Appropriate and accurate diagnosis of thyroid nodules: a review of thyroid fine-needle aspiration

Thyroid nodules are clinically palpable in 4-7% of adults in the United States. With ultrasound examination, thyroid nodules are identified in up to 70% of adults. In asymptomatic individuals, the potential for malignancy underlies the clinical importance of investigating thyroid nodules. Increased diagnostic accuracy has improved non-operative management of benign thyroid lesions. Appropriate management of thyroid microcarcinoma and large nodules remains a topic of debate. False-negative FNA cytology remains a concern for clinicians treating patients with thyroid nodules. Due to the challenge of interpreting FNA cytology and recent changes to the cytopathologic classification system, we reviewed the current literature on diagnosis of thyroid nodules using the recent Bethesda criteria.