Table 4. FNA vs. CNB Results according to the Final Pathology for Each Size Range.
| Size ≥ 20 mm, < 40 mm (n = 46) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Pathology | Benign (n = 24) | Malignancy (n = 22) | p-Value | Benign (n = 24) | Malignancy (n = 22) | p-Value |
| Biopsy method | FNA | CNB | ||||
| Cytopathologic categories | 0.031 | 0.003 | ||||
| ND | 4 (16.7) | 1 (4.5) | 1 (4.1) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Benign | 9 (37.5) | 2 (9.1) | 7 (29.2) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| AUS/FLUS or indeterminate | 11 (45.8) | 18 (81.9) | 16 (66.7) | 14 (63.6) | ||
| FN or suspicious FN | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Suspicious for malignancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (22.7) | ||
| Malignancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (13.7) | ||
| Dichotomized cytopathologic categories | 0.066 | 0.603 | ||||
| Conclusive | 9 (37.5) | 3 (13.6) | 7 (29.2) | 8 (36.4) | ||
| Inconclusive | 15 (62.5) | 19 (86.4) | 17 (70.8) | 14 (63.6) | ||
| Size ≥ 40 mm (n = 43) | ||||||
| Final Pathology | Benign (n = 35) | Malignancy (n = 8) | Benign (n = 35) | Malignancy (n = 8) | ||
| Cytopathologic categories | 0.001 | 0.003 | ||||
| ND | 3 (8.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Benign | 26 (74.3) | 1 (12.5) | 13 (37.1) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| AUS/FLUS or indeterminate | 5 (14.3) | 5 (62.5) | 21 (60.0) | 5 (62.5) | ||
| FN or suspicious FN | 1 (2.8) | 2 (25.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | ||
| Suspicious for malignancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (25.0) | ||
| Malignancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (12.5) | ||
| Dichotomized cytopathologic categories | 0.028 | 0.985 | ||||
| Conclusive | 27 (77.1) | 3 (37.5) | 13 (37.1) | 3 (37.5) | ||
| Inconclusive | 8 (22.9) | 5 (62.5) | 22 (62.9) | 5 (62.5) | ||
Percentages are in parentheses.
AUS/FLUS = atypia or follicular lesion of undetermined significance, CNB = core needle biopsy, FN = follicular neoplasm, FNA = fine needle aspiration, ND = non-diagnostic, US = ultrasonography