Abstract:

Objective To improve the diagnosis rate of fine needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid malignant tumors through comparing the features between cytopathology and histopathology, together with the characters of ultrasound images. Methods The data of 28 cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy were collected, and the cytological and histological features were reviewed. The ultrasound images of the cases were also analyzed. Results Twenty-six cases of papillary carcinoma and 2 cases of medullary carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy were confirmed by histological diagnosis afterward. In all the node samples of papillary carcinoma, characteristic nuclear grooves and pseudo-inclusion bodies were found in nuclei. Of the 28 cases of thyroid cancer, the diameters of nodes were ≥2 cm in 13 cases and ＜2 cm in 15 cases. Fifteen cases had a single node while 13 cases had multiple nodes. Twenty-two cases （78.57%）had calcification in nodes, 16 （72.73%）of which were microminiature. Twenty-three cases （82.14%）showed irregular edges that were histologically confirmed as the performance of the infiltrative growth of the tumor and the reaction of the mesenchyme. Ultrasound image analysis revealed that most nodes had gravel-like calcification, with irregular and spiculated edges. Conclusion Fine needle aspiration biopsy under ultrasound guiding could improve the accuracy in finding micro nodes. The analysis of characters of edge and calcification in thyroid nodes on ultrasound images could increase the diagnosis rate of fine needle aspiration biopsy.

Key words: thyroid, node, ultrasound localization, fine needle aspiration biopsy, microcalcification