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. 2015 Aug;3(4):343–352. doi: 10.1177/2050640615577533

Table 3.

Histopathological findings in FNA and FNB groups according to needle passes

FNA group: 1st pass only versus FNB group: 1st pass only
FNA group: all passes versus FNB group: 1st pass only
FNA group: all passes versus FNB group: all passes
FNA FNB p FNA FNB p FNA FNB p
N of cells (C/SA) 0.04 0.09 0.03
Fair < 100 10 (20%) 2 (4%) 6 (12%) 2 (4%) 6 (12%) 0 (0)
Good 100 to 1000 13 (26%) 14 (28%) 20 (40%) 14 (28%) 20 (40%) 24 (48%)
Excellent > 1000 27 (54%) 34 (68%) 24 (48%) 34 (68%) 24 (48%) 26 (52%)
Microfragments
Present 9 (18%) 30 (60%)  < 0.001 16 (32%) 30 (60%) 0.008 16 (32%) 38 (76%)  < 0.001
Mean number ± SD 1.56 ± 0.73 2.53 ± 2.7 0.29 0.7 ±  1.3 1.5 ±  2.4 0.57 0.7 ±  1.3 2.3 ±  2.0 0.10
Mean size ± SD 1.54 ± 0.68 1.6 ±  1.0 0.88 0.5 ±  0.8 1.0 ±  1.1 0.53 0.5 ±  0.8 1.2 ±  1.0 0.58
Tumoral cells (SA/S) 0.30 0.17 0.70
Absent 15 (30%) 9 (18%) 7 (14%) 9 (18%) 7 (14%) 5 (10%)
Minimal < 25% 22 (44%) 24 (48%) 32 (64%) 24 (48%) 32 (64%) 33 (66%)
Moderate 25–50% 11 (22%) 11 (22%) 10 (20%) 11 (22%) 10 (20%) 9 (18%)
Significant > 50% 2 (4%) 6 (12%) 1 (2%) 6 (12%) 1 (2%) 3 (6%)
Blood content (SA/S) 0.17 0.001 0.06
Absent 9 (18%) 4 (8%) 2 (4%) 4 (8%) 2 (4%) 0
Minimal <25% 24 (48%) 19 (38%) 28 (56%) 19 (38%) 28 (56%) 22 (44%)
Moderate 25–50% 8 (16%) 11 (22%) 18 (36%) 11 (22%) 18 (36%) 19 (38%)
Significant >50% 9 (18%) 16 (32%) 2 (4%) 16 (32%) 2 (4%) 9 (18%)
Digestive contamination (SA/S) 0.6 0.41 0.43
No contamination 25 (50%) 23 (46%) 21 (42%) 23 (46%) 21 (42%) 15 (30%)
Contamination <25% 23 (46%) 22 (44%) 27 (54%) 22 (44%) 27 (54%) 33 (66%)
Contamination 25–50% 2 (4%) 5 (10%) 2 (4%) 5 (10%) 2 (4%) 2 (4%)
Necrotic tissue (SA/S) 0.42 0.005 0.13
Absent 14 (28%) 19 (38%) 5 (10%) 19 (38%) 5 (10%) 9 (18%)
Minimal < 25% 23 (46%) 23 (46%) 34 (68%) 23 (46%) 34 (68%) 37 (74%)
Moderate 25–50% 7 (14%) 6 (12%) 10 (20%) 6 (12%) 10 (20%) 3 (6%)
Significant > 50% 6 (12%) 2 (4%) 1 (2%) 2 (4%) 1 (2%) 1 (2%)
Inadequate for analysis 13 (26%) 3 (6%) 0.001 5 (10%) 3 (6%) 0.15 5 (10%) 0 (0%) 0.02

C/SA: cells per surface area; FNA: fine needle aspiration; FNB: fine needle biopsy; NS: not significant; SA/S: surface area per slide; SD: standard deviation