Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2013) 32 P1102 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.32.P1102

ECE2013 Poster Presentations Thyroid cancer (64 abstracts)

The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in thyroid nodules 3 cm and above in size and sonographic feature differences between malignant and benign nodules

Rifki Üçler 1 , Celil Alper Usluogullari 1 , Abbas Ali Tam 1 , Didem Özdemir 1 , Samet Yalçin 2 , Gülten Kiyak 3 , Pamir Eren Ersoy 3 , Gülnur Güler 4 , Reyhan Ersoy 5 & Bekir Çakir 5


1The Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Disorders, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 2The Department of General Surgery, Yildirim Beyazit University, The Center for Health Practice and Research, Ankara, Turkey; 3The Department of General Surgery, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 4The Department of Pathology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Medical School, The Center for Health Practice and Research, Ankara, Turkey; 5The Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Disorders, Yildirim Beyazit University, Medical School, The Center for Health Practice and Research, Ankara, Turkey.


Introduction: Nodule diameter was considered to be related with thyroid cancer. Whether under ultrasound (US) guidance or not, FNAB has some limitations particularly in big nodules. In this study, we aimed to evaluate diagnostic value of US-FNAB in nodules bigger than 3 cm or more. We also compared ultrasonographical features of benign and malignant nodules.

Material and methods: Data of 267 patients operated for nodulary goiter were screened retrospectively. The study group consisted nodules with a diameter of 3 cm or more. Nodules with a diameter of less than 3 cm were considered as control group. Cytological results were classified as malignant, suspicious for malignancy, undetermined, benign and nondiagnostic.

Results: There were 144 (53.9%) patients in study group and 123 (46.1%) patients in control group. Malignancy was observed in 16% of study group and 42.3% of control group. In nodules smaller than 3 cm, US-FNAB had a sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 40.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 52.6% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 78.1%. In nodules bigger and equal to 3 cm, sensitivity of US-FNAB was 72.7%, specificity was 81.6%, PPV was 45.7%, and NPV was 93.3%. Among parameters that may be used to predict malignancy, nodule texture, margin regularity, echogenicity and presence of halo were significantly different between malign and benign nodules.

Conclusion: This study showed that increased nodule diameter is not related with limitations in diagnostic value of US-FNAB. We also found that malignancy rate was smaller in big nodules. This finding reflects the importance of true and rational diagnostic and clinical management while detecting malignancy and deciding surgery.

Keywords: Thyroid nodule, fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.