OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the size of thyrocyte nuclei in aspirates from follicular adenoma correlates with the age of patients. STUDY DESIGN: The karyometric parameters were evaluated in routine aspirates, obtained from 27 patients with follicular adenoma as diagnosed in postoperative histopathologic examinations. The ages of the patients ranged from 11 to 70 years (36.8 +/- 16.3, x +/- SD). The cytologic examination of all the aspirates before surgery revealed "follicular neoplasms." The karyometric evaluation was performed with Karyometry Manager, version 1.2, an image analysis computer system. RESULTS: Neither the mean nuclear volume, mean nuclear intersection area nor mean nuclear perimeter correlated with the ages of the patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in contrast to nodular goiter, in the cytologic examination of follicular neoplasms, the ages of patients should be disregarded when interpreting the size of thyrocyte nuclei.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the size of thyrocyte nuclei in aspirates from follicular adenoma correlates with the age of patients. STUDY DESIGN: The karyometric parameters were evaluated in routine aspirates, obtained from 27 patients with follicular adenoma as diagnosed in postoperative histopathologic examinations. The ages of the patients ranged from 11 to 70 years (36.8 +/- 16.3, x +/- SD). The cytologic examination of all the aspirates before surgery revealed "follicular neoplasms." The karyometric evaluation was performed with Karyometry Manager, version 1.2, an image analysis computer system. RESULTS: Neither the mean nuclear volume, mean nuclear intersection area nor mean nuclear perimeter correlated with the ages of the patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in contrast to nodular goiter, in the cytologic examination of follicular neoplasms, the ages of patients should be disregarded when interpreting the size of thyrocyte nuclei.