Comparison of ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy in terms of determining of preoperative malignancy in thyroid nodules

Abstract

To reveal the diagnostic efficacy and accuracy, compared with postoperative histopathological diagnosis, preoperative ultrasonography (US) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in determining benign and malignant disease in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in our clinic. Materials and methods: The research was designed with records of 95 patients who were examined thyroidectomy at our hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic for five years. Preoperative ultrasound findings, FNAB results, postoperative histopathological findings, blood groups, age and sex were recorded. These data were each compared with the histopathological results in order to determine which technique was superior in distinguishing malignant from benign thyroid nodules. Ninety-five patients, aged between 21 and 76, 27 male and 68 female, were included. Mean age of male patients was 51.11±13.54 and mean age of female patients 49.18±11.92. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 82 (86.3%) cases, left lobectomy in 3 (3.2%), right lobectomy in 4 (4.2%) and total thyroidectomy plus neck dissection in 6 (6.3%). Of the cases thought to be benign at US, 76.4% were actually benign, and 83.33% of the cases thought to be malignant were actually malignant. The level of cases incorrectly identified as benign or malignant was 23.16%. Validity (test power) of US on the basis of postoperative diagnosis was 76.84%. In terms of FNAB findings, 27.78% of cases suspected of being malignant were malignant, and 72.73% of the group assessed as having benign cytology was actually benign. The level of cases incorrectly identified as being malignant or benign was 35.79%. FNAB test reliability (test power) on the basis of postoperative diagnosis was 56.1%. In addition, only US findings were significant when compared with histopathological findings in preoperative determination of malignant or benign disease (p=0.001), all other data being not significant (p˃0.05). The use of US findings in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules and in accordingly planning treatment is more effective than use of FNAB. [Med-Science 2018; 7(2.000): 360-3]

Keywords

• Ultrasonography
• fine needle aspiration biopsy
• histopathology
• benign
• malignant