A comparison between fine needle aspiration and non-aspiration in evaluating thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules are important because of the risk of malignancy. Fine needle aspiration (FNA), the first diagnostic method in assessment of cytology of thyroid nodules, is a simple, available and cost-effective technique. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of cytomorphology sample, number of cells, the quality of architecture of thyroid papillae and follicles in FNA and fine needle non-aspiration (FNNA) techniques.

200 patients of Shariati hospital, with palpable thyroid nodules, 1 to 4 cm in size, were recruited. FNA and FNNA techniques were applied to each patient. In a single-blind setting, all specimens were examined by the same cytopathologist. The specimens were scored (0, 1 or 2) on the basis of background blood or clot, number of obtained cells, preserved architecture of papillae and follicles and cellular degeneration. Nonparametric methods were used to compare scores of the two techniques.

200 patients (162 female, 38 male) were entered the study. Specimens from 43 patients were inadequate. In the remaining 157 patients there was no statistically significant difference between average scores in the quality of cytomorphology sample, number of cells, quality of architecture of thyroid papillae and follicles and cellular degeneration in FNNA and FNA.

It seems that FNNA is not superior to FNA in the cytopathologic studies of thyroid nodules and there is an agreement between two methods.