Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2014) 35 P979 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.35.P979

ECE2014 Poster Presentations Thyroid (non-cancer) (125 abstracts)

Ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle aspiration with rapid on-site evaluation of adequacy: data from the clinic of endocrinology of a Greek tertiary general hospital in 2013

Stelios Fountoulakis 1 , Labrini Papanastasiou 1 , Spiros Koutmos 1 , Pinelopi Charalambous 2 , Aimilia Stratigaki 2 , Pelagia Panagouli 2 , Paraskevi Lazari 2 , Eleptherios Asimis 2 , Melpomeni Vlahou 2 & George Piaditis 1


1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes Center, General Hospital of Athens ‘G. Gennimatas’, Athens, Greece, 2Department of Cytology, General Hospital of Athens ‘G. Gennimatas’, Athens, Greece.


Introduction: Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) enables selective sampling of thyroid follicular cells while minimizing potential complications. Inadequate specimen sampling can lead to FNAB repeat. Our aim was to evaluate the morphological and cytological characteristics of thyroid nodules with US and rapid on-site evaluation of adequacy (ROSE).

Methods: Two independent endocrinologists evaluated nodule characteristics of 171 US-FNAB performed in 2013. Decision of US-FNAB was based on size, rate of growth, echogenicity, microcalcifications, vascularity, irregular margins and max/min diameter. ROSE was performed after alcohol fixation on glass slides and staining with Hemacolor solution.

Results: Adequacy rate was 92.4%. Thyroid nodules were reported as category I (7.6%), II (84.21%), III (0.58%), IV (1.17%), V (2.34%) and VI (4.09%) based on Bethesda criteria. No difference was observed between patients with benign nodules (BN) and those with malignant/suspicious ones (M/S) regarding mean age (54.9±11.66 vs 53±23.26 years), maximum diameter (2.2±0.97 vs 2.24±1.02 cm) or max/min diameter (1.84±0.56 vs 1.63±0.37). BN were 44.4% hypoechoic, 51.4% isoechoic and 4.2% echogenic whereas M/S 57.1%, 35.7% and 7.1% respectively. Microcalcifications were detected in 52.1% of BN and 71.4% of M/S. BN were characterized by no vascularity, peripheral, central and combined vascularity in 30.6%, 38.9%, 9% and 21.5% respectively, whereas M/S in 14.3%, 42.9%, 21.4% and 21.4% respectively. BN were characterized by irregular margins in 25.7% and M/S in 57.1% (P=0.008). Max/min diameter<2 was detected in 69.44% of BN and in 78.57% of M/S. A correlation between age and nodule size was reported in the BN (P=0.008) and all-patients group (P=0.003).

Conclusions: Thyroid ultrasound and US-FNAB provide direct, real time information. ROSE can provide a high adequacy rate, saving time and economical resources while minimizing patient inconvenience.

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