scholarly journals The value of repeating fine-needle aspiration for thyroid nodules

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42
Author(s):  
Aseel Doubi ◽  
Nuha S. Alrayes ◽  
Abdulaziz K. Alqubaisi ◽  
Saleh F. Al-Dhahri

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is an invaluable technique used in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the concordance of results for consecutive FNA readings. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive. SETTINGS: Two tertiary care centers. METHODS: Demographics were collected along with every FNA result and final pathology results for all patients (aged 9-90 years old) who underwent thyroid surgery from 2010 to 2017. The Bethesda system was used for cytology. Agreement levels were calculated and compared with final pathology. SAMPLE SIZE: Of 1237 initially included, 1134 had at least one FNA performed with results available for review. RESULTS: For the 1134 patients, demographic and clinical data were collection and a comparison was made between the three FNA results; the highest agreement was between FNA 2 and 3 (53.6%); however, the kappa value was consistently low for all comparisons, indicating a poor level of agreement overall. Also, the risk of malignancy was higher in this study than in the 2017 Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology in FNA cytology categories I and II. CONCLUSION: Repeating FNA biopsies yield different results every time; hence, there is a low level of agreement. The clinical decision should therefore include other important risk factors. Prospective studies could help shed more light on this topic. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Iwegbulem ◽  
Z Razzaq ◽  
F Crowley ◽  
M Majeed ◽  
D Cagney ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is the best diagnostic tool for evaluating thyroid nodules pre-operatively. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cyto-pathology (TBSRTC) in America and THY classification in Europe are standardized reporting systems for thyroid FNAC specimens using six categories. As compared to the first edition in 2009, a second edition of TBSRTC published in 2017 has revised risk of malignancy (ROM) for these categories, with focus on atypia of unknown significance (Thy3A) upgraded to 10-30% from previously 5-15%, and suspicion for follicular neoplasm (Thy3F) 25-40% from previous 15-30%. Method A three-year audit of thyroid surgeries performed in two high volume thyroid institutions from January 2016 to September 2019, was performed retrospectively. The FNAs were performed by thyroid specialist radiologists with a cytopathology technician in attendance for rapid on-site evaluation and reported as per TBSRTC and Thy classification, by a Consultant Cyto-pathologist from a single institution. Result A total of 702 patients were examined. There were 552 patients who had corresponding FNAC prior to surgery (mean age 53.6 years, females 79%). The rates of malignancy were, Thy1: 9.3%, Thy2: 4.6%, Thy3A: 10.8%, Thy3F: 28.7%, Thy4: 82.3% and Thy5: 100%. The main types of thyroid malignancy were Papillary (73.6%), Follicular (14.1%), Medullary (4%), Anaplastic (4.7%) and others (3.6%). Conclusion Pre-operative diagnosis of thyroid nodules using TBSRTC was comparable and the criteria helped avoid misinterpretation of results. Our results were comparable with the risk of malignancy in 2009 edition of TBSRTC, as compared to the 2017 revision. Take-home message Pre-operative diagnosis of thyroid nodules using The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cyto-pathology (TBSRTC) was comparable and the criteria helped avoid misinterpretation of results. Our results were comparable with the risk of malignancy in 2009 edition of TBSRTC, as compared to the 2017 revision.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Ghanaati ◽  
Alireza Arefzadeh ◽  
Hamidreza Hosseinpour ◽  
Mahsa Alborzi Avanaki ◽  
Alireza Abrishami

