Fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules. Analysis of results obtained using a new method with histological examination of the sample Punción de nódulos tiroídeos con aguja fina. Análisis de los resultados obtenidos utilizando una nueva metódica c

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the most useful preoperative work up method for patients with nodular goiter. We analyze 173 patients that underwent FNAB and were subsequently operated. The sample with FNAB was processed both for cytological and histological study, using methods developed at the hospital. The preoperative diagnosis reached was compared with that obtained with the surgical piece. Results showed that the histological analysis of the FNAB sample improved the sensitivity of the method, when compared with the cytological study, from 68.5% to 87.8% (p < 0.035) without modifying specificity (100% for both methods). It is concluded that FNAB with histological study of the sample has a high diagnostic yield and is exempt of complications.