Can We Improve Thyroid Fine-needle Aspiration Cytology Adequacy in a Low-volume Thyroid Center?

Introduction: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and has shown an increase in incidence in recent decades. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the mainstay of assessment of thyroid nodules and diagnosis of malignancy. Several reports have suggested that ultrasound (US)-guided FNAC has many advantages over palpation-guided biopsy. Methods: Comparison of results of thyroid nodule FNACs in a low volume thyroid center (Northumbria Health Care NHS Foundation Trust) performed by a diverse group of clinicians and radiologists involved in the management of thyroid nodules over 18 months, between October 2008 and April 2010, identified retrospectively from pathology records, with the results of surgeon-performed US (SUS) -guided FNACs performed by a single operator (SRA) recorded prospectively over 17 months between July 2013 and November 2014. Results: The study included 185 FNA, with 104 FNAC being undertaken between October 2008 and April 2010 compared to 81 FNAC between July 2013 and November 2014. There was a statistically significant reduction of non-diagnostic rates in the second period: 23/81 (28%) versus 51/104 (49%) (Fisher’s exact, p=0.0063), non-neoplastic (Thy2) scores remained comparable: 28/81 (35%) versus 32/104 (31%), there were more Thy3 results: 21/81 (26%) versus 15/104 (14%), while the proportion of neoplastic results in the SUS-FNAC group increased: 8/81 (10%) versus 6/104 (6%). Also, time to diagnostic FNAC was significantly shorter in the SUS-FNAC group: 24.2 ± 4.5 versus 54.9 ± 11.4 days (p=0.01, unpaired t-test). Conclusion: SUS-guided FNAC for thyroid nodules is a safe and simple technique. This study demonstrates that it leads to improved patient care by reducing inadequacy rate and time to diagnosis in a low-volume thyroid center.