ABSTRACT
Objective To retrospectively analyze and compare the clinical application value of core-needle biopsy (CNB) histology and fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 134 patients with 137 thyroid nodules (93 malignant nodules and 44 benign nodules) were included in this study. Under ultrasound guidance, successive use of 22 G fine needle and18 G core-needle to puncture each nodule was performed for sampling of thyroid nodule. Surgical findings and pathological manifestations were compared with clinical follow-up results. The success rate of sampling and the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity as well as specificity for malignant thyroid nodules were compared among FNA, CNB, and CNB/FNA. Results The success rate of puncture sampling with FNA, CNB and FNA/CNB for thyroid nodules was 89.1％, 97.8％ and 100％ respectively. For malignant thyroid nodules, the diagnostic accuracy of FNA, CNB and FNA/CNB was 79.6％, 91.9％ and 96.4％ respectively, the sensitivity was 81.7％, 94.6％ and 97.8％ respectively, and the specificity was 75.0％, 86.4％ and 93.2％ respectively. The success rate of puncture sampling by using CNB or FNA/CNB was significantly higher than that by using FNA (P<0.01), moreover, the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity for malignant thyroid nodules by using CNB or FNA/CNB was also remarkably higher than those by using FNA (P<0.01) . Conclusion In making diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules, CNB is accurate, safe and reliable. CNB can be used as a complementary or alternative technique to FNA in clinical practice.