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Role of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Frozen Section Analysis in the Surgical Management of Thyroid Tumors

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Abstract

Introduction:The role of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and frozen section (FS) in the management of thyroid neoplasms continues to generate considerable controversy. We reviewed our recent experience to determine the clinical utility of FNA and FS in our surgical management and intraoperative decision-making.

Methods:All patients who had operations for thyroid disease between January 1996 and June 1999 were identified in our prospective database. Completion and incidental thyroidectomies were excluded. Data obtained from the pathology files included FNA, FS, and the final histologic diagnosis.

Results:Five hundred sixty-four patients, including 409 women (73%), with a median age of 50 years (range, 6–94) were identified, of whom 293 (52%) had cancer diagnosed on permanent sections. Three hundred twenty-nine patients (58%) had evaluable FNA, of which 91 (28%) were benign, 94 were malignant (28%), and 144 (44%) were suspicious (46% of these were malignant on final). Frozen section was performed in 397 (70%) patients; of these samples, 170 (43%) were found to be benign, 106 (27%) were malignant, and 121 (30%) were deferred (46% malignant on final). Fine-needle aspiration positively identified 51% of confirmed malignancies; 13% of patients with malignancy had a benign FNA result. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 64% of malignant tumors and 29% of benign thyroid disease (P < .001). Logistic regression revealed no association of extent of surgery with FNA results. A frozen section positive for malignancy was associated with total thyroidectomy (P < .001, RR 6 [CI 3–10]), and a negative frozen section report was associated with lobectomy (P < .05, RR 0.5 [CI 0.3–0.96]). Frozen sections results altered the preoperative plan in only 29 patients (5%).

Conclusion:Results of preoperative FNA had no direct impact on the selection of the surgical procedure in this selected cohort. Intraoperative FS added very little to surgical management. The majority of thyroid operations at this institution are planned and performed based on known prognostic factors and intraoperative findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

    Ari D. Brooks MD, Ashok R. Shaha MD, Wilson DuMornay MD, Andrew G. Huvos MD, Murray F. Brennan MD & Jatin Shah MD

  2. Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York

    Maureen Zakowski MD

  3. 1275 York Ave., New York, NY, 10021

    Ashok R. Shaha MD

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  1. Ari D. Brooks MD
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  2. Ashok R. Shaha MD
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  3. Wilson DuMornay MD
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  4. Andrew G. Huvos MD
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  5. Maureen Zakowski MD
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  6. Murray F. Brennan MD
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  7. Jatin Shah MD
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Correspondence to Ashok R. Shaha MD.

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Brooks, A.D., Shaha, A.R., DuMornay, W. et al. Role of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Frozen Section Analysis in the Surgical Management of Thyroid Tumors. Ann Surg Oncol 8, 92–100 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-001-0092-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10434-001-0092-7

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