CONTRIBUTION OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION AN D EXTEMPORANEOUS EXAMINATION IN THYROID-SURGERY - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 1235 FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATIONS IN 846 PATIENTS

We report a prospective study conducted from 1993 through 1995 in 846 patients (mainly women) consulting for a thyroid nodule. There were 46 5 multinodular goiters and 373 single nodules. The clinical diagnosis was obvious in 8 patients who were excluded. Pre-operative fine-needle aspiration was performed in 1235 patients and per-operative extempora neous examinations in 569. These two simple reliable examinations, wit h few significant complications in skillful hands, are complementary. Fine-needle aspiration gives reliable histology data for thyroid nodul es and should always be included in the pre-operative workup. Extempor aneous pathology examination of the surgical specimen provides informa tion for adapted surgery and avoids morbidity due to reoperation.