[Histocytological correlation in fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland].

PURPOSE

To correlate cytological diagnosis with the anatomicopathological ones to assess the accuracy of cytological examination as a diagnostic test.

CASES AND METHOD

The results of 328 cytological diagnoses were compared with the corresponding anatomicopathological results from surgical specimens.

RESULTS

In all thyroid diseases the accuracy of the method was above 95%. Among the more frequent diseases, the sensitivity of the test was 98%, 69%, 81%, 85% and 89%, respectively for nodular colloid goiter, follicular neoplasms, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, papillary carcinoma and Hürthle-cell neoplasia; in all of them the test specificity was at least 89%.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results and owing to its relative simplicity, this study also documents the FNAB usefulness as a diagnostic method for thyroid diseases.