Cell block alone as an ideal preparatory method for hemorrhagic thyroid nodule aspirates procured without onsite cytologists.
OBJECTIVE
To study diagnostic efficacy of direct smears (DS) vs. cell block (CB) alone in hemorrhagic thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNAs) performed without a cytotechnologist or cytopathologist.


METHODS
Ultrasound-guided thyroid FNAs from an offsite location were retrospectively searched during a 53-month period. Aspirates in the initial 13 months were submitted as air-dried DSs. Subsequent specimens were submitted as CBs. Each case was classified into 1 of 4 categories: (1) nondiagnostic, (2) nonneoplastic, (3) follicular lesions and (4) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).


RESULTS
There were 77 aspirates: DS = 20 (26%) and CB = 57 (74%). Two cases had both DSs and CBs. Diagnoses of DS: nondiagnostic = 12 (60%); nonneoplastic = 7 (35%); follicular lesion = 1 (5%). Diagnoses of CB cases: nondiagnostic = 4 (7.0%); nonneoplastic = 43 (75.4%); follicular lesion, including 1 Hürthle cell neoplasm = 7 (12.3%), PTC = 3 (5.3%). Repeat FNAs on 4 nondiagnostic cases (3 DSs, 1 CB) utilizing the CB-only technique were diagnostic and included nodular goiter, follicular neoplasm, PTC, and reactive lymph node.


CONCLUSIONS
Without onsite assessment, CB alone is superior to DSs for hemorrhagic thyroid FNAs. It shows increased diagnostic efficacy and slide reduction and obviates repeat FNAs.
Qiu
Libo
L
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Crapanzano
John P
JP
Saqi
Anjali
A
Vidhun
Ramapriya
R
Vazquez
Madeline F
MF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000191:economics; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016610:Tissue Embedding / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional