Does frozen section have a role in the intraoperative management of thyroid nodules?

Background: Frozen section in thyroid surgery is used to make an intraoperative pathological diagnosis of malignancy in a thyroid nodule at the time of hemithyroidectomy. A positive diagnosis allows completion of thyroidectomy, thus avoiding reoperation. However, the use of fine needle aspiration cytology in making a preoperative diagnosis of cancer has resulted in the lack of a defined role for frozen section. We examined the role of frozen section as an adjunct to fine needle aspiration cytology in determining which cytological subset will benefit from frozen section. Methods: All patients who underwent thyroidectomy between 1992 and 2000 by a single endocrine surgeon were reviewed. Results: Two hundred and nine frozen sections were performed, of which 144 underwent preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology. Frozen sections reported 135 benign nodules, 59 follicular neoplasms, five specimens with suspicious histology and 10 cancers. Ten out of 20 thyroid cancers were correctly identified by frozen section (sensitivity: 50%; specificity: 100%), eight cancers were reported on frozen section as indeterminate and two benign. Of 144 fine needle aspiration cytological procedures, frozen section on seven suspicious aspirates identified two cancers, and frozen section on 70 follicular aspirates identified four cancers, allowing intraoperative conversions to total thyroidectomy. Frozen section on seven malignant aspirates confirmed four cancers but resulted in reoperation for three because of the indeterminate frozen section reports. There were no cancers found on 135 benign aspirates. Conclusions: Frozen section on benign aspirates is unhelpful in the management of thyroid nodules. It need not be performed for cytologically proven malignant thyroid nodules. Selective use of frozen section complements fine needle aspiration cytology findings of suspicious or follicular lesions, especially in the subset with papillary cancer, allowing one-stage total thyroidectomy.     

FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY: THE AUCKLAND EXPERIENCE

Fine needle aspiration cytology is a widely recognized and yet sensitive technique which can provide diagnosis in lesions in the head and neck, enabling appropriate management plans for individual patients to be made. One hundred and eighty-seven fine needle aspirates from head and neck masses in 128 patients seen at Green Lane Hospital were studied. The ages ranged from 9 to 87 years with a median of 63 years. Ninety-five fine needle aspirates were of malignant lesions, mainly squamous cell carcinoma and lymphomas and 94 were non-malignant. Comparisons were made between the fine needle aspirate cytology and the histological and clinical diagnosis. Overall, the sensitivity was 81%, specificity 89%, positive predictive value 91% and negative predictive value 78%. With respect to 72 lymph node aspirates there were no false positive values resulting in a sensitivity of 84%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 65%. With respect to salivary gland lesions, there were no false positive or false negative fine needle aspirates. It was noted that diagnostic accuracy improved with experience and good communication between the cyto-pathologist and the clinician. Most of the non-diagnostic smears occurred during the early part of the study. The study confirms the useful application of fine needle aspiration cytology in managing head and neck disease appropriately.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology: the Auckland experience.

Fine needle aspiration cytology is a widely recognized and yet sensitive technique which can provide diagnosis in lesions in the head and neck, enabling appropriate management plans for individual patients to be made. One hundred and eighty-seven fine needle aspirates from head and neck masses in 128 patients seen at Green Lane Hospital were studied. The ages ranged from 9 to 87 years with a median of 63 years. Ninety-five fine needle aspirates were of malignant lesions, mainly squamous cell carcinoma and lymphomas and 94 were nonmalignant. Comparisons were made between the fine needle aspirate cytology and the histological and clinical diagnosis. Overall, the sensitivity was 81%, specificity 89%, positive predictive value 91% and negative predictive value 78%. With respect to 72 lymph node aspirates there were no false positive values resulting in a sensitivity of 84%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 65%. With respect to salivary gland lesions, there were no false positive or false negative fine needle aspirates. It was noted that diagnostic accuracy improved with experience and good communication between the cytopathologist and the clinician. Most of the non-diagnostic smears occurred during the early part of the study. The study confirms the useful application of fine needle aspiration cytology in managing head and neck disease appropriately.     

Intraoperative pancreatic fine needle aspiration biopsy. Results in 166 patients

Intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy (NAB) of undiagnosed pancreatic masses was studied in 166 patients over a 17-year period. The cytologic diagnoses were correlated with histologic specimens, autopsy results, or clinical follow-up (benign disease was documented if the patient was alive without malignancy at least 2 years after laparotomy). Aspirates were interpreted as benign, suspicious, malignant, or unsatisfactory. Malignant disease was the final diagnosis in 109 patients; the cytology was concordant in 101 and was interpreted as suspicious in four. Four patients with benign cytology later proved to have malignant disease--a false-negative rate of 2.5 per cent. A total of 57 patients had benign disease; 51 of these had benign cytology. The remaining patients had "unsatisfactory" cytology reports. A 93 per cent sensitivity, 100 per cent specificity, and 0 per cent complication rate are reported. There were no false-positive cytology reports. Complications are rare and represent case reports, thus, additional sampling is at minimal risk. Intraoperative pancreatic NAB is a safe, easy, more accurate biopsy technique than historical wedge or core needle biopsies. It is the biopsy method of choice for pancreatic masses found at laparotomy.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer: comparative study of 213 operated patients

Between 1982 and 1984, fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC) was performed in 1100 patients (aged 14-80, 993 women), with nodular goitre, who had either a solitary cold nodule or dominant hypofunctioning nodule(s) within a multinodular or diffusely enlarged gland. Surgery was performed in 213 patients based on clinical and cytological criteria, and the histology of the surgical specimens was correlated with the cytological findings. ABC specimens were sufficient for cytological diagnosis in 190 patients and were classified as malignant (positive), suspicious or benign. In 37 patients who had a final histological diagnosis of malignancy, cytology was positive or suspicious in 33 and benign in 4. In the remaining 153 patients with benign histology there were 7 positive or suspicious aspirates, and 146 benign. The 37 malignancies included papillary carcinomas in 26 patients (24 positive or suspicious and 2 benign on cytology), Hürthle-cell tumours in 6 (6 positive), follicular carcinoma in 1 (negative), anaplastic carcinoma in 1 (suspicious), medullary carcinoma in 2 (1 positive, 1 negative), and lymphoma in 1 (positive). Our results indicate that the overall sensitivity rate of the ABC method for cancer was 89.2 per cent, the diagnostic specificity 95.4 per cent, the false-positive rate 17.5 per cent and the false negative rate 2.6 per cent. The overall accuracy of the method was 94.2 per cent. It is concluded that papillary and Hürthle-cell carcinomas can be diagnosed accurately with ABC but we recommend that the method be used in conjunction with clinical information and other conventional diagnostic procedures.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the prostate gland: a study of 103 cases with histological followup

Fine needle aspiration specimens of the prostate gland were compared to histological material in 103 patients. The sensitivity was 95 per cent, specificity 97 per cent and efficiency 87 per cent. Initial core needle biopsy compared to the final histological diagnosis in this study had a sensitivity of 76 per cent, specificity 100 per cent and efficiency 71 per cent. Fine needle aspiration by a well trained cytopathologist is less traumatic, and has fewer side effects and a higher sensitivity rate than conventional core needle biopsy.     

Transrectal fine needle biopsy of the prostate: combined histological and cytological technique

Transrectal fine needle biopsy was performed on 50 patients with suspicious prostatic examinations using the Surecut and Chiba needles. The 21 gauge Surecut needle provided a core of tissue for routine histology in 42 of 50 patients (84 per cent) as well as cells for cytology in 46 of 50 (92 per cent). This was in contrast to positive cytology results with the 22 gauge Chiba needle in 44 of 50 patients (88 per cent). Fourteen cancers were detected: 12 by Surecut histology, 11 by Surecut cytology and 10 by Chiba cytology testing, for sensitivity rates of 86, 79 and 71 per cent, respectively. Our results indicate that the 21 gauge Surecut needle provides cytology results equivalent to the 22 gauge Chiba needle. However, the Surecut needle has the added advantage of providing a core of tissue for routine histological study, and it can be used safely as an outpatient procedure on unprepared bowel.     

Use of fine needle aspiration cytology with immediate reporting in the diagnosis of breast disease

Fine needle aspiration biopsy for cytological examination (FNAC) is becoming increasingly accepted as a means of tissue diagnosis in breast disease. This study examines the feasibility and accuracy of FNAC in 'immediate reporting' by a consultant cytopathologist in a busy breast clinic. Over a 2-year period, 884 cytology reports were analysed. An initial clinical report and subsequent final cytological diagnosis was made. Fine needle aspiration provided adequate material for cytological evaluation in 635 of the 884 biopsies (71.6 per cent) and this proportion was greater when discrete lumps were considered (463 of 562 biopsies = 82.4 per cent). In diffuse and cystic disease, however, the adequacy of specimens was reduced: 50 per cent and 65 per cent respectively. On immediate reporting the diagnostic sensitivity for all patients was 88 per cent (discrete lumps only, 92.5 per cent) and the specificity was 99.8 per cent (discrete lumps only, 100 per cent). FNAC retains its diagnostic accuracy when immediate reporting is employed and this study demonstrates that this technique can be used in making a diagnosis in patients with breast disease.     

Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of parotid tumours: Is it useful?

Background : The efficacy of fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of parotid tumours remains a controversial subject. Studies within small departments utilizing experienced pathologists have shown FNAC to have high sensitivity and specificity for parotid tumours. The present study was performed to assess the accuracy and utility of FNAC of parotid tumours within a teaching hospital environment. Methods : One hundred and sixty‐nine patients underwent both FNAC and subsequent surgery to the parotid between 1995 and 1999. The results of the FNAC were compared to the histopathological diagnosis obtained from the surgical specimen. Results : Fine‐needle aspiration cytology had an overall accuracy of 56%. Approximately 10% of the FNAC results were non‐diagnostic. The sensitivity and specificity for the following diagnoses were, respectively: benign 86% and 61%; malignant 57% and 100%; pleomorphic adenoma 78% and 95%; squamous cell carcinoma 52% and 99%; mucoepidermoid carcinoma 14% and 99% and adenocarcinoma 20% and 100%. Six non‐neoplastic conditions were misdiagnosed and all six patients underwent surgery. Conclusions : Fine‐needle aspiration cytology was found to be highly specific for malignancy but its sensitivity for malignancy was poor. The results show that although FNAC is relatively inexpensive and minimally invasive, it cannot be relied upon to provide an accurate tissue diagnosis, may fail to identify malignancy and does not prevent patients undergoing surgery for non‐neoplastic conditions.     

Accuracy of aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast disease

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology has been assessed in 480 consecutive breast lesions where definitive histology was later available. The results in terms of specificity and sensitivity have also been compared to mammography and clinical examination. With adequate smears aspiration cytology was 100 per cent specific with no false positive diagnosis. This compares with 15 false positive mammograms and 12 false positive diagnoses on clinical examination. Cytology was unsatisfactory in 36 per cent of benign lesions owing to poor cellularity of the sample but when considered with mammography and examination led to a reduction in biopsies for benign disease. A definitive cytological diagnosis of malignant tumours resulted in a reduction in frozen sections with a substantial saving of resources and improvement in patient counselling. No mastectomy was performed for benign disease.     

Cytologic Features of Testicular Tumours in Dog

In this paper, we report on our experience of cytology of fine needle biopsies performed on 92 dogs with testicular tumours during the period from 1998 to 2002. Cytological diagnosis was consistent with seminoma in 20 cases, sertolioma in 16 cases, Leydig cell tumours in 50 cases and mastocytoma in one case. Five cases could not be diagnosed by cytology. Cytological observations were confirmed after surgery by histopathological examination in 87 cases. Cytology provided a sensitivity of 95% for seminoma, 88% for sertolioma and 96% for Leydig cell tumours. The specificity was 100% for all three tumour types. In our experience cytology of fine needle aspirations of testicular tumours is a very reliable technique.     

'Tactile sensation': a new clinical sign during fine needle aspiration of breast lumps.

The tactile sensation (TS) felt during fine needle aspiration (FNA) of symptomatic breast abnormalities was recorded prospectively in 169 patients. TS was classified as malignant (if ''gritty''), or benign (if ''rubbery'', ''soft'' or ''fibrous''). This assessment was compared with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and the final diagnosis, to evaluate the clinical utility of TS. A ''gritty'' TS was recorded in 55/59 cancers and 22/110 benign lesions (sensitivity 93.2%, specificity 80%). Comparison of TS and FNAC in 69 patients with definitive histopathology revealed complementary results (TS, sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 48.5%; FNAC, sensitivity 55.6%, specificity 100%). Combining the sensitivity of TS with that of FNAC increased the overall sensitivity to 97.2%. Recording TS during FNA of symptomatic breast lumps enhances diagnosis, and alerts the clinician to the possibility of an underlying carcinoma when FNAC fails to confirm malignancy.     

Stereotaxic needle localization and cytological diagnosis of occult breast lesions.

A stereotaxic technique for localization of occult breast lesions and fine needle aspiration for cytological diagnosis was used on examination of 543 patients. Successful localization with the needle tip within 1 mm of the suspected lesion was possible in 490 patients (90.2%). Based on a high mammographic index of suspicion for malignancy, 187 of 490 patients were selected to undergo open biopsy, following aspiration cytology and localization with methylene blue injection. The statistical results (cytologic vs. histologic examination) revealed a sensitivity of 97.5% and a specificity of 95.2% for cytologic diagnosis of occult breast lesions. The technique is easy to learn and takes 20-30 minutes to perform. Compliance was 100% and complications were nil. This new technique expedites localization and maximizes the specificity of mammography for occult breast lesions.     

Cystic change and neoplasia in isolated thyroid swellings

During a 6-year prospective study of clinically isolated thyroid swellings (ITS), 148 (37 per cent) of 395 swellings were cystic as defined by the aspiration of fluid during fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). In the 106 (72 per cent) patients operated upon, 47 per cent of the cystic swellings were neoplastic and 14 per cent were malignant. In men 29 per cent of cystic swellings were malignant and 11 per cent in women. Only twelve cystic ITS were permanently abolished by aspiration and FNAC was inaccurate in predicting neoplasia. The incidence of malignancy in cystic ITS is higher than generally accepted and most cysts not abolished by aspiration should be removed.     

Fibro-adenoma of the breast

A retrospective study of 134 patients with a clinical diagnosis of fibro-adenoma of the breast indicated that histological confirmation of this diagnosis is made in only 50 per cent. The majority of the others have a diagnosis of benign mammary dysplasia. Eight patients had an unsuspected carcinoma, all but one being above the mean age for the fibro-adenoma group. The natural history of fibro-adenoma is not known precisely. In view of the high sensitivity of fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of malignant disease, we believe that there is justification to carry out a prospective study to determine this. In this study women with a clinical diagnosis of fibro-adenoma will be carefully observed provided they are less than 35 years of age and fine-needle aspiration cytology reveals no malignant cells.     

Evolution of fine needle aspiration cytology in the accurate diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms

In the era of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA), a minimally invasive, safe, and accurate cytologic examination of a variety of intra-abdominal neoplasms has become possible. To assess the efficacy of EUS-FNA for diagnosis of primary pancreatic tumors, a 10-year retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2005 was undertaken. Comparisons were made between early (1996-2000) and late (2001-2005) periods regarding diagnostic modalities used and the concordance of EUS-FNA cytology with macroscopic tissue histology. Although macroscopic biopsy diagnostic yield did not change over time, yield from EUS-FNA increased from 40 per cent to 95 per cent (P = 0.001). Because of improved accuracy of FNA cytology, only six per cent of tumors required additional macroscopic tissue histology in the late period versus 35 per cent in the early period (P = 0.001). There was 100 per cent concordance between the cytologic and histologic diagnoses in the late period versus only 33 per cent in the early period (P = 0.032). We conclude that (1) the frequency of pathologically diagnosed pancreatic tumors doubled over 10 years, (2) utilization of EUS-FNA significantly increased the accuracy of cytologic diagnosis, and (3) as a result, the need for macroscopic tissue biopsy for diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms has been obviated.     

