Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32775261›Full record

ArticleGland surgery2020

Determining whether surgeons perform thyroid fine-needle aspiration as well as radiologists: an analysis of the adequacy and efficiency of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration performed by newly trained head and neck surgeons and radiologists.

Jiaxin Wang, Yanli Zhu, Yuntao Song, Guohui Xu, Hao Yu, Tianxiao Wang, Bin Zhang

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gland surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 36% 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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Jiaxin WangKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Yanli ZhuKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Yuntao SongKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Guohui XuKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Hao YuKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Tianxiao WangKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Bin ZhangKey Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
Peking University Cancer Hospital · CNPeking University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUltrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a crucial diagnostic technique used to assess thyroid nodules. In the past, ultrasound-guided FNA was performed mainly by radiologists. However, many surgeons are increasingly being trained for this procedure now. In this study, we aimed to compare the adequacy and efficiency of ultrasound-guided FNA performed by newly trained head and neck surgeons with experienced radiologists in a single institution. We also assessed the malignancy rates in nondiagnostic nodules and the differences between benign and malignant nodules.

methodsThis is a retrospective study. The data from patients who underwent ultrasound-guided FNA performed by surgeons or radiologists in two consecutive years were collected. Medical records, cytology results, and surgical pathology results were analyzed.

resultsDuring the study period, a total of 2,405 ultrasound-guided FNAs were performed on 2,163 patients. The head and neck surgeons and radiologists performed 1,132 and 1,273 ultrasound-guided FNA procedures, respectively. The nondiagnostic rate was 14.49% for surgeons and 15.40% for radiologists (P=0.533). There were no differences in patient age, gender, nodule size, and other sonographic characteristics between the groups of patients who were treated by radiologists versus surgeons. The median waiting time from biopsy appointment to performing ultrasound-guided FNA was 0 days for head and neck surgeons, and 6 days for radiologists (P<0.001). Of the 40 patients who had a repeat FNA or surgery, 19 (47.50%) had a malignancy. Preoperative information about age, gender, operator, and characteristics of nodules did not predict the outcome of nodules with Bethesda category I.

conclusionsThe adequacy of ultrasound-guided FNAs performed by head and neck surgeons is similar to that of skilled radiologists, while surgeons are more efficient than radiologists. Nondiagnostic FNA reports should not be considered benign, and repeat FNA or selective surgical treatment is recommended.

Indexed as

Biopsy, fine-needleradiologistssurgeonsthyroid nodule

Identifiers

PMID32775261
PMCPMC7347813
OpenAlexW3016240409

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Registered trials

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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.