. Ann Intern Med 126(3):226–231PubMedCrossRef Tan GH, Gharib H (1997) Thyroid incidentalomas: management approaches to nonpalpable nodules discovered incidentally on thyroid imaging. Ann Intern Med 126(3):226–231PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Cibas ES, Ali SZ (2009) The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology. Am J Clin Pathol 132(5):658–665PubMedCrossRef Cibas ES, Ali SZ (2009) The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology. Am J Clin Pathol 132(5):658–665PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Pinchot SN, Al-Wagih H, Schaefer S, Sippel R, Chen H (2009) Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for predicting neoplasm or carcinoma in thyroid nodules 4 cm or larger. Arch Surg 144(7):649–655PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef Pinchot SN, Al-Wagih H, Schaefer S, Sippel R, Chen H (2009) Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for predicting neoplasm or carcinoma in thyroid nodules 4 cm or larger. Arch Surg 144(7):649–655PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Frates MC, Benson CB, Doubilet PM et al (2006) Prevalence and distribution of carcinoma in patients with solitary and multiple thyroid nodules on sonography. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91(9):3411–3417PubMedCrossRef Frates MC, Benson CB, Doubilet PM et al (2006) Prevalence and distribution of carcinoma in patients with solitary and multiple thyroid nodules on sonography. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91(9):3411–3417PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Horvath E, Majlis S, Rossi R et al (2009) An ultrasonogram reporting system for thyroid nodules stratifying cancer risk for clinical management. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94(5):1748–1751PubMedCrossRef Horvath E, Majlis S, Rossi R et al (2009) An ultrasonogram reporting system for thyroid nodules stratifying cancer risk for clinical management. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94(5):1748–1751PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Ackerman R Surgical pathology, vol 2. 10 (edn). Elsevier Ackerman R Surgical pathology, vol 2. 10 (edn). Elsevier
9.
go back to reference Chen AY, Bernet VJ, Carty SE et al (2014) American Thyroid Association statement on optimal surgical management of goiter. Thyroid 24(2):181–189PubMedCrossRef Chen AY, Bernet VJ, Carty SE et al (2014) American Thyroid Association statement on optimal surgical management of goiter. Thyroid 24(2):181–189PubMedCrossRef
10.
go back to reference Cooper DS, Doherty GM, Haugen BR et al (2009) Revised American Thyroid Association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 19(11):1167–1214PubMedCrossRef Cooper DS, Doherty GM, Haugen BR et al (2009) Revised American Thyroid Association management guidelines for patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 19(11):1167–1214PubMedCrossRef
11.
12.
go back to reference Rago T, Fiore E, Scutari M et al (2010) Male sex, single nodularity, and young age are associated with the risk of finding a papillary thyroid cancer on fine-needle aspiration cytology in a large series of patients with nodular thyroid disease. Eur J Endocrinol 162(4):763–770PubMedCrossRef Rago T, Fiore E, Scutari M et al (2010) Male sex, single nodularity, and young age are associated with the risk of finding a papillary thyroid cancer on fine-needle aspiration cytology in a large series of patients with nodular thyroid disease. Eur J Endocrinol 162(4):763–770PubMedCrossRef
13.
go back to reference Bahl M, Sosa JA, Nelson RC, Esclamado RM, Choudhury KR, Hoang JK (2013) Trends in incidentally identified thyroid cancers over a decade: a retrospective analysis of 2,090 surgical patients. World J Surg 38:1312–1317. doi:10.1007/s00268-013-2407-9 CrossRef Bahl M, Sosa JA, Nelson RC, Esclamado RM, Choudhury KR, Hoang JK (2013) Trends in incidentally identified thyroid cancers over a decade: a retrospective analysis of 2,090 surgical patients. World J Surg 38:1312–1317. doi:10.​1007/​s00268-013-2407-9 CrossRef
14.
