Dominant nodules in multinodular goitre patients with comparison of the results of other nodule fnab

Objective: Thyroid nodules are one of the pathologies that are commonly seen. Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the golden standart for approaching thyroid nodules. It is recommended to carry out an FNAB from the dominant nodule in multinodular goitre. Furthermore, FNAB must also be carried out from nodules including solid, hypoechoic and microcalcification. In our study, we compared the FNAB results that we carried out from dominant nodule and any other nodule which have features that may be malignant to ultrasonography (US). Besides, the relationship between the results of cytology and US features of nodules has been analysed.Material and Methods: Between 2009-2010, 197 cases diagnosised MNG were analysed. These cases followed by applying to endocrinology polyclinic were carried out FNAB from both dominant nodule and non-dominant nodule. Whole cystic nodules, nodules with peripherial calcification and nodules that its FNAB result has poor material weren?t used in the study and 171 cases were used. As a malignancy criteria at US, including hypoechoic pattern, solid structure, microcalcification features of nodule and not having peripherial halo feature of nodule were used. In statistical analyse, p<0.05 was accepted as significant.Results: While malignancy rate was found % 1.8 in dominant nodules, in non-dominant nodules malignancy rate was found % 0.6 and statistically it wasn?t observed significant difference (p=0.53). In the cytological analyse of non-dominant nodules, malignancy rate was found significantly high (p<0.001) in those inluding microcalcification. In nodules not having peripherial halo, malignancy rate was also found significantly high (p=0.048). it wasn?t determined statistically significant relation between malignancy and, hypoechogenicity, solid structure as US features of nodules.Conclusion: According to cytological analyse results of patients diagnosed multinodular goiter, There is no significant difference between carrying out biopsy from dominant nodules and from other nodules. Besides, regarding to echogenicity feature, size and structure of nodules, FNAB results couldn?t indicate clearly suspicion of malignancy. Therefore, we think it will be useful carrying out biopsy both from dominant nodule and from nodule has malignancy feature at its US. We think it will be more useful determining situation of including microcalcification of nodule to carry out FNAB in terms of malignancy suspicion in non-dominant nodules.Key words: Thyroid, Multinodular goiter, Fine needle aspiration biopsy, dominant nodule, non-dominant nodule