양성 갑상선 결절의 2년 후 추적조사 연구

Abstract

ABSTRACT

2 year follow-up study for benign thyroid nodules

Choi young-min Advisor : Prof. Kim sang-yong, Ph.D. Department of Medicine Graduate School of Chosun University

Background and Objectives : Benign thyroid nodule is a common disease. However, little is known about the natural course of it. The objective of the study was to evaluate the changes of ultrasonographic (US) findings and the fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytology.

Materials and Methods : We reviewed the US findings, FNA cytology, pathologic reports, and medical charts of 119 patients with benign thyroid nodule over 2 years. Benign thyroid nodules are diagnosed as confirmed by FNA with Bethesda system. The results of thryoid US was described characteristics such as structure, echogenicity, margin, shape, the existence of calcification. And then, we compared the characteristics of thyroid US between the first and 2 year later.

Results : After 2 years larter, the most common US changes, in descending order of frequency, was echogenicity changes(16%), margin changes (16%), existence of calcification (7%) and shape of nodule(5%).Only 3 patients was comfirmed by malignancy after follow up. One patient has the changes of US characteristics, especially taller than wide. Another patient has the appearance of new nodule and the other patient has malignant US findings from the beginning.

Conclusion : From this results, we concluded that benign thyroid noudule is slowly progressive disease. During 2 years, there have changed US findings. Most of them have been in a benign natural course. However, we should note that malignant US findings is strongly associated with papillary thryoid carcinoma, though FNA revealed benign. Among them, our results would suggests that taller than wide feature in US finding is associated with malignancy.

Key word : Thyroid US, Benign thyroid nodules, FNA(fine needle aspiration)