Abstract
Cytodiagnosis by aspiration with puncture was compared with histopathological diagnosis in the thyroid gland of 58 autopsy cases (aged 14 years or more) selected at random. The results of pathomorphological examinations of the thyroid gland of 1, 898 cases (aged 14 years or more) autopsied at our department over a 27-year period were also studied. The rate of correct diagnosis of malignant tumor of the thyroid gland was 66.7%, and nodules were palpated in only five of 12 lobes that were correctly diagnosed as having malignant thyroid tumor. Cytodiagnosis seems difficult in cases in which no nodule can be palpated or those with microcarcinoma of 5mm or less. Multi-directional aspiration should therefore be employed for cytodiagnosis by aspiration with puncture in the thyroid gland. Cancer cells are usually confirmed by cytodiagnosis by aspiration with puncture for the thyroid gland, but microcarcinoma should be closely and clinically followed up when histopathological examination does not disclose cancer. Screening of the autopsied cases revealed that the incidence of various thyroid diseases was 8.2%, and increased with aging. The incidence of thyroid cancer was 1.9%, and that of microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland, 0.9%. The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was high in the 40s and 80s. By histological type, 42.8% of thyroid carcinomas were papilloadenocarcinoma and 44.4% follicular adenocarcinoma. Among cases of microcarcinoma of 10mm or less, the incidence of papilloadenocarcinoma was high, 70.6%. The incidence of coexistence of adenomatoid goiter and thyroid carcinoma was high, 25%. It therefore seems necessary that patients diagnosed as having adenomatoid goiter be observed regularly.
