Effect of combining ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of ultrasonography and cytology in predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules.


METHODS
Prospective open study.


METHODS
Thyroid centre, Japan.


METHODS
329 nodules in 309 patients examined by a new ultrasound scanner and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.


METHODS
Comparison of ultrasonographic, cytological, and combined diagnosis with the histological diagnosis.


METHODS
Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each diagnostic method.


RESULTS
The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 84%, 87%, 85% for cytological diagnosis, and 82%, 91%, and 87% for ultrasonographic diagnosis. By using ultrasonographic diagnosis when cytological specimens were inadequate or gave false negative results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy went up to 89%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. We could not diagnose follicular carcinomas accurately by combined cytology and ultrasonography.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of ultrasonography and cytology improves the accuracy of diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but is less effective with follicular tumours.
Koike
E
E
Noguchi Thyroid Clinic and Hospital Foundation, Oita, Japan.
Yamashita
H
H
Noguchi
S
S
Murakami
T
T
Ohshima
A
A
Maruta
J
J
Kawamoto
H
H
Yamashita
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography