The role of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in a district general hospital setting |
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| Authors: | W J MERCHANT S M THOMAS M J COPPEN M G PRENTICE |
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| Institution: | Department of Histopathology, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Croydon, UK;Department of Endocrinology, Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Croydon, UK |
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| Abstract: | The pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the role of FNA cytology in the clinical management of patients with thyroid swelling, in a District General Hospital (DGH) setting. One hundred and eleven patients were investigated over a period of 3 years, with a total of 142 fine needle aspirations. Statistical analysis showed a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 91% and a false negative rate of 2.7%. These results compare very favourably with other institutions. This study therefore shows that thyroid nodule FNA cytology can be performed in a DGH with a high standard of diagnostic accuracy, the results of which play a key role in patient management. |
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| Keywords: | fine needle aspiration thyroid nodules |
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