ROLE OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THYROID NODULES
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the degree of utilisation, the accuracy and the effect of fine needle
aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in patients with nodular thyroid lesions.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Subjects: Four hundred and twenty eight patients with thyroid lesions who were treated
surgically were reviewed. The FNAW of 201 patients were compared with the post-operatiive
histopathological findings.
Results: Most of the patients (69%) presented with nodular thyroid disease (solitary and
multinoddar)and among this group 31.4 % did not undergo FNAB pre-operatively. In more
than 76%, the FNAB resulted in a definite cytologic diagnosis. A sensitivity of 71.4% and a
specificity of 96.4% was achieved.
Conclusion: If FNAB were used routinely in the initial evaluation of patients with thyroid
nodules it could have an enormous effect on their management. It reduces the number of
patients going for thyroidectomy and eliminates the need for nuclear scans to screen patierots
with thyroid nodules. Therefore, we recommend FNAB to be part ofthe initial evaluation of
all patients with nodular thyroid disease.
aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in patients with nodular thyroid lesions.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Subjects: Four hundred and twenty eight patients with thyroid lesions who were treated
surgically were reviewed. The FNAW of 201 patients were compared with the post-operatiive
histopathological findings.
Results: Most of the patients (69%) presented with nodular thyroid disease (solitary and
multinoddar)and among this group 31.4 % did not undergo FNAB pre-operatively. In more
than 76%, the FNAB resulted in a definite cytologic diagnosis. A sensitivity of 71.4% and a
specificity of 96.4% was achieved.
Conclusion: If FNAB were used routinely in the initial evaluation of patients with thyroid
nodules it could have an enormous effect on their management. It reduces the number of
patients going for thyroidectomy and eliminates the need for nuclear scans to screen patierots
with thyroid nodules. Therefore, we recommend FNAB to be part ofthe initial evaluation of
all patients with nodular thyroid disease.
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