Amyloid goiter. Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid

Amyloid goiter is a rare condition. We could not find more than 90 cases from an extensive review of the world literature. We report here two patients in whom that diagnosis was made, prior to surgery, by fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid. We review the major clinic and histopathologic characteristics of amyloid goiter and we stand out the usefulness of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid to diagnose the amyloid goiter and amyloidosis, in general. © 1989, Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE). All rights reserved.