Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules performed in the office.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the gold standard in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with a thyroid nodule. Ultrasound guidance of FNAB improves the accuracy of sampling, especially in lesions that are small or non-palpable, indistinct lesions, lesions located posteriorly or deep in the thyroid and cystic lesions. Dr. Seiberling and colleagues report experience with ultrasound guided FNAB in 203 patients undertaken in an outpatient office setting. A satisfactory specimen was obtained in 81.2% and the diagnostic rate was 90%. A subgroup of 54 patients went on to total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy. FNAB had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 73%, positive predictive value of 57% and negative predictive value of 100%.Page: 228DOI: 10.1097/MLG.0b013e318157465dAuthors: Seiberling, Kristin A. MD; Dutra, Jose C. MD; Gunn, James MMS, PA-C (Source: The Laryngoscope)