title: [Repeated fine-needle aspiration cytology for the diagnosis and follow-up of thyroid nodules].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The recently-proposed Bethesda reporting system has offered clinical recommendations for each category of reported thyroid cytology, including repeated fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for non-diagnostic and atypia/follicular lesions of undetermined significance, but there are no sound indications for repeated examination after an initial benign exam.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical validity of repeated FNA in the management of patients with thyroid nodules.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study evaluated 412 consecutive patients who had repeated aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules after an initial non-diagnostic, atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance, or benign cytology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of patients were female (93.5%) ranging from 13 to 83 years. Non-diagnostic cytology was the most common indication for a repeated examination in 237 patients (57.5%), followed by benign (36.8%), and A/FLUS (5.6%) cytology. A repeated examination altered the initial diagnosis in 70.5% and 78.3% of the non-diagnostic and A/FLUS patients, respectively, whereas only 28.9% of patients with a benign cytology presented with a different diagnosis on a sequential FNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeat FNA is a valuable procedure in cases with initial non-diagnostic or A/FLUS cytology, but its routine use for patients with an initial benign examination appears to not increase the expected likelihood of a malignant finding.
authors.affiliation: Hospital São José, Joinville, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: entbrazil@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Agnaldo José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Graciano
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Otorrinolaringologia Cabeça e Pescoço, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Takahiro
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chone
authors.affiliation: Setor de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Hospital São José, Joinville, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Serviços Integrados de Patologia, Joinville, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giuliano Stefanello
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bublitz
authors.affiliation: Hospital São José, Joinville, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Jacinta de Aquino
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Peixoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biópsia por agulha fina; Fine needle biopsy; Glândula tireoide; Head and neck neoplasms; Neoplasias da glândula tireoide; Neoplasias de cabeça e pescoço; Thyroid gland; Thyroid neoplasms