Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Feb;105(2):162-165.
doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2021.0367. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Comparison of fine-needle aspiration with fine-needle capillary cytology in thyroid nodules

H Hatami  1 , M Samsami  1 , S Movahedinia  1 , B Salehi  2 , M Movahedinia  1 , M Ardeshir  3
Affiliations

Comparison of fine-needle aspiration with fine-needle capillary cytology in thyroid nodules

H Hatami et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: High false-negative results have been reported for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in thyroid nodules. Fine-needle capillary (FNC) cytology is an alternative technique that prevents aspiration, reducing tissue damage. This study aimed to compare FNA and FNC in assessing thyroid nodules and in terms of their predictive role in the appropriate diagnosis of malignancy.

Methods: This is a comparative prospective study conducted on 486 patients. FNA was performed in 235 patients during 2016 and 2017 and FNC in 251 patients during 2018 and 2019. The quality of cytological specimens was compared and then correlated with the final histopathological findings of 39 patients who underwent thyroidectomy.

Results: Both groups were statistically similar regarding age and sex distribution. The FNA technique yielded significantly higher adequate specimens compared with FNC (p<0.001). Abundant blood in the background was found more frequently in the FNA technique (p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of FNA for malignancy diagnosis were both 100%, compared with 83.3% and 57.7% for FNC, respectively.

Conclusions: The two methods, FNA and FNC, did not differ in terms of overall quality. FNA was superior regarding consistency with the histopathological results and the ability to diagnose malignancy.

Keywords: Bethesda; Cytology; Fine-needle aspiration; Fine-needle capillary; Thyroid nodule.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Gharib H. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules: advantages, limitations, and effect. Mayo Clinic Proc 1994; 69: 44–49. - PubMed
    1. Zajdela A, Zillhardt P, Voillemot N. Cytological diagnosis by fine needle sampling without aspiration. Cancer 1987; 59: 1201–1205. - PubMed
    1. Ha EJ, Na DG, Baek JHet al. . US fine-needle aspiration biopsy for thyroid malignancy: diagnostic performance of seven society guidelines applied to 2000 thyroid nodules. Radiology 2018; 287: 893–900. - PubMed
    1. Choong KC, Khiyami A, Tamarkin SW, McHenry CR. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules: is routine ultrasound-guidance necessary? Surgery 2018; 164: 789–794. - PubMed
    1. Carpi A, Di Coscio G, Iervasi Get al. . Thyroid fine needle aspiration: how to improve clinicians’ confidence and performance with the technique. Cancer Lett 2008; 264: 163–171. - PubMed