This article precises the technical conditions of fine-needle aspiration, elements of microscopical analyses which establish the diagnostic, complementary technics, specially immunocytochemistry that could enhance the performance. Limits and worrisome histologic changes following fine needle aspiration are also discussed. Fine needle aspiration results are discussed. The text is fully illustrated.

OBJECTIVES To review the accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in diagnosing non-toxic thyroid nodules and determine what factors are predictive of malignancy in patients with indeterminate cytology results. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS Patients with non-toxic thyroid nodules undergoing thyroidectomy from December 1999 to December 2003. ...

BACKGROUND Fine needle aspiration is an accurate technique to diagnose metastatic melanoma. Few reports exist in the literature describing its usefulness in many patients with melanoma confirmed by open biopsy. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the utility and predictive value of fine needle aspiration in patients with malignant melanoma who presented with lesions suspected...

Fine-needle aspiration cytology guided by ultrasound imaging is a widely used diagnostic tool to evaluate neoplastic or inflammatory lesions of salivary glands. From February 2002 to February 2008 all the parotid lesions removed surgically in our Unit of Otolaryngology were reviewed. Study focused on sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and Kappa statistics ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Two 22G needles with similar designs, apart from the absence (A) or presence of a side port (B), are available for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA). The side port was designed to increase diagnostic yield but this advantage was unproven. This study evaluated the difference in diagnostic yield between both needles in pancreatic masses. P...