Diagnostic yield of nondiagnostic thyroid nodules is not altered by timing of repeat biopsy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Guidelines from the National Cancer Institute Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration State of the Science Conference recommend a repeat fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) after 3 months for thyroid nodules with a nondiagnostic (ND) result. Our aims were to assess which factors influenced their clinical management and to determine if the timing of the repeat FNAB affects the diagnostic yield.

METHODS:

A retrospective institutional review of 298 patients from 1/2006 to 12/2007 with an ND FNAB was performed. The factors influencing the next step in management, including age, gender, history of radiation, presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, and ultrasound characteristics, were evaluated. The effect of the time of the repeat FNABs on their diagnostic yield was assessed.

RESULTS:

Of the 298 patients in our cohort, 9% were referred directly for surgery, 76% had a repeat FNAB, and 15% were observed. Tumor size was the only independent variable correlated with treatment strategy after a ND FNAB. There was not a significant difference in diagnostic yields between repeat FNABs performed earlier than 3 months compared to those preformed later (p=0.58).

CONCLUSION:

The timing of repeat FNAB for an initial ND FNAB does not affect diagnostic yield of the repeat FNAB.

• Authors: Carrie C Lubitz, Sushruta S Nagarkatti, William C Faquin, Anthony E Samir, Maria C Hassan, Giuseppe Barbesino, Douglas S Ross, Gregory W Randolph, Randall D Gaz, Antonia E Stephen, Richard A Hodin, Gilbert H Daniels, Sareh Parangi
• Journal: Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association (Thyroid) Vol. 22 Issue 6 Pg. 590-4 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1557-9077 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22667452 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Thyrotropin

Topics

• Aged
• Biopsy, Fine-Needle
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radiotherapy
• Retrospective Studies
• Thyroid Gland (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Thyroid Nodule (diagnosis, pathology, therapy)
• Thyroidectomy
• Thyrotropin (blood)
• Time Factors
• Ultrasonography