Role of fine-needle aspiration in the management of thyroid nodules

To show the benefits of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in managing thyroid nodules.

As a retrospective study, reports of 888 FNABs of the thyroid performed during a period of 11 years (1996-2007) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sina Hospital and Endocrine Clinic, Tehran, Iran were reviewed. Histological diagnoses were available for 182 cases, and we compared cytological diagnoses of FNAB with pathologic reports.

The cytology diagnoses by FNAB were: papillary 6 (3.2%); follicular neoplasm 51 (28%); follicular adenoma 10 (5.4%); Hurthle cell neoplasm 8 (4.3%); suspicious 20 (10.9%); inconclusive 2 (1%); and benign 85 (46.4%). Due to surgery pathologic reports, malignant cytologies were: 6 (100%) for papillary, 1 (1.96%) for follicular neoplasm, 4 (50%) for Hurthle cell neoplasm. In suspicious reports, 11 (55%) reports of pathology were malignant; and in inconclusive reports, one report (50%) was malignant.

Fine needle aspiration is a useful technique for selecting patients with nodular thyroid disease for surgery.