Vol.98 No.2 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 98 No. 2 February 2005
Transition of Benign Thyroid Nodules
Tsuyoshi Kojima, Atsuhito Takahashi, Yo Kishimoto,
Shinji Suzuki, Satoshi Ikegami and Kazuhiko Shoji
(Tenri Hospital)
Most benign thyroid nodules are treated conservatively. This report reviews transition of benign thyroid nodules in major axis by ultrasonography. We examined 79 patients (109 nodules) diagnosed as those having benign thyroid nodules using fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and ultrasonography in 1998. None of these patients received any medical and surgical treatments. Nodules that were unchanged or decreased in size accounted for more than 70％ of benign nodules. More than 60％ of solid nodules did not change or decrease in size. The nodules that were initially smaller, increased in size, while most large nodules were unchanged or decreased. Benign nodules that are unchanged or decrease in size do not have to be treated positively, but nodules that increase in size should undergo repeat FNAB.
Key words : thyroid tumor, ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)