Application of thyroglobulin measurement in fine‐needle aspiration for detecting lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of thyroglobulin measurement with fine‐needle aspiration ( FNA‐Tg ) in detecting papillary thyroid carcinoma ( PTC ) metastatic lymph nodes ,and analyze the impact of different factors on the diagnostic accuracy of FNA‐Tg . Methods One hundred and fifty‐four lymph nodes from 138 patients w ho underwent total thyroidectomy and cervical lymphadenectomy were enrolled . Ultrasonography ,fine needle aspiration cytology ( FNAC) and FNA‐Tg results were acquired in all patients . T he diagnostic value of FNAC ,FNA‐Tg and the combination of the two methods were compared in suspicious PTC metastatic lymph nodes . T he influence of lymph nodes size ,lymph nodes cystic change and serum thyroglobulin antibody( TgAb) on the accuracy of FNAC and FNA‐Tg were analyzed . Results T he sensitivities of FNAC ,FNA‐Tg ,and the combination of the two methods in the diagnosis were 79 .5% , 95 .5% and 97 .7% ,respectively . T he specificities were 100% ,93 .9% and 100% ,respectively . T he size and cystic change of lymph nodes had effects on the accuracy of FNAC( P ＜0 .05) ,w hile they had no effect on the accuracy of FNA‐Tg ( P ＝0 .42 ,0 .67 ) . T he serum TgAb level had no influence on the accuracy of FNAC and FNA‐Tg ( P ＝ 0 .88 ,0 .34 ) . Conclusions FNA‐Tg is sensitive to metastatic lymph nodes in PTC w hich not affected by the lymph nodes size ,the lymph nodes cystic change and serum TgAb level . Application of FNA‐Tg with FNAC can improve the sensitivity of diagnosis ,w hich is important in the diagnosis of PTC metastatic lymph nodes .