Clinicopathologic analysis of fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid. A review of 1,613 cases and correlation with histopathologic diagnoses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid lesions at our institution and to ascertain its usefulness in determining the therapeutic approach.


METHODS
The authors reviewed the results of 1,613 cases of FNA cytology of thyroid nodules performed from 1999 to 2001 at the Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Hospital. Cytologic diagnoses were compared with histologic diagnoses in 207 cases that included both FNA and thyroid surgery.


RESULTS
The sensitivity for the detection of neoplasms (carcinoma and follicular adenoma) was 78.4% and the specificity 98.2%. A false positive diagnosis was made in 1 case (1.8%) and false negative ones in 28 cases (21.5%). The diagnostic accuracy was 84.4%, with a positive predictive value of 99.0% and negative predictive value of 66.3%. The predictive value of a cytologic diagnosis was 100% in papillary carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
FNA is a useful test in determining the therapeutic approach of thyroid lesions.
Ko
Hyang-Mi
HM
Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Jhu
Im-Kwan
IK
Yang
Seung-Ho
SH
Lee
Jae-Hyuk
JH
Nam
Jong-Hee
JH
Juhng
Sang-Woo
SW
Choi
Chan
C
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery