A new fine-needle aspiration system.
BACKGROUND
The main reasons for fine needle aspiration (FNA) failure are insufficient number of cells in the sample, nonrepresentative samples, and contamination of samples. The aim of this study was to measure the number of cells harvested by a new needle system with an aeration aperture (Thyrosampler) in comparison with a conventional FNA system (C-FNA).


METHODS
Under a double-blind setting, 30 aspirations, 15 with each system (C-FNA, Thyrosampler), were done in randomized order and recorded.


RESULTS
The median total number of cells was 59 680 cells/mL with C-FNA and 396 400 cells/mL with Thyrosampler. The needle system with the aeration aperture led to a significantly higher cell amount (564% more cells than the conventional system; P < .005) in needle aspiration biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The new system with the vacuum release feature leads to a significantly higher cell amount in needle aspiration biopsy, which is a well-defined benefit.
Glehr
Mathias
M
Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. mathias.glehr@klinikum-graz.at
Leithner
Andreas
A
Gruber
Gerald
G
Wretschitsch
Paul
P
Zacherl
Maximilian
M
Kroneis
Thomas
T
Quehenberger
Franz
F
Windhager
Reinhard
R
D000818:Animals; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D014618:Vacuum