Ultrasonography-guided Fine-needle Aspiration for Solid Thyroid Nodules Less than 5 mm in the Largest Diameter: Comparison in Diagnostic Adequacy and Accuracy According to Nodule Size.
- Author:
Jang Hee LEE
1
;
Dong Wook KIM
;
Seung Hun BAEK
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Korea. dwultra@lycos.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Thyroid;
Thyroid nodule;
Biopsy, Fine-needle;
Ultrasonography;
Malignancy
- MeSH:
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle;
Carcinoma;
Humans;
Hyperplasia;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Thyroid Gland;
Thyroid Neoplasms;
Thyroid Nodule;
Thyroiditis
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound
2012;31(1):17-21
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study assessed the adequacy and accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) of solid thyroid nodules, less than 5 mm in maximum diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to December 2009, US-FNA was performed for small solid thyroid nodules in 201 patients. Each thyroid nodule was classified into group A and B according to the largest diameter (1 mm < or = group A < 3 mm and 3 mm < or = group B < 5 mm). The adequacy and accuracy of US-FNA in two groups were compared using the histopathological results as a reference standard. RESULTS: Of the 227 thyroid nodules in 201 patients, the inadequacy of US-FNA in group A and B was 24.3% (18/74) and 13.1% (20/153), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0333, chi-square test). Eighty nodules were removed surgically in 72 patients, from which papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 52), follicular thyroid carcinoma (n = 1), nodular hyperplasia (n = 26), and pseudonodule related to thyroiditis (n = 1) were confirmed. Based on the histopathological results of the 80 surgical nodules, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of US-FNA in group A and B were 55.0% and 79.4%, 81.8% and 100%, 84.6% and 100%, 50% and 68.2%, and 64.5% and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The adequacy and accuracy of US-FNA for solid thyroid nodules, > or = 3 mm in the largest diameter, were higher than those of US-FNA for very small nodules, < 3 mm in the largest diameter.
