Comparison between pre-operative fine needle aspiration cytology and intra-operative frozen section biopsy in the diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule

الملخص EN

Controversy continues to exist concerning the diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule.

Even today there is a wide spread disagreement as to the best method of establishing a definitive diagnosis.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a standard diagnostic procedure for patients with solitary thyroid nodule and the necessity for frozen section (FS) intra-operative biopsy has been the subject of discussion The purpose of this study is to compare between pre-operative FNAC and intra-operative FS biopsy in the diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule.

Twenty patients (17 women "85%", 3 men "15%", mean age 36.5 range 23-64 years) suffering from solitary thyroid nodule were admitted to hospital.

Combined pre-operative FNAC and intra-operative FS examination were assessed in all patients.

١٨ the benign cytology the diagnostic accuracy was 78.6% for FNAC and 100% for FS biopsy.

In those with suspicious cytology (cellular FNAC diagnosis) the diagnostic accuracy was 15% for FNAC and 95% ،'or FS biopsy.

In those with malignant cytology the diagnostic accuracy was 50% for pre-operative FNAC and 83.3% for intra-operative FS biopsy.

From these results the intra-operative FS biopsy is indicated in patients undergoing surgery for a solitary thyroid nodule with a suspicious cytology; but it has a limited value in those in whom a malignant lesion is diagnosed and unnecessary in those in whom a benign lesion is diagnosed.