THE DIAGNOSTIC-VALUE OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY UNDER ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN NONFUNCTIONAL THYROID-NODULES - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY COMPARING CYTOLOGIC AND HISTOLOGIC-FINDINGS

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules has been propo sed as a preoperative screening method to reduce the number of patient s with benign nodules referred for surgery. Only a few previously publ ished studies have compared cytologic results with a systematic surgic al control; furthermore, the role of ultrasound guidance for FNAB in o btaining representative material has been poorly evaluated. The author s tried to assess the diagnostic value of FNAB performed under ultraso nography in a series of patients with a cold nodule and a systematic s urgical control. This prospective study included 132 consecutive patie nts, 19 men and 113 women, aged from 18 to 82 years. The rate of carci nomas was 13.8%. A very high rate of adequate material was obtained (9 6.2%). Sensitivity, specificity, and global accuracy were 95%, 87.7%, and 89%, respectively. These results, which are equivalent to those pr eviously published but associated with a low level of insufficient mat erial, emphasize the diagnostic value of thyroid FNAB.