title: The role of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in a District General Hospital setting.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Croydon, UK.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coppen
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Prentice
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*