[Comparative yield of fine needle biopsy and cytology of solid thyroid nodules].
BACKGROUND
The correct management of thyroid nodules requires an accurate histological diagnosis to discard carcinoma.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules as compared to cytology of the same sample and surgical biopsy.


METHODS
One hundred and forty three thyroid nodules were punctured with a 21 G needle under continuous aspiration obtaining a sample for cytological and histological diagnosis. Fifty patients were subjected to a thyroidectomy.


RESULTS
The age of studied patients ranged from 12 to 78 years old and 94% were female. Mean nodule diameter was 2.7 +/- 1.4 cm. Two percent of procedures were complicated with local hematomas, that subsided spontaneously. A diagnosis of cancer was reached in 16% of all patients and 46% of operated patients. Cytology had a 50% sensitivity, 87.5% specificity, a 89.4% positive predictive value and a 87.5% negative predictive value. The figures for fine needle aspiration biopsy were 82.6, 100, 100 and 87% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Fine needle aspiration biopsy has a better diagnostic accuracy than cytology and is a simple and safe procedure.
López
J M
JM
Departamento de Endocrinología, Metabolismo y Nutrición, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Santiago de Chile.
Cárdenas
I E
IE
Campusano
C
C
Arteaga
E
E
Ciani
S
S
Duarte
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*