Impact of ultrasound-guided repeated fine-needle aspiration biopsy on the clinical management of Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules
10.3760/cma.j.cn115807-20231206-00181
- VernacularTitle:超声引导下重复细针穿刺活检术对Bethesda Ⅲ类甲状腺结节临床管理的影响
- Author:
Shuai ZHANG
1
;
Qingfeng FU
;
Rundong HE
;
Ping SUN
;
Hui SUN
;
Le ZHOU
Author Information
1. 吉林大学中日联谊医院甲状腺外科 吉林省外科转化医学重点实验室 吉林省甲状腺疾病防治工程实验室，长春 130033
- Keywords:
Thyroid nodule;
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy
- From:
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery
2024;18(4):489-493
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the timing and features of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) guided by ultrasound for Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules and to further optimize the puncture scheme.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from patients who underwent rFNAB for Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules at the China-japan Union Hospital of Jilin University Thyroid Surgery Department from Dec. 2020 to Dec. 2022. The study included 71 cases (73 nodules), consisting of 57 females and 14 males, with an average age of (45.7±10.4) years. Patients were grouped based on rFNAB results: Bethesda Ⅱ as the benign group ( n=21), Bethesda Ⅴ/Ⅵ as the malignant group ( n=39), and the remaining cases categorized as the indeterminate group ( n=13). Data on rFNAB results, puncture interval time, postoperative pathology, ultrasound features, and FNAB characteristics were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used for categorical data, presented as percentages and numbers, while continuous data were presented as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s). The χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was applied for analysis. Results:In this study, rFNAB was performed on 73 Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules. The results showed that 60 nodules (82.2%) received a definite diagnosis, while 13 nodules (17.8%) were indeterminate. There was a statistically significant difference in the calcification classification between the malignant group and the benign group as well as the indeterminate group ( P<0.05). Among the malignant group, 29 patients underwent surgical treatment, with only 2 cases (8.0%) showing intermediate recurrence risk when surgery was performed more than three months after the initial FNAB. Upon reevaluation of the 31 initial FNAB samples from the malignant group, 9 samples (29.0%) exhibited mild cytological atypia, and 22 samples (71.0%) had poor quality specimens, mainly comprising fibrous and calcified components. Conclusions:For nodules initially classified as Bethesda Ⅲ, if suspicious ultrasound features persist or emerge, especially if microcalcifications are present, rFNAB should be performed after a follow-up period exceeding three months. However, during the puncture, multiple points should be targeted at the non-calcified areas of the nodule to enhance the accuracy and reliability of rFNAB.
