Oya TOPALOĞLU, Bekir ÇAKIR, Narin NASIROĞLU IMGA, Rahmet GÜNER, Sefika Burcak POLAT, Cevdet AYDIN, Müge KESKİN, Hüsniye BAŞER, Belma Özlem TURAL BALSAK, Reyhan ERSOY

THE POSITIVITY RATE OF COVID-19 PCR TEST PERFORMED FOR SCREENING BEFORE THYROID FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome. Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading rapidly around the world. Asymptomatic infection is highly contagious, potentially leading to viral spread. We aimed to determine the rate of patients positive for COVID- 19 PCR performed for safety measures before thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Materials and Methods: The patients applied to Ankara City Hospital, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics between 15.03.2020 and 15.08.2020 and underwent routine COVID-19 PCR test before FNAB were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, history of hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), use of levothyroxine (LT4) or antithyroid drug, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3], TSH, freeT3 (fT3), free (fT4) levels, FNAB results were obtained from the records. Results: Asymptomatic COVID-19 infection was detected in 29 (2.43%) of 1195 patients who underwent FNAB. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with COVID-19 PCR test positive asymptomatic and negative patients in terms of age, gender, median values of 25(OH)D3, TSH, fT3, fT4, the ratio of hypertension and T2DM. Conclusion: The healthcare professionals work devotedly against COVID-19 infection, demonstrating a great example of struggle worldwide. FNAB is an invasive procedure requiring close contact. It should be known by the clinician that COVID-19 infection is associated with a high risk of transmission in asymptomatic patients. The rate of 2.43% in the population cannot be underestimated and indicates the importance of the use of personal protective equipment and taking infection prevention measures.

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