Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: FNA (fine needle aspiration) is a highly sensitive and specific procedure in evaluating of thyroid nodules. There are several options for processing the FNA specimen such as direct smears, cell block preparations (CBP) and liquid base preparations (LBP); the latter has become more popular due to its easy transport, fast protocol and also the possibility to study different parts of the specimen. In this study, we compare the results of cell block and liquid base preparation in the same samples.

Design and methods: FNA performed for 80 patients with minimally 1 cm diameter solitary nodule or a prominent nodule on a multinodular background (excluding hot nodules), the obtained samples used to prepare direct smears, cell blocks and liquid preparations. The microscopic results recorded considering the following: cellularity, blood, colloid and macrophages.

Results: Forty-five of the samples (56.25%) show the same results in both CBP & LBP which confirmed direct smear findings. In 11 samples (13.75%), the CBPs, and in 24 samples (30%) the LBPs were more informative and diagnostic.

Conclusion: Totally in about 70% of cases, LBC method had sufficient diagnostic microscopic data so the liquid base method should be trusted due to its easier procedure & cleaner slide background. It could be used instead of CBP and in association with direct smears for precise evaluation of thyroid nodules.