Evaluation of Ultrasonographic Characteristics and Cytopathological Results of Autonomous (Toxic) Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid nodules are clinical conditions frequently encountered in the community and known to be associated with malignancy. In this study, it was aimed to determine the frequency of malignancy in patients diagnosed with autonomous (toxic) thyroid nodules (TTN). In addition, the effectiveness of ultrasonography (US) findings and fine needle aspiration (FNA) results in helping the diagnosis of malignancy were investigated.
 Methods: Autonomous (Toxic) thyroid nodule was diagnosed by presence of nodule on US in the presence of subclinical or clinical hyperthyroidism, and detection of suppression in other parts of the gland with increased activity in scintigraphy performed with Tc‐99m pertechnetate. Fine-needle aspiration was performed on patients who were considered suspicious by ultrasonographic findings. The histopathology results of the patients who were found to need surgical resection were recorded.
 Results: 125 patients with autonomous (toxic) thyroid nodules were included in the study. Of the patients, 82 (65.60%) were female and 43 (34.40%) were male, with a mean age of 63.55±11.13 years. Ultrasonography revealed that nodules were less frequently located in the isthmus and left upper pole. The presence of microcalcification was detected in 8 (6.4%) patients. Histopathologically, the nodules of 2 (1.6%) patients were found to be malignant. Both patients who were found to be malignant were male and their nodules were seen as hypoechoic on US.
 Conclusions: Since it has been seen that autonomic (toxic) thyroid nodules may be related to malignancy, careful evaluation of male patients with a hypoechoic image on US was considered appropriate.