Restricting Ultrasound Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy by nodule size: which tumors are we missing? A population-based study

摘要

ContextClinicians use nodule size to determine which thyroid nodules should receive cytological evaluation. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) has recommended against cytological evaluation for nodules < 1 cm. It is unknown, however, if nodule size can accurately discriminate lesions that will represent tumors with favorable vs. unfavorable prognosis. Also, the characteristics of thyroid cancers that would not be diagnosed if a strict 1 cm size cut off is used as the threshold for biopsy of intrathyroidal nodules are not well established.