Colm E. Boylan MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Niall P. Power MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Anthony Kam, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Richard Bitar MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mostafa Atri MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the results of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and fine needle capillary biopsy (FNC) techniques.

Three hundred and forty consecutive patients including 301 female and 39 male patients (–age range, 19 - 92years.) attended this institution for fine needle biopsy of the thyroid gland between January and December 2003. Four hundred and twenty two nodule biopsies were performed in this group. Each nodule was biopsied initially twice with a 25g needle with capillary action followed by 2 aspirates with a 25g needle with negative pressure applied by syringe. Specimens were retrieved by flushing the needle with cytolyte solution, which was also used as a preservative medium. Two FNC needle biopsy specimens were combined in one capillary sample analysis container. Two FNA specimens were combined as one aspiration sample. The samples were graded by pathologist as inadequate, adequately cellular, moderately cellular, and hypercellular.

A diagnostic sample was obtained in 577 of 844 (68%) specimens. FNC obtained diagnostic samples in 278/422 (70%) biopsies. FNA obtained diagnostic material in 299/422 (65%) (chi-square p>0.05).The FNA was successful obtaining an adequate sample where FNC failed in 59/422(14%) biopsies. The FNC was successful where FNA failed in 38/422(9%) nodules. With FNA technique samples were more likely to be ‘moderately cellular’ or ‘hyper-cellular’ (49% vs. 40.5%) compared with FNC technique (chi-square, p = 0.01). 34/422 aspirates were malignant as compared to 24/422 of suction with no significant statistical difference chi-square(p = 0.17).

FNA and FNC thyroid biopsy techniques are complimentary. The FNA sample is significantly more likely to be moderately cellular or hypercellular than with the FNC sample. Although there was a trend towards detecting more malignancy with aspirate, this was not statistically significant.

Boylan, C, Power, N, Kam, A, Bitar, R, Atri, M, Thyroid Biopsy: Aspiration or Capillary Technique.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4411881.html