[Thyroid operation with routine frozen section--a self experience]

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNB) and frozen section (FS) may help to validate pre- and intraoperatively dignity of thyroid nodules, establishing the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The role of frozen section is uncertain. Some authors suggest routine performance, some authors suggest selective use (in case of unclear FNB), some authors do not support the use of FS. The authors performed routine FS in the past five years. The aim of the study is to evaluate how FS decides the extent of surgery, thus avoiding reoperation. Between January 2000 and December 2004 154 patients had surgery for thyroid nodule, 99 patients had preoperative FNA, 135 had undergone FS. Final histology confirmed malignancy in 14 cases (10.4%). Compared the result of FNA and FS with final histology findings, positive FS diagnosis was in 10 cases helpful, allows completion of thyroidectomy. The authors suggest the use of FS when results of FNA are interpreted as suspect or malignant.