Validity of preoperative needle aspiration cytology in the management of thyroid nodules.

ABSTRACT

A total of 200 histological verified FNA biopsies of thyroid nodules that were collected over a period of 5 years from different centers were evaluated. Considering only the positive results, FNA cytology has a sensitivity of 77.8%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 93%. There were no false positive cytologic results while the false negative results amounted to 20.7%. The cytomorphologic features of different thyroid lesions were presented. A semiquantitative analysis of the cytologic features of different follicular lesions was performed. The potential sources of false positive or false negative cytologic results were presented in light of a retrospective cytohistologic correlation. It was concluded that FNA cytology could possibly assist in making an insightful analysis of thyroid nodules that allow for better selection of candidates for throid cancer surgery. To enhance the cytologic accuracy, repeat sampling, or sampling of different foci, and sonographic -guided sampling were recommended. In interpretting the cytologic results, the clinical, the biochemical, the ultrasonographic and the scintigraphic data should be considered