Improvement in specimen adequacy with ultrasound-guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) of Thyroid Nodules using Rapid On-site Evaluation (ROSE): A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background@#Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the most accurate and cost-effective method to evaluate thyroid nodule for possible malignancy. However, an adequate specimen is required for proper examination by a pathologist. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE), a service typically provided by pathologists, is the real-time evaluation for adequacy of FNAB smears which can help improve adequacy rates by allowing the submission of additional thyroid samples when the submitted samples are inadequate. This study aims to investigate if ROSE done by trained Endocrinologists can improve specimen adequacy in our patients.@*Methods@#A total of 192 patients were included in this study and were divided in two groups a ROSE group (n=96) and a non-ROSE group (n=96). In the ROSE group, the smear of thyroid aspirate was evaluated for adequacy by a trained Endocrinologist in real time. In the non-ROSE group, specimens are directly sent to the Pathologist.@*Results@#ROSE done by Endocrinologists had 94% sensitivity, 46% specificity and 82% accuracy compared to a Pathologist. The adequacy rate under the ROSE group was 84.38% and 81.25% in non-ROSE group.@*Conclusion@#Our study showed that ROSE can improve adequacy rate in our center. ROSE can also be used by physicians in the provinces who are performing FNAB of the thyroid without ultrasound guidance to improve specimen adequacy and lessen repeat biopsy.