PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T Hakala
AU  - I Kholová
AU  - J Sand
AU  - R Saaristo
AU  - P Kellokumpu-Lehtinen
TI  - A core needle biopsy provides more malignancy-specific results than fine-needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid nodules suspicious for malignancy
AID  - 10.1136/jclinpath-2013-201559
DP  - 2013 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 1046--1050
VI  - 66
IP  - 12
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/66/12/1046.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/66/12/1046.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2013 Dec 01; 66
AB  - Background and aims The most commonly used diagnostic method for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules is ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA), which often yields non-diagnostic or non-definitive results and seldom produces definite malignant diagnoses. To improve upon the malignancy-specific sensitivity, we tested core needle biopsies (CNBs) of thyroid lesions taken from surgical specimens. Material and methods 52 consecutive patients with malignant or malignant-suspicious thyroid nodules were referred to Tampere University Hospital between May 2010 and December 2011. Preoperative FNAs were categorised as follicular neoplasm (48%), suspicion for malignancy (46%) or malignancy (6%). Intraoperative FNA and CNB samples were acquired from surgical specimens removed during surgery. The results of the needle biopsies were compared with the final pathological diagnosis. Results CNBs had a high definitive sensitivity for malignancy (61%, CI 41% to 78%) whereas the definitive sensitivity for malignancy of FNAs was significantly lower (22%, CI 10% to 42%). CNB was not beneficial in the diagnosis of follicular thyroid lesions. When all suspected follicular tumours were excluded, the definitive sensitivity of CNB rose to 70% (CI 48% to 86%). Conclusions CNB may be beneficial for the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and other non-follicular thyroid lesions. CNB may be considered as an additional diagnostic procedure in cases with FNA suspicious for malignancy.