Effect of combining ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules

• Published in: The European journal of surgery Vol. 167; no. 9; pp. 656 - 661
• Main Authors: Koike, Eisuke, Yamashita, Hiroyuki, Noguchi, Shiro, Murakami, Tsukasa, Ohshima, Akira, Maruta, Junko, Kawamoto, Hitoshi, Yamashita, Hiroto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: UK Taylor & Francis, Ltd 01.09.2001; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: accuracy; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle - instrumentation; combination; cytology; Diagnosis, Differential; Endocrine glands; Female; follicular tumours; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; preoperative diagnosis; Prospective Studies; sensitivity; Sensitivity and Specificity; small nodules; specificity; Thyroid Nodule - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Nodule - pathology; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; ultrasonographic diagnosis; Ultrasonography; Endocrinopathy; Sonography; Human; Pathology; Malignant transformation; Thyroid diseases; Echography; Thyroid nodule; Diagnosis; Fine needle aspiration biopsy
• ISSN: 1102-4151; 1741-9271
• DOI: 10.1080/11024150152619273

Objective: To assess the accuracy of ultrasonography and cytology in predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules. Design: Prospective open study. Setting: Thyroid centre, Japan. Subjects: 329 nodules in 309 patients examined by a new ultrasound scanner and ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy. Interventions: Comparison of ultrasonographic, cytological, and combined diagnosis with the histological diagnosis. Main outcome measures: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each diagnostic method. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 84%, 87%, 85% for cytological diagnosis, and 82%, 91%, and 87% for ultrasonographic diagnosis. By using ultrasonographic diagnosis when cytological specimens were inadequate or gave false negative results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy went up to 89%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. We could not diagnose follicular carcinomas accurately by combined cytology and ultrasonography. Conclusion: The combination of ultrasonography and cytology improves the accuracy of diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but is less effective with follicular tumours. Copyright © 2001 Taylor and Francis Ltd.