Should We Determine the Significance of “Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance’’

Abstract

Aim: Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (TFNAB) is the gold standard methodology for the evaluation of thyroid nodule. Nevertheless, diagnosis of TFNAB specimens is sometimes interpreted as “follicular lesion of undetermined significance”: This indeterminate diagnosis is given upon TFNAB despite the presence of sufficient cellular material available for cytopathological analysis. Furthermore, this indeterminate diagnosis constitutes a grey zone between benign lesion and malignancy. As a result, it becomes difficult to determine the type of surgical intervention that needs to be performed on the patient and the technique that will be used. In this study, we aim to correlate the diagnosis of “follicular lesion of undetermined significance” with clinical and postoperative evaluations. Methods: A total of 147 patients, who were diagnosed as “follicular lesion of undetermined significance” following initial TFNAB, were included in this retrospective study. These patients were evaluated according to whether they underwent a second TFNAB or thyroidectomy pathology following initial diagnosis of “follicular lesion of undetermined significance”. Results: Results were generated by evaluating the reports of the second TFNAB and 15 of 147 patients were followed. Histopathological examination of specimens derived from 132 patients following surgery revealed the following diagnosis: (i) hyperplasia in 67 patients, (ii) nodular lesion belonging to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 34 patients, (iii) papillary carcinoma in 28 patients, (iv) follicular carcinoma in two patients, and (v) anaplastic carcinoma in one patient. Conclusion: Based on this retrospective study and on examination of the available literature concerning the treatment options and follow-up of patients initially diagnosed as “follicular lesion of undetermined significance” (FLUS or Atypia of undetermined significance) upon TFNAB, we conclude that it is important to keep in mind the elevated rates of malignancy that potentially develop from these undetermined lesions. is electronic document is a “live” template. The various components of your paper [title, text, heads, etc.] are already defined on the style sheet, as illustrated by the portions given in this document.