Rapid cytological diagnosis during thyroid surgery.

The authors report the results of the use of intra-operative cytological examinations of the thyroid gland. In their hands, the method has a 96.3% accuracy in 757 patients with thyroid disorder. Benign conditions and malignant tumours can be correctly diagnosed. False negative diagnosis can arise with well-differentiated follicular carcinoma and the differentiation of follicular adenoma may be difficult. Atypical adenomas may give a false positive diagnosis. The incorrect diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is unlikely when sufficient attention is given to the whole clinical picture.