go back to reference Gandolfi PP, Frisina A, Raffa M et al (2004) The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter: retrospective analysis. Acta Biomed 75(2):114–117PubMed Gandolfi PP, Frisina A, Raffa M et al (2004) The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter: retrospective analysis. Acta Biomed 75(2):114–117PubMed
15.
go back to reference Smith JJ, Chen X, Schneider DF et al (2013) Cancer after thyroidectomy: a multi-institutional experience with 1,523 patients. J Am Coll Surg 216(4):571–577 (discussion 577–579) PubMedCrossRef Smith JJ, Chen X, Schneider DF et al (2013) Cancer after thyroidectomy: a multi-institutional experience with 1,523 patients. J Am Coll Surg 216(4):571–577 (discussion 577–579) PubMedCrossRef
16.
go back to reference Smith JJ, Chen X, Schneider DF et al (2013) Toxic nodular goiter and cancer: a compelling case for thyroidectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 20(4):1336–1340PubMedCrossRef Smith JJ, Chen X, Schneider DF et al (2013) Toxic nodular goiter and cancer: a compelling case for thyroidectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 20(4):1336–1340PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Hay ID, Hutchinson ME, Gonzalez-Losada T et al (2008) Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a study of 900 cases observed in a 60-year period. Surgery 144(6):980–987 (discussion 987–988) PubMedCrossRef Hay ID, Hutchinson ME, Gonzalez-Losada T et al (2008) Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a study of 900 cases observed in a 60-year period. Surgery 144(6):980–987 (discussion 987–988) PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Arora N, Turbendian HK, Kato MA, Moo TA, Zarnegar R, Fahey TJ 3rd (2009) Papillary thyroid carcinoma and microcarcinoma: is there a need to distinguish the two? Thyroid 19(5):473–477PubMedCrossRef Arora N, Turbendian HK, Kato MA, Moo TA, Zarnegar R, Fahey TJ 3rd (2009) Papillary thyroid carcinoma and microcarcinoma: is there a need to distinguish the two? Thyroid 19(5):473–477PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Pellegriti G, Scollo C, Lumera G, Regalbuto C, Vigneri R, Belfiore A (2004) Clinical behavior and outcome of papillary thyroid cancers smaller than 1.5 cm in diameter: study of 299 cases. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89(8):3713–3720PubMedCrossRef Pellegriti G, Scollo C, Lumera G, Regalbuto C, Vigneri R, Belfiore A (2004) Clinical behavior and outcome of papillary thyroid cancers smaller than 1.5 cm in diameter: study of 299 cases. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89(8):3713–3720PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Roti E, Rossi R, Trasforini G et al (2006) Clinical and histological characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: results of a retrospective study in 243 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91(6):2171–2178PubMedCrossRef Roti E, Rossi R, Trasforini G et al (2006) Clinical and histological characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: results of a retrospective study in 243 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 91(6):2171–2178PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Mehanna H, Al-Maqbili T, Carter B et al (2014) Differences in the recurrence and mortality outcomes rates of incidental and nonincidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 329 person-years of follow-up. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99(8):2834–2843PubMedCrossRef Mehanna H, Al-Maqbili T, Carter B et al (2014) Differences in the recurrence and mortality outcomes rates of incidental and nonincidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 329 person-years of follow-up. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99(8):2834–2843PubMedCrossRef
23.
go back to reference Ito Y, Uruno T, Nakano K et al (2003) An observation trial without surgical treatment in patients with papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid 13(4):381–387PubMedCrossRef Ito Y, Uruno T, Nakano K et al (2003) An observation trial without surgical treatment in patients with papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid. Thyroid 13(4):381–387PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Negative Fine-Needle Aspiration in Patients with Goiter: Should We Doubt It?
Authors
Michal Mekel
Hayim Gilshtein
Abbas Al-Kurd
Bishara Bishara
Michael M. Krausz
Herbert R. Freund
Yoram Kluger
Ahmed Eid
Haggi Mazeh
Publication date
01-01-2016
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
World Journal of Surgery / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 0364-2313
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2323
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3216-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

World Journal of Surgery 1/2016 Go to the issue