Sensitivity and specificity test of fine needle aspiration biopsy in determining thyroid nodule diagnosis

Abstract

Based on guideline of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist, fine needle aspiration (FNA) is believed
as effective method to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodule. At Dr. Sardjito Hospital,during
2004 – 2008 there were 12 cases of false negative from 14 cases of thyroid malignancy. The high false negative
value raised question about the role of FNA in determining thyroid nodule diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to
find out sensitivity and specificity of FNA in determining thyroid nodule diagnosis at Dr. Sardjito Hospital Yogyakarta.
Patients underwent FNA and surgery for thyroid nodule were collected between January 2004 until December
2008. The result of FNAwas compared to histopathological result then sensitivity and specificity test were performed
respectively. The fine needle aspiration was conducted to 120 patients. It consist of 23 men and 97 women, mostly
41 – 50 years old. The results of FNA were four of malignancy, 74 of benign, and 42 of follicular neoplasm.
Histopathological result showed malignant in 23 patients and benign in 97 patients. The FNA at Dr. Sardjito Hospital
showed 14.29%of sensitivity, 96.86%of specificity, 50%of PPV, 83.78% of NPV, 4.55 of LR +0.884 of LR-,
18.92% of prevalence, and 86.49% of accuracy. The thyroid FNA at Dr. Sardjito Hospital showed low value of
sensitivity and high value of specificity. Futhermore, the thyroid FNA showed minimal role in determining thyroid
nodule diagnosis.
Keywords : thyroid nodule-diagnosis-fine needle aspiration-sensitivity-specificity