Diagnostic accuracy between fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and pathological examination of the thyroid

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the fact that the fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is commonly used in the initial evaluation and distinction of benign and malignant lesions of thyroid nodules, it may yield variable results, inasmuch as it is contingent on the pathologist's analysis and expertise in collecting appropriate samples. Objective: To check the diagnostic accuracy between FNA and pathological examination of thyroid nodules, both performed in a diagnostic pathology service. Methods: Retrospective study carried out in a diagnostic pathology service in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. All patients who underwent FNA and pathological examination in the period from January 1 st 2005 to December 31 2010 were included in this study. Results: 1,172 FNA were conducted during this period and 265 patients underwent both FNA and pathological examination. Most patients were female (85%), with mean age 47.75 years (standard deviation [SD] = 14.93 years). Cytopathological examinations yielded the following results: benignity (43.77 %), suspected malignancy (23.77%), follicular neoplasm (5.28%), atypical follicular lesion of undetermined significance (1.51%) and unsatisfactory sample (1.51%). In the pathological examination, the most predominant diagnoses were colloid goiter (38.87%), follicular adenoma (22.64%) and classic papillary carcinoma (18.87%). In satisfactory samples (n = 261), the following results were obtained: diagnostic accuracy (89.66%), sensitivity (82.14%), specificity (93.22%), negative predictive value (91.67%) and positive predictive value (75.19%). Conclusion: We concluded that FNA provides a good predictive value for benign thyroid, constituting a reliable and effective tool for diagnosis and surgical indication.

Correlation between Ultrasonography and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) Findings in Patients with Thyroid Lesions

“…12 Similarly, Patel NR et al also found the most common lesion was colloid goiter with 36% of people were affected. 10 In this study also the most common nodules were colloid goiter 35.1%, followed by Hashimoto thyroiditis 25.5% and nodular goiter 20.2% by FNAC. USG shows colloid goiter 36.17% was the most common followed by nodular goiter 22.34% and hasimato19.14%.…”

Comparison on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Thyroid Ultrasonography in Management of Thyroid Nodules

“…This is further substantiated by many authors in their studies [9,10]. However the increased concern on cosmesis and the higher health seeking behaviour in females may be additional factors favoring this.…”

Comparison of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and thyroid ultrasonography in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules

“…This is further substantiated by many authours in their studies. (9,10) However the increased concern on cosmesis and the There is a wide variation in the global statistics relating to the validity of FNAC as a tool for diagnosing thyroid pathology. The…”