Diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration and frozen section in nodular thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and frozen section (FS) in nodular thyroid disease.

SETTING

Tertiary care academic medical center.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective review of 139 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for nodular thyroid disease. FNA and FS sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated with respect to permanent section histology.

RESULTS

Among 63 patients with an FNA interpreted as either benign (n = 38) or malignant (n = 25), FNA was accurate (sensitivity 89%, specificity 97%, accuracy 94%). FS identified only one case of carcinoma missed by FNA. Among 76 patients with a "suspicious" FNA, FS was reasonably accurate (sensitivity 67%, specificity 100%, accuracy 89%), but was deferred in 50% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Given high FNA accuracy, more selective use of FS is suggested.

SIGNIFICANCE

The study results will assist with intra-institutional patient counseling and intraoperative decision-making with respect to FNA and FS results in patients with nodular thyroid disease.