title: Guiding thyroid nodule management by fine-needle aspiration.
abstract: To determine the clinical value and cost effectiveness of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in thyroid nodule management, a retrospective analysis of 945 consecutive patients subjected to FNA of cold nodules detected by clinical exam and Tc-99m pertechnetate thyroid scan between January 1, 1980, and December 31, 1987, was performed. After FNA, thyroid surgery was required in only 287 of 945 patients (30.4%). Of 87 cancers with satisfactory aspirates, 84 exhibited positive or suspicious cytology (sensitivity 96.6%). The predictive values for positive and negative cytology were 96.9% and 95.7%, respectively. Of 745 patients with known or presumed benign disease up to seven years of follow up, 642 showed benign cytologies (specificity 86.2%). The cancer removal rate (1980-1987) was higher with FNA and surgery than with surgery alone (P less than 0.001). The estimated cost saving of FNA in 1980-1987 approximates $564,000. FNA is of great value since it enables greater cancer detection in a cost-effective manner.
authors.affiliation: Annie Penn Memorial Hospital, North Carolina.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Morayati
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m