Evaluation of Modified Core-Needle Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

OBJECTIVE: Core needle biopsy (CNB) of the thyroid is an additional diagnostic method for non-diagnostic or indeterminate cytology samples. We sought to evaluate a new modified core biopsy technique and compare the concordance of its diagnosis with the final diagnosis of the surgically resected specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 842 patients who had a thyroid CNB with or without a previous fine-needle aspiration from August 2002 to March 2015; 38% of patients ultimately underwent thyroidectomy. We divided the patients into two groups for comparison: conventional group (n = 329) and new modified technique group (n = 513) that enabled sampling of not only the lesion but also the margin and surrounding parenchyma. The diagnostic conclusiveness of CNB and concordant rate with thyroidectomy was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic conclusiveness did not exhibit a significant increase (77% in the conventional technique group and 75% in the modified technique group, p = 0.408). In terms of the diagnostic concordance rate between CNB and thyroidectomy, no overall significant increase was observed (83% in the conventional technique group and 88% in the modified technique group, p = 0.194). However, only in follicular-patterned lesions (nodular hyperplasia, follicular neoplasm, and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma), a significant increase in the diagnostic concordance rate was observed (83% in the conventional group and 94% in the modified technique group, p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Modified CNB technique can be beneficial for the accurate diagnosis of follicular-patterned thyroid lesions.

Core Needle Biopsy of the Thyroid: 2016 Consensus Statement and Recommendations from Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology

Core needle biopsy (CNB) has been suggested as a complementary diagnostic method to fine-needle aspiration in patients with thyroid nodules. Many recent CNB studies have suggested a more advanced role for CNB, but there are still no guidelines on its use. Therefore, the Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed the present consensus statement and recommendations for the role of CNB in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on evidence from the current literature and expert consensus.

RE: Thyroid Core Needle Biopsy: The Strengths of Guidelines of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology

No abstract available.

Test characteristics of core needle biopsy of palpable breast masses: A review of Philippine General Hospital out-patient cases from 1999 to 2001

Core needle biopsy (CNB) has been used increasingly as a diagnostic tool in evaluating mammary lesions. To determine the test characteristics of CNB, histopathologic review of palpable breast masses in 81 female patients (mean age: 48 years, range 17-71 years) obtained by non-imaging-guided CNB at the Philippine General Hospital Out-Patient Department from January 1999 to March 2001 was compared with the reviewed results of the subsequent excision (excision biopsy, simple mastectomy and modified radical mastectomy) as the reference standard. Of the 81 cases, 62 (77 percent) were histologically confirmed as malignant and 19 (23 percent) were benign. Of the 81 CNBs, 22 (27 percent) were unsatisfactory biopsies. Evaluation of CNB test characteristics was based on the rest of the 59 "satisfactory" CNBs. Test characteristics were: Sensitivity=82.2 percent, Specificity=92.2 percent, Accuracy=84.7 percent, Positive Predictive Value=97.4 percent, Negative Predictive Value=61.9 percent. The test characteristics were lower compared to previously reported values which were however largely based on image-guided CNBs. Specimen adequacy, operator differences in skills and expertise, and histopathologic interpretation error may account for the difference. (Author)