穿刺细胞学结合免疫组化诊断甲状腺癌

目的：探讨术前运用细针穿刺甲状腺结节行细胞学检查,结合穿刺细胞液相关免疫组化分析,进一步提高对甲状腺癌的术前诊断的准确率。方法：回顾分析本院2006年10月至2007年3月收治的甲状腺结节43例。术前均穿刺有疑问之甲状腺结节,作细胞学检查,同时结合免疫组化半乳凝集素-3、CK19、TPO进行分析,与手术后石蜡病理结果作比较。①在细胞学检查确诊的良、恶性病例中,细胞免疫组化指标仅作为参考。②而在细胞学诊断为可疑恶性时,免疫组化表达为半乳凝集素-3、CK19均阳性、TPO阴性者,作恶性诊断论;当表达为半乳凝集素-3、CK19均阴性、TPO阳性时,则作良性诊断论;其他种类表达归为可疑诊断。所有病例均接受手术治疗并经病理学检查证实。结果：术前细胞学诊断为乳头状癌者21例,可疑恶性14例,良性病变8例;14例细胞学诊断为可疑恶性的病例,结合免疫组化,10例诊断为乳头状癌,1例髓样癌,3例腺瘤。术后病理确定为乳头状癌31例,滤泡状癌2例,髓样癌1例,腺瘤8例,结节性甲状腺肿1例。43例细胞学诊断与术后病理符合率达62．8％。细胞学结合免疫组化诊断与术后病理符合率达90．7％,敏感性82.4％,特异性100％,阳性预测值100％,阴性预测值均为60％。结论：半乳凝集素-3、TPO和CK19检查有助于判断甲状腺结节的良、恶性;联合检查可提高诊断的准确性。甲状腺细针穿刺细胞学结合穿刺液的免疫组化分析,有助于提高甲状腺癌尤其是乳头状癌的检出率,减少漏诊和误诊。     

The complementary role of fine needle aspiration cytology and Tru-cut needle biopsy in the management of breast masses

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) and Tru-cut needle biopsy (TNB) have been used for the pre-operative diagnosis of cancer in breast masses as alternatives to open breast biopsy. The accuracy of clinical examination, fine needle aspiration biopsy and Tru-cut needle biopsy was assessed in 230 patients with palpable breast masses and the value of using both biopsy methods in the management was prospectively evaluated. Clinical diagnosis had a sensitivity of 89.2% and specificity of 78.4% (32.7% false positive, 6.5% false negative). Aspiration cytology was diagnostic in 78.4% of cancers and 71.6% of benign lesions [excluding non-diagnostic samples (27.4%), sensitivity was 96.6% and specificity was 100%]. Tru-cut needle biopsy identified 82.9% of cancers and 61.7% of benign lesions [excluding non-diagnostic samples (33.3%), sensitivity was 96.7% and specificity was 100%]. There were no false positive errors with either aspiration cytology or needle biopsy. Statistical comparison showed that there was no significant difference between aspiration cytology and needle biopsy. The combined result of both biopsies was superior to clinical examination when non-diagnostic samples were excluded. With the routine use of both biopsy techniques, frozen section was avoided in 73% of all cancers and unnecessary operations were avoided in 33.5% of patients which included breast cysts, benign mammary dysplasia and inflammatory lesions.     

Ultrasound-guided Tru-cut biopsy of the breast.

Ultrasound-guided automated Tru-cut needle biopsy may be used as an alternative to fine needle aspiration cytology for the assessment of discrete mass lesions of the breast. This is a retrospective study of 187 biopsies, comparing the results with a final diagnosis obtained from subsequent excision or outpatient follow-up. Biopsies were performed using a spring-loaded gun under ultrasound guidance. Invasive malignancy was demonstrated in 114 biopsies, 98 of which were subjected to surgery, with no false-positives. Twelve biopsies contained 'atypical cells', pre-invasive malignancy or risk factors for invasive carcinoma, ten of which proved to be invasive malignancy on excision. Normal or benign tissue was found in 61 biopsies, but of those that proceeded to excision biopsy, 16 were invasive or in situ carcinoma. The sensitivity of the procedure for detecting significant pathology was 88.7%, and the specificity 100%. When used as part of triple assessment, the sensitivity increases to 97.9%. Ultrasound-guided Tru-cut needle biopsy is a well-tolerated and reliable procedure for providing a tissue diagnosis of malignancy before definitive treatment, and obviating the need for formal excision biopsy of lesions for which there is a low index of suspicion.     

Ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of renal masses

A consecutive series of 301 ultrasonically guided fine needle aspiration biopsies of renal masses was reviewed. The retrieval rate was 95 per cent and a correct cytological diagnosis was established in 82 per cent of the cases. There were 14 false positive aspirates, for a predictive value of a malignant aspirate of only 93 per cent. All false positive results were misinterpreted as relatively well differentiated adenocarcinoma. We conclude that renal fine needle aspiration biopsy may add information but the risk of a false positive finding must always be considered.