Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a different sample preparation protocol for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid nodules established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: From April 2020, conventional smears during FNAC were ceased according to World Health Organization recommendations due to the increased infection risk for operators, and a new protocol using only liquid-based cytology (LBC) was adopted. FNACs performed between April and July 2020 (COVID-19 group) were retrospectively compared with those from December 2019 through March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19 group). The distribution of diagnoses based on SIAPEC-IAP categories and the concordance between cytological and histological results were compared using the chi-squared test. Results: Categories based on FNAC for 90 and 82 thyroid nodules in the Pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups showed no significant difference in distribution (P =.081), with the following respective cases (and percentages): TIR1, 7 (8%) and 8 (10%); TIR1C, 0 (0%) and 6 (7%); TIR2, 59 (66%) and. 55 (67%); TIR3A, 8 (9%) and 5 (6%); TIR3B, 1 (1%) and 2 (3%); TIR4, 5 (6%) and 1 (1%); and TIR5, 10 (12%) and 5 (7%). Among patients with potentially malignant lesions, surgery was performed for 12/16 (75%) nodules in the Pre-COVID-19 and 7/8 (88%) nodules in the COVID-19 groups, with no significant differences between cytological and histological diagnoses (P =.931). Conclusion: The new LBC-only protocol provided similar diagnostic accuracy in comparison with conventional smears, and can be effectively applied during a viral pandemic improving operator safety.

Changes in thyroid fine needle aspiration practice during the COVID-19 pandemic / D. Rossi, A. Belotti, C. di Tonno, V. Midolo, F.A. Maffini, L. Nicosia, E. De Fiori, G. Mauri. - In: CYTOPATHOLOGY. - ISSN 0956-5507. - 32:6(2021 Nov), pp. 732-737. [10.1111/cyt.13020]

Changes in thyroid fine needle aspiration practice during the COVID-19 pandemic

D. Rossi
Primo
;
G. Mauri
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of a different sample preparation protocol for fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of thyroid nodules established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: From April 2020, conventional smears during FNAC were ceased according to World Health Organization recommendations due to the increased infection risk for operators, and a new protocol using only liquid-based cytology (LBC) was adopted. FNACs performed between April and July 2020 (COVID-19 group) were retrospectively compared with those from December 2019 through March 2020 (Pre-COVID-19 group). The distribution of diagnoses based on SIAPEC-IAP categories and the concordance between cytological and histological results were compared using the chi-squared test. Results: Categories based on FNAC for 90 and 82 thyroid nodules in the Pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups showed no significant difference in distribution (P =.081), with the following respective cases (and percentages): TIR1, 7 (8%) and 8 (10%); TIR1C, 0 (0%) and 6 (7%); TIR2, 59 (66%) and. 55 (67%); TIR3A, 8 (9%) and 5 (6%); TIR3B, 1 (1%) and 2 (3%); TIR4, 5 (6%) and 1 (1%); and TIR5, 10 (12%) and 5 (7%). Among patients with potentially malignant lesions, surgery was performed for 12/16 (75%) nodules in the Pre-COVID-19 and 7/8 (88%) nodules in the COVID-19 groups, with no significant differences between cytological and histological diagnoses (P =.931). Conclusion: The new LBC-only protocol provided similar diagnostic accuracy in comparison with conventional smears, and can be effectively applied during a viral pandemic improving operator safety.
COVID-19; cytology; fine needle aspiration; surgery; thyroid; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroid Nodule; SARS-CoV-2
Settore MED/36 - Diagnostica per Immagini e Radioterapia
nov-2021
16-giu-2021
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/891031
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