Usefulness of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of non-palpable small thyroid nodules.
OBJECTIVE
Diverse and contradictory approaches have been suggested for the management of non-palpable thyroid nodules. The aim of our study was to evaluate the indications and limits of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC) in non-palpable infracentimetric thyroid nodules.


METHODS
From September 2003 to December 2004 we observed 325 patients with non-palpable thyroid nodules. We divided our series into three groups according to the diameter of the lesion in order to verify the effectiveness of US-FNAC for lesions of less than 1 cm.


RESULTS
We assessed the cases with satisfactory and unsatisfactory results in the three groups into which the sample was divided (4 mm to 1 cm; 10.1 mm to 15 mm, and 15.1 mm to 25.5 mm). Our statistical analysis by means of the z-test showed there was no significant (5%) difference in the percentage distribution of the unsatisfactory results in the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Fine-needle cytology appears to be a useful diagnostic tool also for nodules of less than one cm because the percentage of unsatisfactory results is not related to the size of the nodule.
Accurso
Antonello
A
Department of General, Geriatric, Oncologic Surgery and Advanced Technologies, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University Federico II of Naples, Italy. Atlantis81@libero.it
Rocco
Nicola
N
Palumbo
Alessio
A
Leone
Francesco
F
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography