Table 4.
Comparison of inconclusive results among FNA, CNB, and combined FNA/CNB
| Diagnosis (category) | FNA | CNB | FNA/CNB | P-value |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNA vs. CNB | FNA vs. FNA/CNB | CNB vs. FNA/CNB | ||||
| All nodules (n=782) | ||||||
| Nondiagnostic (I) | 103 (13.2) | 16 (2.0) | 11 (1.4) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.063 |
| AUS/FLUS (III) | 82 (10.5) | 64 (8.2) | 40 (5.1) | 0.076 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Inconclusive (I+III) | 185 (23.7) | 80 (10.2) | 51 (6.5) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Nodule size <1 cm (n=356) | ||||||
| Nondiagnostic (I) | 53 (14.9) | 7 (2.0) | 6 (1.7) | <0.001 | <0.001 | >0.999 |
| AUS/FLUS (III) | 44 (12.4) | 30 (8.4) | 20 (5.6) | 0.059 | <0.001 | 0.006 |
| Inconclusive (I+III) | 97 (27.2) | 37 (10.4) | 26 (7.3) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.003 |
| Nodule size ≥1 cm (n=426) | ||||||
| Nondiagnostic (I) | 50 (11.7) | 9 (2.1) | 5 (1.2) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 0.125 |
| AUS/FLUS (III) | 38 (8.9) | 34 (8.0) | 20 (4.7) | 0.652 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Inconclusive (I+III) | 88 (20.7) | 43 (10.1) | 25 (5.9) | <0.001 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
Values are presented as number (%).
FNA, fine-needle aspiration; CNB, core needle biopsy; AUS/FLUS, atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance.