Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Results of Thyroid Nodules According to Their Biopsy Indications

Abstract

We aimed to compare the fine needle aspiration biopsy results of thyroid nodules in two different groups. One group (group A), consisted of thyroid nodules which had sonographically suspicious criteria for malignancy, the other group (group B) was comprised of nodules which were not sonographically suspicious for malignancy, but referred to biopsy according to clinician’s will. In our clinic, a total number of 132 nodules in 118 patients ( range 25-75 years) were biopsied between June 2004 and October 2005. Sex, age, nodule size, palpability of nodule, ultrasonographic features were compared in both groups with respect the cytopathological results. Sensitivity, spesificity, negative and positive predictive values were calculated for each ultrasonographic feature. Malignancy rates and number of nodules that 1 cm or smaller in diameter were significantly higher in group A, the number of palpable nodules were higher in group B. The number of solid, hypoechoic, irregular bordered nodules with central microcalcification and central vascularity seen by Doppler ultrasound were higher in group A.In conclusion; fine needle aspiration biopsy of solitary or dominant nodules in diameter of ≥ 1 cm, have low malignancy rates, if sonographically unsuspicious for malignancy. Thyroid cancer could be detected even in nodules smaller than 1 cm, if the nodule has sonographically suspicious features for malignancy