BACKGROUND: False-positive, false-negative, and indeterminate fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy results complicate the management of @entity1 with thyroid nodules. METHODS: Thyroid FNA results from 240 consecutive @entity1 (seen 1991 to 2002) were categorized into four groups: positive for @entity5 , negative for @entity5 , indeterminate for @entity5 , and nondiagnostic. Indeterminate results included @entity5 , H  rthle cell @entity5 , and suspicious for @entity1377 . The FNA results were compared with histopathologic analysis after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: The FNA results were 76 (32%) positive for @entity5 , 53 (22%) negative for @entity5 , 100 (42%) indeterminate for @entity5 , and 11 (5%) nondiagnostic. There were 3 (4%) false-positive and 2 (4%) false-negative FNA results. Among the 100 indeterminate FNA results, @entity189 was found in 11 (15%) of 73 @entity5 , 2 (20%) of 10 H  rthle cell neoplasms, and 14 (82%) of 17 suspicious for @entity1377 . For the 73 @entity1 with @entity5 , nodule diameter >2 cm was associated with an increased risk of @entity5 (P <0.03). CONCLUSIONS: False-negative FNA results are uncommon, supporting the practice of observation in most of these @entity1 . Among those with indeterminate biopsy results, high-risk subgroups include @entity1 with FNA results suspicious for @entity1377 and @entity5 >2 cm.

Fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid and correlation with histopathology in a contemporary series of 240 XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1377 :: ('MESH:D002291', 'Disease') :: ['papillary carcinoma'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['carcinoma'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['follicular neoplasms', 'follicular neoplasm', 'malignancy', 'neoplasm']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