Abstract Background: Thyroid nodules are a common finding in clinical practice. Although ultrasonography is an accepted method for evaluating and following these nodules, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is the procedure of choice for assessing the risk of malignancy. This study aims to determine the correlation between sonographic features of thyroid nodules based on Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) classification and the cytology results obtained by FNA of thyroid nodules.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 147 patients with thyroid nodules underwent FNA under the guide of ultrasonography based on TIRADS classification, and their sonographic features were recorded. The pathologic findings were also obtained according to the Bethesda system. Finally, the association between sonographic features and cytology results were analyzed.Results: 147 patients with a mean ± SD age of 49.8 ± 13.7 years were assessed. 16 (10.9%) nodules were malignant, and 131 nodules (89.1%) were benign. The association of TIRADS categories with the risk of malignancy is as follows: TIRADS 1 (0%), TIRADS 2 (16.9%), TIRADS 3 (10.5%), TIRADS 4 (16.7%), and TIRADS 5 (0%). The location of thyroid nodules and their bloody lamellae were significantly correlated with the risk of malignancy (P value< 0.05). However, the association between the risk of and gender, calcification, hardness, halo sign and nodules’ echogenicity were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Although there are trusted classifications for categorizing the thyroid nodules, there is still uncertainty in utilizing them as an accepted method of choice for managing the thyroid nodules, as various sonographic features are shared between benign and malignant ones.


Author(s):  
Wen Jiang ◽  
Susan A. Phillips ◽  
Robert O. Newbury ◽  
John H. Naheedy ◽  
Ron S. Newfield

Abstract Objectives The Bethesda system for reporting cytopathology (TBSRTC) has been widely adopted in the management of thyroid nodules. Based on the limited pediatric data available, the implied malignancy risk for each of the categories may be significantly different in pediatrics vs. adults, especially in the indeterminate categories (Bethesda Class III or IV). We report the diagnostic utility of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy at our institution based on the Bethesda system and the risk of malignancy in each category. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent a thyroid FNA at our tertiary pediatric hospital from 12/1/2002 to 11/30/2018. FNA results were classified according to TBSRTC. Patient demographics, cytology, histopathology, radiological and clinical follow-ups were examined. Results A total of 171 patients were included with 203 cytological samples. Average age at initial FNA was 14.7 years (range 6.9–18.6 years). The numbers of nodules reported for Bethesda categories I–VI were 29, 106, 22, 14, 6 and 26, respectively, and the rate of malignancy was: 13.8, 4.7, 22.7, 35.7, 83.3 and 100%, respectively. Use of ultrasound guidance reduced the non-diagnostic rate from 38.1 to 11.5%. Introduction of on-site adequacy testing further reduced the non-diagnostic rate to 6.5% since 2014. Conclusions The risk of malignancy for thyroid nodules in this pediatric cohort is higher than reported in adults. However, rates described here are much closer to adult ranges than previously published pediatric cohorts. The addition of adequacy testing improved the non-diagnostic rate of FNA procedures performed with ultrasound guidance.


2006 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 4295-4301 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Boelaert ◽  
J. Horacek ◽  
R. L. Holder ◽  
J. C. Watkinson ◽  
M. C. Sheppard ◽  
...  

Abstract Context: Thyroid nodules and goiter are common, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the first investigation of choice in distinguishing benign from malignant disease. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess whether simple clinical and biochemical parameters can predict the likelihood of thyroid malignancy in subjects undergoing FNAB. Design: The design was a prospective cohort. Setting: The study was conducted at a single secondary/tertiary care clinic. Participants: One thousand five hundred consecutive patients without overt thyroid dysfunction (1304 females and 196 males, mean age 47.8 yr) presenting with palpable thyroid enlargement between 1984 and 2002 were evaluated by FNAB of the thyroid. Intervention(s): There were no interventions. Main Outcome Measures: Goiter type was assessed clinically and classified as diffuse in 183, multinodular in 456, or solitary nodule in 861 cases. Serum TSH concentration at presentation was measured in a sensitive assay in patients presenting after 1988 (n = 1183). The final cytological or histological diagnosis was determined after surgery (n = 553) or a minimum 2-yr clinical follow-up period (mean 9.5 yr, range 2–18 yr). Results: The overall sensitivity and specificity of FNAB in predicting malignancy were 88 and 84%, respectively. The risk of diagnosis of malignancy rose in parallel with the serum TSH at presentation, with significant increases evident in patients with serum TSH greater than 0.9 mU/liter, compared with those with lower TSH. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for the diagnosis of malignancy in subjects with serum TSH 1.0–1.7 mU/liter, compared with TSH less than 0.4 mU/liter [AOR 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–7.27, P = 0.046], with further increases evident in those with TSH 1.8–5.5mU/liter (AOR 3.88, 95% CI 1.48–10.19, P = 0.006, compared with TSH &lt; 0.4 mU/liter) and greater than 5.5 mU/liter (AOR 11.18, 95% CI 3.23–8.63, P &lt; 0.001, compared with TSH &lt; 0.4 mU/liter). Males (AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.04–3.1, P = 0.04), younger patients (AOR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01–1.15, P = 0.025), and those with clinically solitary nodules (AOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.5–4.28, P = 0.001) were also at increased risk. Based on these findings, a formula to predict the risk of the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy in individual patients, taking into account their gender, age, goiter type determined clinically, and serum TSH, was calculated. Conclusions: The risk of malignancy in a thyroid nodule increases with serum TSH concentrations within the normal range. In addition to patient’s gender, age, and goiter type, the serum TSH concentration at presentation is an independent predictor of the presence of thyroid malignancy. We propose that these simple clinical and biochemical factors can serve as an adjunct to FNAB in predicting risk of malignancy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 853-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Partyka ◽  
Karen Trevino ◽  
Melissa L. Randolph ◽  
Harvey Cramer ◽  
Howard H. Wu

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ahmed K. Aly ◽  
Mahmoud A. Ali ◽  
Apoorva Sharma ◽  
Michael A. Gubbels ◽  
Xing Zhao ◽  
...  

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are very common. Many are detected incidentally due to increased head and neck imaging. The majority are benign; however, malignancy can’t be excluded in many cases and tissue sampling is needed. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration is an easy and effective way to sample g thyroid nodules. Inadequate sampling was reported in 10-40% of the cases. Rapid On-site Evaluation (ROSE) was proposed to assess obtained sample for adequacy. The aim of this study is to identify the benefit of applying ROSE with US-FNA of thyroid nodules within our institution. Materials and methods: Patients who underwent FNA for thyroid nodules with ROSE availability documented in their procedure note between January 2017 to December 2018 were retrospectively included. All procedures were done by experienced radiologists. Aspirated material was Diff Quik stained for immediate evaluation. The final cytological diagnosis and specimen adequacy was based on The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology. Specimen adequacy was compared between ROSE and non-ROSE groups. Results: 442 thyroid nodules were biopsied. ROSE was available for 65 nodules. Non-diagnostic rate with ROSE was 10.8% compared to 13.8% without ROSE with the difference being statistically insignificant. ROSE availability improved sample adequacy of nodules less than 3 cm with statistically significant difference of 100.0% with ROSE vs. 87% without ROSE. Conclusion: The current study does not justify the routine use of ROSE. However, ROSE availability is beneficial with smaller sized thyroid nodules and less experienced radiologists performing the procedure. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0301-1 Full Text: PDF


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 100-103
Author(s):  
Saad Alqahtani ◽  
Saif Alsobhi ◽  
Riyadh I Alsalloum ◽  
Saleh N Najjar ◽  
Hindi N Al-Hindi

ABSTRACT Aim To correlate selected clinical and ultrasonographic (US) characteristics with the final histopathological diagnosis in patients with atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) and follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS), and whether this information can be used in planning the surgical approach. Materials and methods It is a retrospective study including the operated cases of AUS/FLUS from 2011 to 2014 treated at one center. Results This cohort included 87 women and 28 men. To test for independence between categorical variables, the chi-square test was used. There was no significant correlation between age or US variables and final pathological diagnosis. However, final diagnosis of malignancy was higher in men compared with women (64.3 and 41.4% respectively; p = 0.035). Furthermore, a significant association between the diagnosis of repeated fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and the final pathological diagnosis was noted (benign vs malignant, p = 0.005). Conclusion The FNAB has a significant role in the assessment of thyroid nodules. Our results showed no correlation between age, US variables, and the risk of malignancy. Male gender is associated with higher risk of malignancy. Clinical significance Determining the risk of malignancy and prediction of surgical outcome may help triaging cases for repeat FNA or proceeding to surgery. How to cite this article Alqahtani S, Alsobhi S, Alsalloum RI, Najjar SN, Al-Hindi HN. Surgical Outcome of Thyroid Nodules with Atypia of Undetermined Significance and Follicular Lesion of Undetermined Significance in Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy. World J Endoc Surg 2017;9(3):100-103.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rahal Junior ◽  
Priscila Mina Falsarella ◽  
Rafael Dahmer Rocha ◽  
João Paulo Bacellar Costa Lima ◽  
Matheus Jorge Iani ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective To correlate the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and the Bethesda system in reporting cytopathology in 1,000 thyroid nodules. Methods A retrospective study conducted from November 2011 to February 2014 that evaluated 1,000 thyroid nodules of 906 patients who underwent ultrasound exam and fine needle aspiration. Results A significant association was found between the TI-RADS outcome and Bethesda classification (p<0.001). Most individuals with TI-RADS 2 or 3 had Bethesda 2 result (95.5% and 92.5%, respectively). Among those classified as TI-RADS 4C and 5, most presented Bethesda 6 (68.2% and 91.3%, respectively; p<0.001). The proportion of malignancies among TI-RADS 2 was 0.8%, and TI-RADS 3 was 1.7%. Among those classified as TI-RADS 4A, proportion of malignancies was 16.0%, 43.2% in 4B, 72.7% in 4C and 91.3% among TI-RADS 5 (p<0.001), showing clear association between TI-RADS and biopsy results. Conclusion The TI-RADS is appropriate to assess thyroid nodules and avoid unnecessary fine needle aspiration, as well as to assist in making decision about when this procedure should be performed.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3544
Author(s):  
David N. Poller ◽  
Hakim Megadmi ◽  
Matthew J. A. Ward ◽  
Pierpaolo Trimboli

This study assesses the role of [18F] FDG PET/CT, fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and ultrasound in the 1–2% of patients with focally positive thyroid nodules on FDG PET/CT. All FDG PET/CT scans with focally increased thyroid FDG PET/CT uptake performed over 37 months in one institution were matched to patients undergoing thyroid FNA. Diffuse FDG PET/CT uptake patients were excluded. A total of 47 patients showed focally increased thyroid uptake. Consistent with previous studies, 18 (38.2%) patients had malignancy—12 primary thyroid carcinoma, 1 parathyroid carcinoma, 3 metastatic carcinoma to the thyroid and 2 lymphoma. A total of 15 (31.9%) lesions categorized as non-malignant contained Hürthle cells/oncocytes. A total of 14 lesions (29.8%) had focally increased FDG PET/CT uptake with no specific cytological or histopathological cause identified. No focally PET avid Hürthle cell/oncocytic lesions were found to be malignant. Exclusion of oncocytic lesions increased the calculated risk of malignancy (ROM) of focally PET avid nodules from 38% to 68%. It may be useful to exclude focally FDG PET/CT avid Hürthle cell/oncocytic lesions, typically reported as follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm, Hürthle cell type (Oncocytic) type, RCPath Thy 3F: Bethesda IV or sometimes Thy 3a: Bethesda III FNAs) from ROM calculations. Oncocytic focally PET/CT FDG avid lesions appear of comparatively lower risk of malignancy and require investigation or operation but these lesions should be readily identified by FNA cytology on diagnostic work up of focally PET avid thyroid nodules.


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