THIN-NEEDLE BIOPSY OF THE THYROID GLAND IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF THYROTOXICOSIS

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Abstract
Thin-needle biopsy was carried out in 19 patients with toxic and in 17 patients with non-toxic goitres. The diametres of the cell nuclei of 100 thyroidal epithelial cells in each smear were measured with an ocular micrometer. The nuclear diameter was graded in three groups according to size, i.e. less than 9 microns, 9 to 10.4 microns and more than 10.4 microns. In 16 out of 19 patients with toxic goitres, the large cell nuclei represented more than 30 per cent and the small cell nuclei less than 30 per cent of the total number of cell nuclei. On the other hand, in 15 out of 17 patients with non-toxic goitres, the small nuclei represented more than 30 per cent and the large nuclei less than 30 per cent of the total number. There was no difference between diffuse and nodular goitres in the toxic and non-toxic groups. Paravacuolar granulation in the cytoplasm was found in one-third of the cases with toxic goitres and in one case with non-toxic goitre. As previously observed (Söderström 1958), foamy phagocytes and giant cells usually indicate nodular goitres. The finding of coarse granules and different degrees of vacuolization in the cytoplasm of the thyroid cells seems to be of little value in diagnosis.

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