Fine needle aspiration biopsy. A reliable diagnostic tool in the management of thyroid nodules.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been suggested as a diagnostic alternative to routine thyroidectomy for solitary thyroid nodules. During a 15-month period, 51 patients underwent FNAB prior to thyroidectomy. FNAB demonstrated an accuracy of 73 per cent in predicting benign or malignant disease and would have reduced the number of thyroidectomies by 55 per cent. Furthermore, it was found to be safe and more cost-effective than traditional thyroid nodule evaluation and management.