Histological diagnosis of thyroid disease using ultrasound-guided core biopsies.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid core biopsies obtained with ultrasound (US)-guided needles are an alternative to conventional fine-needle aspiration and, according to various authors, have greater sensitivity and specificity. The technique is inexpensive, rapid and reliable with a low rate of complications, similar to conventional fine-needle aspiration procedures.


OBJECTIVE
This paper critically reviews the methodology for obtaining samples and processing them in the pathology laboratory.


METHODS
Accumulated experience with 1,065 cases of US-guided core biopsy of the thyroid gland in a 15-year period.


RESULTS
US-guided core biopsy is a useful, inexpensive and safe method in the histological diagnosis of thyroid gland pathology. Thyroid samples obtained this way are not a substitute for fine-needle aspiration cytology. Indeed, some authors assert that the best results are obtained by combining the two approaches, the methods being complementary.


CONCLUSIONS
To take best advantage of the findings from these techniques, pathologists must know which types of diagnoses can be made and the fundamentals of how and, lastly, what cannot be diagnosed and the reasons why. Best results are obtained with a multidisciplinary approach in a hospital committee composed of endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists and pathologists, who analyse and provide a background on each case.
Department of Pathology, Cruces University Hospital, BioCruces Research Institute, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain.
José I
JI
López
Department of Radiology, Basurto University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
Rosa
R
Zabala
Department of Radiology, Basurto University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
José Luís
JL
Del Cura
Core biopsy; Histological diagnosis; Hospital committee; Thyroid nodule; Ultrasonography