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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Preparation and Using Phantom Lesions to Practice Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsies
Published on: September 30, 2009
The role of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in a District General Hospital setting
W J Merchant1, S M Thomas, M J Coppen
1Department of Histopathology, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Croydon, UK.
Abstract:
The pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the role of FNA cytology in the clinical management of patients with thyroid swelling, in a District General Hospital (DGH) setting. One hundred and eleven patients were investigated over a period of 3 years, with a total of 142 fine needle aspirations. Statistical analysis showed a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 91% and a false negative rate of 2.7%. These results compare very favourably with other institutions. This study therefore shows that thyroid nodule FNA cytology can be performed in a DGH with a high standard of diagnostic accuracy, the results of which play a key role in patient management.

