TY - JOUR T1 - Modified Core Biopsy Technique to Increase Diagnostic Yields for Well-Circumscribed Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: A Retrospective Analysis JF - American Journal of Neuroradiology JO - Am. J. Neuroradiol. DO - 10.3174/ajnr.A4650 AU - S. Han AU - J.H. Shin AU - S.Y. Hahn AU - Y.L. Oh Y1 - 2016/02/04 UR - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2016/02/04/ajnr.A4650.abstract N2 - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The results of conventional core biopsy for some thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology have still remained indeterminate. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy technique containing the nodule, capsular portion, and surrounding parenchyma was more effective than a conventional method in enhancing diagnostic yield for circumscribed solid thyroid nodules without malignant sonographic features.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective comparative study evaluated 26 thyroid nodules in 26 consecutive patients between 2006 and 2010. They were biopsied by using a conventional method, and 61 nodules from 60 patients were biopsied by using a modified ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy technique in 2013. The patients enrolled in this study presented with circumscribed solid thyroid nodules without malignant sonographic features, classified as nondiagnostic or atypia/follicular lesions of undetermined significance at previous cytology. The ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy results of the 2 groups were compared.RESULTS: The rate of inconclusive ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy results was 34.6% (9/26) in the conventional group and 11.4% (7/61) in the modified technique group (P = .018). There was no significant difference in the mean size of the nodules between the 2 groups (P = .134). The malignancy rate was 33% (3/9) for the conventional group and 52% (27/52) for the modified technique group (P = .473). The most common malignant pathology was a follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma and follicular adenoma was the most common benign lesion.CONCLUSIONS: For circumscribed solid nodules without malignant sonographic features with indeterminate cytology, the ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy technique containing the nodule, capsular portion, and surrounding parenchyma is more effective in diagnostic yield compared with a conventional method that biopsies the intranodular portion.AbbreviationsAUS/FLUSatypia or follicular lesions of undetermined significanceCNBcore needle biopsyFNAultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspirationPTCpapillary thyroid carcinomaUSultrasonography ER -