Fewer uncertain thyroid results with core needle vs repeat FNA

(HealthDay)—To reduce inconclusive results for thyroid nodules, core-needle biopsy (CNB) is more effective than repeat fine-needle aspiration (FNA), according to a study published online Oct. 5 in Head & Neck.

Young Jun Choi, M.D., from the University of Ulsan in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues compared the results of CNB (210 patients) and repeat FNA (295 patients) for thyroid nodules that were initially read as atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) on FNA.

The researchers found that CNB demonstrated significantly fewer inconclusive results than repeat FNA for the overall nodules (40.9 percent versus 63.0 percent). Significant risk factors for inconclusive results included repeat FNA and group FLUS (odds ratios, 1.92 and 2.08, respectively). CNB had higher diagnostic performance than repeat FNA.

"CNB is more useful than repeat FNAs for reducing inconclusive results and improving the diagnostic performance of thyroid nodules with initial AUS/FLUS FNA results," the authors write.