Prognostic factors and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma with false negative or nondiagnostic FNAC before surgery. Comparison with a control group

Since the clinical implementation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to diagnose thyroid carcinoma, few patients remain misdiagnosed and little is known about their clinical outcomes. An observational retrospective study was carried out to analyse prognostic factors and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) not disclosed by FNAC before surgery, compared to a control group. From October 2003 to July 2010, 308 patients underwent surgery as treatment for nodular goitre and 53 had DTC. Cases were 12 subjects with DTC and benign (n?=?7) or nondiagnostic (n?=?5) FNAC. Controls were 39 subjects with DTC and suspicious (n?=?19) or malignant (n?=?20) FNAC. Prognostic factors, recurrence and survival rates were compared. Cases had longer time from FNAC to surgery than the control group (86.8?±?74.1 vs. 16.4?±?23.8?weeks; P?