ABSTRACT
Cytodiagnostic fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens from toxic goitres were studied for signs of lymphoid infiltration. Comparison with histological sections of specimens obtained by surgery showed that an excess of lymphoid cells in the aspirate smears corresponded to a large number of lymphoid foci in these sections. Excess of lymphoid cells in the fine needle aspirates was also positively correlated with the occurrence of circulating thyroid antibodies against thyroglobulin and/or cytoplasmic antigen, but not with the presence of the long-acting thyroid stimulating factor, LATS. It also varied with age in that it was most common in the youngest patients and in patients between 40–55 years, while lymphoid infiltration was seldom seen in patients over 55 years. A finding of practical clinical interest was that in toxic goitres with cytological signs of lymphoid infiltration hyperthyroidism had less tendency to recur after treatment with thiocarbamide drugs than in those without such signs.
