FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION
Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid has proven to be a safe and effective screening and diagnostic method for the evaluation of thyroid nodules (see Chap. 39). To understand changes seen in pathologic conditions, one must be aware of the range of normal results with such needle aspirations. In aspirates from normal
glands, uniform epithelial cells, often forming follicles surrounding drops of colloid, may be seen (Fig. 29-7). When seen en face, a honeycomb pattern is observed. The follicular cells are round to oval, measuring 8 to 10 μm in diameter; a central nucleus and pale cytoplasm are present. The nuclear chromatin is uniform and finely granular.30 Variations occur in normal glands as a part of the aging process. Nuclear size is increased significantly in thy-rocytes from normal glands of subjects 60 years of age or older in comparison with the size of those in individuals younger than 30 years of age.31 These variations are important to recognize to avoid the diagnosis of atypical follicular epithelium from fine-needle aspiration samples solely on the basis of size.
glands, uniform epithelial cells, often forming follicles surrounding drops of colloid, may be seen (Fig. 29-7). When seen en face, a honeycomb pattern is observed. The follicular cells are round to oval, measuring 8 to 10 μm in diameter; a central nucleus and pale cytoplasm are present. The nuclear chromatin is uniform and finely granular.30 Variations occur in normal glands as a part of the aging process. Nuclear size is increased significantly in thy-rocytes from normal glands of subjects 60 years of age or older in comparison with the size of those in individuals younger than 30 years of age.31 These variations are important to recognize to avoid the diagnosis of atypical follicular epithelium from fine-needle aspiration samples solely on the basis of size.
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