Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27294815›Full record

ReviewDeutsches Arzteblatt international2016

Fine Needle Aspiration in the Investigation of Thyroid Nodules.

Joachim Feldkamp, Dagmar Führer, Markus Luster, Thomas J Musholt, Christine Spitzweg, Matthias Schott

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 65 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
65citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
5.4field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

65 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 100 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. [Update of the S2k guidelines : Surgical treatment of benign thyroid diseases].Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift fur alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen · 2018
    Guideline
  3. Differentiated Thyroid Cancer-Treatment: State of the Art.International journal of molecular sciences · 2017
    Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Development and validation of a theoretical test for ultrasound-guided biopsy competence in the head and neck.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
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5 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Joachim FeldkampClinic for General Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetology, Pneumology, and Infectiology; Bielefeld Clinical Centre, Germany, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders, Essen University Hospital, Germany, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Philipps University Marburg, Germany, Department of General, Abdominal and Transplantation Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, Department of Internal Medicine II, Hospital of the University of Munich, Germany, Division of Special Endocrinology, University Hospital of Düsseldorf.
Markus Luster
Thomas J Musholt
Christine Spitzweg
Matthias Schott
Klinikum Bielefeld · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThyroid nodules are a common finding in Germany. Most are benign; thyroid cancer is very rare. The challenge for the physician is to diagnose malignant tumors early. Fine needle aspiration is an important tool for this purpose.

methodsThis review is based on pertinent articles (1980-2014) retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on the current recommendations of guidelines issued by the specialty societies in Germany and abroad.

resultsClinical, ultrasonographic, and scintigraphic criteria are used to identify high-risk nodules, which are then further studied by fine needle aspiration. Important ultrasonographic criteria for malignancy are low echodensity (positive predictive value [PPV]: 1.85), microcalcifications (PPV: 3.65), irregular borders (PPV: 3.76), and intense vascularization. Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland is an inexpensive and technically straight - forward diagnostic procedure that causes little discomfort for the patient. It helps prevent unnecessary thyroid surgery and is used to determine the proper surgical strategy if malignancy is suspected. The cytological study of fine needle aspirates enables highly precise diagnosis of many tumor entities, but follicular neoplasia can only be diagnosed histologically. In the near future, molecular genetic methods will probably extend the diagnostic range of fine needle aspiration beyond what is currently achievable with classic cytology.

conclusionFine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland in experienced hands is an easily performed diagnostic procedure with very little associated risk. It should be performed on ultrasonographically suspect nodules for treatment stratification and before any operation for an unclear nodular change in the thyroid gland.

Indexed as

AdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiopsy, Fine-NeedleDiagnosis, DifferentialEvidence-Based MedicineFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPrevalenceReproducibility of ResultsRisk FactorsSensitivity and SpecificityThyroid Gland

Identifiers

PMID27294815
PMCPMC4906830
OpenAlexW2504018549

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.