title: Accuracy of aspiration cytology in thyroid cancer: a study in 1 institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate sensitivity of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosing malignancy in histologically proven thyroid cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the results of 335 smears from clinically significant and histologically proven primary thyroid cancers obtained from 9,115 aspirates, taking into account the pathologist's experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity for diagnosing thyroid malignancy in general was 88.0% (range, 82.6-97.2% from less to more experienced pathologist, respectively). It was higher for papillary (mean, 91.9%) and medullary (mean, 95.4%) carcinomas than for follicular cancer (mean, 50.0%). Biopsy showed thyroid cancer in 27.4% suspicious (range, 22.9-33.3%), 4.4% indeterminate (range, 1.9-6.6%) and 4.1% negative (range, 0-6.6%) smears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The more experienced the pathologist, the higher the sensitivity rate for recognizing thyroid cancer in general and by histologic type on aspirates despite some limitations of the method in identifying follicular carcinoma. We recommend thyroidectomy for patients with positive smears and follow-up for patients with benign, indeterminate and suspicious cytology, provided that the cytologic specimens were reviewed by an experienced pathologist.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Service, Dr. A. Oñativia Hospital, Salta, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serna de la Saravia
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saravio Day
authors.forename: H Rubén
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Harach
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*