Diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration cytology in nodular thyroid lesions

Ale E.J.U.; Vergara M.N.; Rodríguez M.F.; Alva M.C. · Revista Cubana de Medicina Militar (2024)

Resumen

Background: Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology is fast, reliable, minimally invasive, and beneficial. It reduces unnecessary surgical procedures and classifies patients with benign or malignant nodules for timely surgical intervention. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic utility, for nodular disease, of the ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. Methods: An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out based on the analysis of the results of preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology of patients who underwent thyroid surgery between January 2016 and December 2019. Results: 105 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 95% (n= 100) were women, and 5% (n= 5) were men. The age range was between 13 and 82 years. Of the total stitches, 64 were reported as benign and 19 as malignant. A sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 98.1%, positive predictive value of 94.7%, and negative predictive value of 81.3% were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology is 0.8434, with a 95% confidence interval of (74.7%-91.4%). Conclusion: Fine-needle aspiration cytology allows a simple, minimally invasive, safe, and cost-effective diagnosis of thyroid lesions with high specificity and precision. However, due to the possibility of false-negative results, it is recommended that even patients with benign cytological findings be maintained in regular clinical follow-up.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad de Lima