A Clinical Analysis of Thyroid Tumor

Kim, Jong Gab; Lee, Keun Su; Hwang, Jeong Yeol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Malignant thyroid tumors may mimic the clinical symptoms and signs of a non-malignant tumor in the early course of the disease. The choice of the treatment modality for a thyroid tumor can be based on exact interpretation of FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) and frozen section.
METHODS
We have experienced 237 cases of thyroid tumors during the past ten years at St. Columban hospital. From September 1988 to August 1998, subjects were selected and a retrospective study was done.
RESULTS
(1) Of the 237 cases in this study, 194 had non-malignant lesions and 43 had malignant lesions, a ratio of 4.5:1. (2) The female to male ratio was 9.2:1 with non-malignant lesions (female: 195/male: 19) and 9.8:1 with malignant lesions (female: 39/male: 4). (3) The age distribution was the 4th to the 6th decades, regardless of the nature of the lesions. (4) The duration of disease was within 3 months with 42.2% of subjects, and 71.8% of subjects came within first year of disease, regardless of the nature of lesions. (5) Thyroid function tests showed no abnormality with most of the patients, regardless of the nature of lesions. (6) Fine needle aspiration cytology biopsy showed a sensitivity of 32.7%, a specificity of 100%, and an accuracy of 90.8%, and revealed preoperative diagnostic validity. (7) Ultrasonography of the neck, showed a sensitivity of 32.7%, a specificity of 88.1%, and an accuracy of 77.4%, and had no diagnostic value. (8) With benign lesions, adenomatous goiters were most common (96 cases), and with malignant lesions papillary carcinomas were predominant (36 cases).
CONCLUSIONS
FNAC and frozen section are valuable preoperative and intraoperative diagnostic tool for thyroid tumors.