Rendimiento comparativo entre biopsia y citología obtenidas por aspiración con aguja fina en nódulos sólidos del tiroides / Comparative useful between biopsy and cytology obtained by fine needle aspiration in thyroid nodules

ABSTRACT

The correct management of thyroid nodules requires an accurate histological diagnosis to doscard carcinoma. One hundred and forty three thyroid nodules were punctured with a 21 G needle under continous aspiration obtaining a sample for cytological and histological diagnosis. Fifty patients were subjected to a thyroidectomy. The age of studied patients ranged from 12 to 78 years old and 94 percent were female. Mean nodule diameter was 2.7ñ1.4 cm. Two percent of procedures were complicated with local hematomas, that subsided spontaneously. A diagnosis of cancer was reached in 16 percent of all patients and 46 percent of operated patients. Cytology had a 50 percent sensitivity, 87.5 percent specificity, a 89.4 percent positive predictive value and a 87.5 percent negative predictive value. The figures for fine needle aspiration biopsy were 82.6, 100, 100 and 87 percent respectively. Fine needle aspiration biopsy has a better diagnostic accuracy than cytology and is a simple and safe procedure