Benign Aspirates on Follow-Up FNA May Be Enough in Patients with Initial Atypia of Undetermined SignificanceFollicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance

الملخص EN

Background.

Management of thyroid nodules with benign aspirates following atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) is not well established.

We reviewed the risk of malignancy and the role of ultrasound (US) features among thyroid nodules with benign results following initial AUS/FLUS diagnoses.

Methods.

From December 2009 to February 2011, a total of 114 nodules in 114 patients diagnosed as benign on follow-up fine-needle aspiration (FNA) after AUS/FLUS results were included in our study.

Eight among 114 nodules were confirmed pathologically and 106 were clinically observed by a follow-up FNA or US.

Suspicious US features were defined as markedly hypoechogenicity, irregular or microlobulated margin, presence of microcalcifications, and taller than wide shape.

Results.

There were 110 (96.5%) benign nodules and 4 (3.5%) malignant nodules.

Two (4.8%) among 42 nodules without suspicious US features and 2 (2.8%) out of 72 nodules with suspicious US features were confirmed as malignancy, but there were no significant associations between the malignancy rate and US features ( P = 0.625 ).

Conclusion.

Clinical follow-up instead of surgical excision or continuous repeat FNA may be enough for benign thyroid nodules after AUS/FLUS.

The role of US features might be insignificant in the management of these nodules.