Open AccessUltrasound‐Guided Fine‐Needle Biopsy of First 1000 Consecutive Thyroid Nodules: Single‐Surgeon Experience
Author(s) -
Dhingra Jagdish K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
oto open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2473-974X
DOI - 10.1177/2473974x20929008
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid nodules , nodule (geology) , otorhinolaryngology , radiology , biopsy , ultrasound , thyroid , sampling (signal processing) , surgery , paleontology , computer vision , biology , filter (signal processing) , computer science
Objective To study the feasibility, safety, and learning curve of ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle biopsy (USGFNB) performed by a newly trained otolaryngologist in a community office in a setting. Study Design Collect USGFNB data of all thyroid nodules in a prospective manner. Setting A dedicated ultrasound clinic in a large community‐based practice, operated by a single surgeon with the purpose of providing office‐based point‐of‐care diagnostic ultrasonography and USGFNB. Subjects and Methods Data on the first 1000 unselected consecutive thyroid nodules that underwent USGFNB over a 3‐year period were analyzed. Chi‐square analysis was used to assess the statistical significance of characteristics of diagnostic vs nondiagnostic nodules. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine nodule characteristics predictive of adequate sampling. Diagnostic yield and time efficiency data were plotted over a 3‐year period to study the learning curve for the USGFNB procedure performed by an operator with no previous experience. Results A total of 1000 nodules in 734 patients including 142 males and 592 females (age range, 17‐87 years) were studied. Of the patients, 188 of 734 had more than 1 nodule biopsied, with a maximum of 4 nodules biopsied in 1 setting. The procedure was successfully completed in all patients, with no major complications. A steep learning curve was observed, and adequate samples were obtained in 91.9% of the patients on the first attempt. The cystic nature of the nodule was the biggest predictor of a nondiagnostic yield. Conclusions Otolaryngologist‐performed USGFNB of the thyroid is safe, effective, and desirable.