title: [Evaluation of the role of repeat needle biopsy in the diagnosis and follow-up of thyroid nodules].
abstract: The goal of the present study was to determine in what percentage of cases was an initial benign cytological diagnosis modified to malignant or suspicion of malignancy by a second aspiration biopsy. The study group consisted of 708 patients, 98 males and 610 females, mean age 46.3 +/- 13.7; FNB was always repeated on the same nodule. The first FNB (cytology I), classified the nodule as: non-diagnostic (group I, 205 cases) or diagnostic (group II, 503 cases); these latter were classified as benign (471) or suspect (32). In 82 cases of group I the second examination after six months (cytology II) was still unable to arrive at a diagnosis; in the remaining 123 cases, it was able to classify 120 as benign and 3 as suspect (the latter being followed up by diagnostic surgery). In group II, cytology II modified the initial diagnosis from benign to suspect (8 cases) or non-diagnostic (7 cases). On the other hand, 29 cases had a change of their initial diagnosis from suspect to benign. The remaining cases of group II repeated a thyroid FNB after one year (cytology III) with a result of benign (486) or non-diagnostic (6). In the 14 cases followed up by diagnostic surgery, due to a second biopsy diagnosis of suspicion, histology showed the presence of Follicular Adenoma in 12 cases and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in the remaining 2. Based on follow-up surgery, the suspicious lesions seen on the second biopsy turned out to be all non-malignant. However, it is important to underline the greater number of cases where the second examination gave a benign diagnosis when the first examination was judged suspicious. One can conclude that it may be useful to repeat FNB: 1) when the first exam resulted in an inadequate sample, as a second biopsy allows one to classify the nodule 60% of the time; 2) in all cases where there is an initial benign diagnosis, when non-surgical follow-up (clinical and/or echographic) is suspicious.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi, Ancona, Ospedale Regionale, U.S.L. 7.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Morosini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filipponi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taccaliti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gusella
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchi
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography