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The radiologist and the cytologist in diagnosing thyroid nodules: results of cooperation

Radiologo e citologo nella diagnostica del nodulo tiroideo: i risultati della collaborazione

  • Head and Neck Radiology Radiologia Del Capo E Del Collo
  • Published:
La radiologia medica

Abstract

Purpose

This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of cooperation between the radiologist and the cytopathologist in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of thyroid nodules.

Materials and methods

Since 1995, FNAB of thyroid nodules at our department has been performed under ultrasound guidance by the radiologist with a cytopathologist present on-site. The results of ultrasound-guided FNAB procedures performed at our department in 1995, 1999, and 2005 were retrospectively evaluated and compared with those of other departments in the Trieste Province where thyroid nodules are sampled by palpation-guided FNAB performed by a clinician.

Results

From 1995 to 2005, the number of ultrasound-guided FNAB procedures performed at our department rose steadily, whereas the number of inadequate samples fell progressively. In patients who underwent surgery, the number of discrepancies between the cytological findings and the final histological diagnoses decreased progressively.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided FNAB performed by the radiologist with a cytopathologist present on-site is superior to palpation-guided FNAB. The results are optimised by cooperation between the radiologist and cytologist.

Riassunto

Obiettivo

Valutare i risultati della collaborazione tra radiologo e citologo nella agoaspirazione ecoguidata dei noduli tiroidei.

Materiali e metodi

Nella nostra unità operativa dal 1995 l’agoaspirazione tiroidea viene eseguita sotto guida ecografica dal radiologo in collaborazione con il citologo. Sono stati rivalutati i risultati delle agoaspirazioni tiroidee ecoguidate eseguite presso la nostra unità operativa negli anni 1995, 1999, 2005. I risultati sono stati confrontati con quelli dei prelievi eseguiti in altre strutture della nostra Provincia nelle quali l’agoaspirazione viene effettuata dal clinico sotto guida palpatoria.

Risultati

Il numero di agoaspirazioni tiroidee sotto guida ecografica nella nostra unità operativa è aumentato progressivamente dal 1995 al 2005. Il numero di prelievi inadeguati si è ridotto progressivamente. Nei pazienti sottoposti a intervento chirurgico le discrepanze tra la citologia e la diagnosi istologica definitiva si sono progressivamente ridotte.

Conclusioni

L’agoaspirazione sotto guida ecografica eseguita congiuntamente dal radiologo e dal citologo è superiore alla agoaspirazione sotto guida palpatoria. La stretta collaborazione tra radiologo e citologo consente di ottimizzare i risultati.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCO di Radiologia, Università di Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 449, I-34149, Trieste, Italy

    F. Stacul, M. Bertolotto, R. Zappetti & M. A. Cova

  2. UCO di Anatomia Patologica, Università di Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 449, I-34149, Trieste, Italy

    F. Zanconati

Authors
  1. F. Stacul
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  2. M. Bertolotto
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  3. R. Zappetti
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  4. F. Zanconati
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  5. M. A. Cova
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Correspondence to F. Stacul.

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Stacul, F., Bertolotto, M., Zappetti, R. et al. The radiologist and the cytologist in diagnosing thyroid nodules: results of cooperation. Radiol med 112, 597–602 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0156-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0156-2

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