J Korean Soc Radiol.  2013 Jul;69(1):23-27. 10.3348/jksr.2013.69.1.23.

Evaluation of the Incidence on Insufficient Cytology Results Comparing Different Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration Techniques for Thyroid Nodules

• Kim SH
• Park JH
• Park JK

• KMID: 2002886
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2013.69.1.23

Abstract

PURPOSE
We compared the incidence of insufficient thyroid cytology due to blood-stained materials or low cellularity in terms of aspiration technique, especially focusing on the degree of suction pressure and needle size.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three experienced radiologists performed ultrasound-guided aspiration for thyroid nodules in 1174 thyroid nodules consecutively. Three different techniques were used; (A) using a 25 gauge needle with mainly capillary technique in 269 nodules; (B) using a 25 gauge needle with 3 cc syringe and minimal suction pressure in 303 nodules; (C) using a 22-23 gauge needle with 10 cc syringe and aspirator in 602 nodules. The differences of the incidence of the insufficient cytology among the three aspiration techniques and relationships of the incidence and needle size/degree of suction pressure was statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test with linear-by-linear association.
RESULTS
Overall, the difference in insufficient cytology was significant across the three aspiration technique (p = 0.004), and the incidence tended to increase significantly with increase of needle size and degree of suction pressure (p < 0.001). A pairwise comparison of aspiration techniques found significant differences (p = 0.003) between techniques (A) and (C), and no differences between technique (B) and (C) (p = 0.07) and between techniques (A) and (B) (p = 0.10).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of insufficient cytology was significantly low in the capillary technique, and it increased significantly with the increase of needle size and degree of suction pressure.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Capillaries
Incidence
Needles
Suction
Syringes
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Nodule

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