BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess whether the presence of certain findings on thyroid ultrasonography (US) correctly diagnoses malignancy even when a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) suggests a benign lesion. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 35 children and adolescents with a thyroid nodule who had had an US and a FNAB, and for whom final pathology was available. RESULTS: The global accuracy of FNAB was 83%, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 94%. 14 FNABs suggested malignancy (40%), only 1 of which was a false positive (7%). By contrast, 5 of the 21 FNABs suggesting benign lesions were false negatives (24%). These 5 cases had US findings suggestive of malignancy. When FNAB suggested a benign lesion, US had a good sensitivity (80%) but a poor specificity and accuracy (50 and 57%, respectively); its negative predictive value was 90% and its positive predictive value 36%. CONCLUSIONS: US complements FNAB in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in children. A more aggressive approach is warranted in children with a thyroid nodule and a benign FNAB if US findings suggest malignancy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess whether the presence of certain findings on thyroid ultrasonography (US) correctly diagnoses malignancy even when a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) suggests a benign lesion. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 35 children and adolescents with a thyroid nodule who had had an US and a FNAB, and for whom final pathology was available. RESULTS: The global accuracy of FNAB was 83%, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 94%. 14 FNABs suggested malignancy (40%), only 1 of which was a false positive (7%). By contrast, 5 of the 21 FNABs suggesting benign lesions were false negatives (24%). These 5 cases had US findings suggestive of malignancy. When FNAB suggested a benign lesion, US had a good sensitivity (80%) but a poor specificity and accuracy (50 and 57%, respectively); its negative predictive value was 90% and its positive predictive value 36%. CONCLUSIONS: US complements FNAB in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in children. A more aggressive approach is warranted in children with a thyroid nodule and a benign FNAB if US findings suggest malignancy.
Authors: Anjuli Gupta; Samantha Ly; Luciana A Castroneves; Mary C Frates; Carol B Benson; Henry A Feldman; Ari J Wassner; Jessica R Smith; Ellen Marqusee; Erik K Alexander; Justine Barletta; Peter M Doubilet; Hope E Peters; Susan Webb; Biren P Modi; Harriet J Paltiel; Harry Kozakewich; Edmund S Cibas; Francis D Moore; Robert C Shamberger; P Reed Larsen; Stephen A Huang Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2013-06-04 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Sasha R Howard; Sarah Freeston; Barney Harrison; Louise Izatt; Sonali Natu; Kate Newbold; Sabine Pomplun; Helen A Spoudeas; Sophie Wilne; Tom R Kurzawinski; Mark N Gaze Journal: Endocr Relat Cancer Date: 2022-09-07 Impact factor: 5.900