title: The false-negative rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma in thyroid nodules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to define the false-negative rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma in thyroid nodules <4 cm versus > or =4 cm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred sixty-two patients with thyroid nodules who underwent FNAC and surgery at our institution were analyzed. The association of predictive factors with thyroid carcinoma was evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, and the false-negative rate of FNAC were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher in nodules > or =4 cm (24%) compared with nodules <4 cm (12%). The false-negative rates of FNAC were 2% in all nodules and 1.3% and 4.3% in nodules <4 cm and > or =4 cm (p = 0.9), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 90% and 79%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The false-negative rate of FNAC is low for thyroid nodules <4 cm and for nodules > or =4 cm.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. bekirkuru2008@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuru
authors.forename: Nese Ersoz
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gulcelik
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gulcelik
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dincer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology