title: Contribution of quantitative cytology to the cytological diagnosis of thyroid neoplasms.
abstract: In a previous study we determined that the fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of thyroid produces 16% of false-negative cases (FNC). In order to determine the value of quantitative cytology (QC) as a tool for predicting the FNC result, thirty-seven cases, 18 of which were operated (histologically benign: 13; malignant: 3; atypical adenoma; 2) were examined for quantitative morphologic characteristics. The smears were stained by the Feulgen method and nuclear parameters of morphometry, densitometry and texture were computed by a cell image processor. The system was first taught to recognize the benign and malignant cells from 3 histologically benign and malignant lesions. Thereafter, prospective cases were submitted to decisional analysis. For 10 histologically benign cases, the benign cell rate (bcr) ranged from 65% to 99.4 (95% confidence interval). Among the patients with a cytologically benign lesion (and an unknown histological diagnosis), 2 had a bcr less than 65% and so were not to be regarded as benign. The follow-up of these patients will show whether they represent FNC and whether QC can be of predictive value in assessing the FNC.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Haematology, Institut Jean-Godinot, Reims, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liautaud-Roger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dufer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pluot
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Delisle
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coninx
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm