Evaluation of thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration cytology: a prospective study

ABSTRACT

A prospective study of 200 fine aspiration cytology specimens from 194 patients with thyroid nodules at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Jamaica showed a 95 percent accuracy when the results were compared with histopathology reports of the subsequent thyroidectomy surgical specimens in 86 patients. The false negative rate was 3 percent (for neoplasia), and there was a false positive rate of 10.5 percent. Fine needle aspiration cytology thus proves to be an accurate, specific and sensitive method of assessment of thyroid nodules which ultimately reduces unnecessary surgical intervention (AU)