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Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery 2/2010

01-02-2010 | Original Article

The false-negative rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma in thyroid nodules

Authors: Bekir Kuru, Nese Ersoz Gulcelik, Mehmet Ali Gulcelik, Halil Dincer

Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery | Issue 2/2010

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Abstract

Purpose

Our aim was to define the false-negative rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma in thyroid nodules <4 cm versus ≥4 cm.

Materials and methods

Six hundred sixty-two patients with thyroid nodules who underwent FNAC and surgery at our institution were analyzed. The association of predictive factors with thyroid carcinoma was evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, and the false-negative rate of FNAC were calculated.

Results

The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher in nodules ≥4 cm (24%) compared with nodules <4 cm (12%). The false-negative rates of FNAC were 2% in all nodules and 1.3% and 4.3% in nodules <4 cm and ≥4 cm (p = 0.9), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 90% and 79%, respectively.

Conclusions

The false-negative rate of FNAC is low for thyroid nodules <4 cm and for nodules ≥4 cm.
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Metadata
Title
The false-negative rate of fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosing thyroid carcinoma in thyroid nodules
Authors
Bekir Kuru
Nese Ersoz Gulcelik
Mehmet Ali Gulcelik
Halil Dincer
Publication date
01-02-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 1435-2443
Electronic ISSN: 1435-2451
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-009-0470-3

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