COULD SERUM TSH LEVELS PREDICT MALIGNANCY IN THYROID NODULES WITH INDETERMINATE CYTOLOGY?

Objectives: To evaluate the serum thyreotropin (TSH) levels as a possible predictor of malignancy in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who had ultrasound- guided FNA of thyroid nodules at our Department between September 2014 and February 2018. Only patients with indeterminate cytology and TSH values within the normal range obtained one month before FNA were enrolled. All patients had been submitted to hemi or thyroidectomy in our Institute. Results: Histologic evaluation revealed malignancy in 74/378 (19.6%) nodules. The rate of cancer was significantly lower in TIR 3A (9.8%) than TIR 3B lesions (27.4%), p<0.0001. Patients with malignancy evidenced higher serum TSH levels than those with histological proven benign nodules (3.03±1.16 vs. 2.37±1.19 mIU/L, p