Rapid On-Site Evaluation With Telecytology Significantly Reduced Unsatisfactory Rates of Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration|: A Case-Control Study

• Published in: American journal of clinical pathology 2020-03, Vol.153 (3), p.342-345
• Main Authors: Lin, Diana M, Tracht, Jessica, Rosenblum, Frida, Kouba, Erik, Bahl, Deepti, Patel, Anish, Eltoum, Isam-Eldin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biopsy; Biopsy, Needle; Diagnosis, Ultrasonic; Methods; Onsite; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0002-9173; 1943-7722
• DOI: 10.1093/AJCP/AQZ164

Objectives: We evaluated telecytology rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) for thyroid ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first case-control clinical trial of thyroid telecytology. Methods: We introduced on-site ROSE in our institution's thyroid clinic for 6 months, followed by telecytology for 12 months. Our institution's ultrasound clinic, where ROSE is not provided, was used as a control group for each period. Results: Both groups had similar initial unsatisfactory rates (thyroid clinic: 8.8%; ultrasound clinic: 8.0%) before the study began. The thyroid clinic's unsatisfactory rate was significantly reduced to 1.6% after on-site ROSE (P = .001) and to 3.8% after telecytology ROSE (P = .010), with no significant difference between on-site and telecytology ROSE periods (P > .05). The ultrasound clinic's unsatisfactory rate was unchanged for both periods. Concordance between telecytology ROSE and final adequacy was 97% ([kappa] = 0.699). Conclusions: Telecytology ROSE reduces unsatisfactory rates for ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration without compromising patient care. Key Words: Telecytology; Thyroid; Adequacy; Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE); Fine-needle aspiration