Clinicopathologic analysis of fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid. A review of 1,613 cases and correlation with histopathologic diagnoses.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid lesions at our institution and to ascertain its usefulness in determining the therapeutic approach.

Study Design: The authors reviewed the results of 1,613 cases of FNA cytology of thyroid nodules performed from 1999 to 2001 at the Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Hospital. Cytologic diagnoses were compared with histologic diagnoses in 207 cases that included both FNA and thyroid surgery.