title: Intraoperative frozen section for the evaluation of extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated extrathyroidal extension (ETE) through frozen biopsy for intraoperative decision making in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period of the study an operation was performed in 268 patients with PTC and ETE was evaluated using intraoperative frozen biopsies of thyroid tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extrathyroidal extension was confirmed in 54 patients (20 %) on frozen biopsy. Fifty-three patients among 54 patients showing ETE on frozen biopsy were confirmed on permanent pathologic analysis. Accordingly, frozen biopsy had a sensitivity of 66 %, a specificity of 99 %, a positive predictive value of 98 %, and a negative predictive value of 87 %. Tumor size (OR 4.373; CI 2.257-8.475, p = <0.001) was an independent factor for predicting ETE on frozen biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative frozen biopsy can be an useful tool in identifying the presence of ETE. It can also help the operator decide the extent of surgery and central neck dissection in patients with PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pundang Jesaeng Hospital, Deajin Medical Center, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo-Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: In-Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy