Gainesville Cytological Adequacy Assessment of FNA
Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an accurate and relatively precise tool for the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy.
In-house assessment of sample size ensures enough cells are collected during FNA at Accent.
Thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an accurate and relatively precise tool for the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy.
First, a small needle is inserted just under the skin (guided by ultrasound imaging). A sampling of cells from the target nodule is taken. These cells are then evaluated for cancerous tissue.
The number of thyroid cells available for evaluation sometimes limits the results of the FNA biopsies. Previously, several needle passes had to be performed to limit the chances of an insufficient sample – if the sample isn’t sufficient, it would then require you to repeat the entire process.
A better solution to this problem of an insufficient sample is for endocrinologists to perform cytological adequacy assessment of the FNA samples in-office. Slides are prepared and stained, and our endocrinologist can review them microscopically to determine if an adequate number of cells were obtained.
A cytology adequacy assessment benefits both you and the endocrinologist by ensuring the sample is adequate while you are still in the office and before it’s sent off to the lab. Because of the cytology adequacy assessment, you will not have to worry about interrupting your schedule to return to the office to repeat the test due to an inadequate sample size.
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid has been recognized as a first-line screening test for patients with thyroid nodules. As a result of FNA, more thyroid cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. The earlier a problem is caught, the better the chances for a positive outcome for you.
Because diagnoses and diagnostic categories were defined differently between institutions and even individuals in the same institution, standardized terminology for the cytologic diagnosis of thyroid FNA was needed, especially for use of certain categories of diagnosis.
Thus, a uniform approach for the reporting of thyroid cytology was developed for the assessment of specimen adequacy, diagnostic criteria, and reporting format. The result included six diagnostic categories for thyroid FNA cytology:
Benign
Malignant (cancer)
Suspicious for malignancy
Atypia of Undetermined Significance (AUS) or Follicular Lesion of undetermined Significance (FLUS)
Follicular neoplasm (FN) or "suspicious for follicular neoplasm"
Non-diagnostic
Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a diagnostic procedure used to assess thyroid nodules and lymph nodes in the neck to check for lumps, masses, or other signs of thyroid cancer. Because an FNA biopsy is safer and less invasive than open surgical biopsies, it is a common technique doctors used to investigate and diagnose thyroid diseases and disorders for those suffering from symptoms associated with thyroid disorders.
We are confident that our team of Endocrine and ENT physicians will provide you with the most up-to-date treatments available for your thyroid problem. Each of our endocrinologists are Fellowship trained, with expertise in real-time bedside Ultrasound examinations of the thyroid gland.
If you have any questions or comments, or if you want to learn more about the services we provide, please call us at (352) 372-9414. To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced doctors, contact us today!
Accent Endocrinology | 4340 Newberry Road, Suite 301 | Gainesville, FL 32607 | Map | Tel: (352) 372-9414