title: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules. A cost-effective diagnostic plan.
abstract: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a safe and accurate method for diagnosing thyroid nodules. Personnel who have experience with the aspiration technique and with the cytologic classification of specimens are crucial to accurate results. One important advantage of using fine-needle biopsy to initially screen patients with nodules is that it can save substantially on healthcare resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gundersen Clinic, La Crosse, WI 54601.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Caplan
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kisken
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Strutt
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wester
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis