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Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Consistency of sequential needle biopsy findings for thyroid nodules. Management implications
Archives of Internal Medicine
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Repeat needle biopsy is a reliable method for diagnosing thyroid nodules, confirming initial diagnoses in 85% of cases. This approach is preferable to routine surgery for non-responsive nodules.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Needle biopsy aids in reducing unnecessary surgeries for thyroid nodules.
- "Benign" diagnoses from needle biopsies can be inaccurate.
- Thyroxine treatment rarely causes regression in non-responsive thyroid nodules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of repeat needle biopsy for thyroid nodules.
- To compare the outcomes of repeat needle biopsy versus routine surgery for non-responsive nodules.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 246 patients with thyroid nodules.
- Comparison of initial needle biopsy diagnoses with repeat needle biopsy results.
- Correlation of biopsy diagnoses with surgical findings when applicable.
Main Results:
- Repeat needle biopsy confirmed 85% of initial diagnoses.
- 91% of initial "benign" diagnoses were confirmed.
- Surgery was performed on 14 patients with initially benign diagnoses; all were benign.
- Changes in diagnosis (benign to suspicious/malignant) led to surgery in 11 patients, revealing one Hürthle cell carcinoma and five malignant lesions.
Conclusions:
- Repeat needle biopsy is a valuable tool for confirming or revising thyroid nodule diagnoses.
- Reliance on repeat needle biopsy is a preferred strategy over routine surgery for nodules not responding to thyroxine therapy.
