SIZE OF THYROCYTE NUCLEI IN ASPIRATES FROM FOLLICULAR ADENOMAS - CORRELATION WITH PATIENTS AGES

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the size of thyrocyte nuclei in aspira tes from follicular adenoma correlates with the age of patients. STUDY DESIGN: The karyometric parameters were evaluated in routine aspirate s, obtained from 27 patients with follicular adenoma as diagnosed in p ostoperative histopathologic examinations. The ages of the patients ra nged from II to 70 years (36.8 +/- 16.3, (X) over bar +/- SD). The cyt ologic examination of all the aspirates before surgery revealed ''foll icular neoplasms.'' The karyometric evaluation was performed with Kary ometry Manager, version 1.2, an image analysis computer system. RESULT S: Neither the mean nuclear volume, mean nuclear intersection area nov mean nuclear perimeter correlated with the ages of the patients. CONC LUSION: These results suggest that in contrast to modular goiter, in t he cytologic examination of follicular neoplasms, the ages of patients should be disregarded when interpreting the size of thyrocyte nuclei.