• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.143-146
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• 2004

Background and Object: The role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and frozen section (FS) in management of thyroid neoplasms continues to generate considerable controversy. We reviewed our current experience to determine the clinical utility of FNAC and FS in our surgical management and investigated reliability of FNAC and FS in planning the extent of thyroid resection. Material and Method: 212 patients who had operations for thyroid disease from May 1996 to November 2003 were included our retrospective study. FNAC was undertaken in 175 patients and FS was done in 148 patients. Result: The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 72.1% and 100%, respectively, and those of FS were 67.2% and 100%. The results of FNAC were benign (n=72) , malignancy (n=31), indeterminate (n=9), and nondiagnostic (n=63). The results of FS were benign (n=95), and malignancy (n=53). The 9 indeterminate cases on FNAC were benign (n=6) and malignancy (n=3) on final pathology, and benign (n=7) and malignancy (n=2) on FS. The false negative of FNAC were micro papillary carcinoma (n=6) and follicular carcinoma (n=6). The false negative of FS were micropapillary carcinoma (n=10) and follicular carcinoma (n=2). Conclusion: When results of FNAC are interpreted as indeterminate, FS is a valuable tool. FS is helpful in determining the extent of thyroidectomy when results of FNAC were follicular neoplasm. However we always concerned about micropapillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma although FNAC and FS were benign.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2000

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy between the FNAC and intraopevative frozen biopsy based upon the Final histologic diagnosis. Method: Authors studied 232 cases of thyroid nodule operated at Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University, from January 1992 to December 1998. The medical records of these patients were studied retrospectively. The cytology of FNAC and the frozen section was compared to the final histologic diagnosis. 232 cases were analysed in regard to correlation of FNAC diagnosis and Intraoperative frozen section with final pathology, preoperative thyroid scan, thyroid function test, ultrasonography, final histopathology of the specimens, and surgical operation methods. 174 cases who underwent FNAC for diagnosis before operation, and Intraoperative frozen-section biopsy were classified according to whether the clinical diagnosis was benign, suspicious or malignant and evaluated the specificity sensitivity and accuracy. Result: Comparing with final histopathology, FNAC as a diagnostic test for thyroid nodules demonstrated an accuracy of 81.3%, a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity 86.5% with a false positivity of 2.9%, false negativity of 4.3%, respectively. and Intra-operative frozen section demonstrated an accuracy of 86.8%, a sensitivity of 87.5%, a specificity 92.1%. In the benign lesion, there was no difference in accuracy between FNAC(95.6%) and frozen section(95.1%) but, in the suspicious malignant lesion, frozen section(46.2%) was superior to FNAC(32.0%), and in the malignant disease, FNAC(97.1%) was superior to frozen section(92.3%). Conclusion: Intraoperative frozen section biopsy is useful in patients undergoing surgery for a thyroid nodule with a 'suspicious' malignant lesion and could reduce inadequate extensive excision without missing malignancy and second operation and help to determine the resection margin. It adds no information in patients with a diagnosis of malignancy following FNAC assessment and is of limited use in those in whom a benign lesion is diagnosed.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-59
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• 2003

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been known as a very sensitive and effective method for preoperative diagnosis. We studied cases preoperatively diagnosed by FNAC and confirmed by the histopathologic examination to define the effectiveness of FNAC. A total of 567 cases including breast, thyroid gland, lymph node, and soft tissue confirmed histologically after FNAC were enrolled, among 2,844 FNAC cases from January 1996 to March 2000. Overall sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 93% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of FNAC by sites or organs were 91% and 100% in breast, 100% and 100% in thyroid, 97% and 100% in lymph node, and 71% and 100% in soft tissue, respectively. Nine cases showed diagnostic discrepancy; eight cases of sampling error and one case of interpretation error. Five cases, diagnosed as fibrocystic change at FNAC but invasive ductal carcinoma after the histopathologic examination, were categorized as sampling error due to the presence of diffuse fibrosis or deep seated location. One case of breast, diagnosed descriptively as atypical ductal and stromal cells suggesting invasive ductal carcinoma at FNAC but malignant phyllodes tumor histologically, was categorized as interpretation error. Other cases of sampling errors were two cases of soft tissue, a case of lymph node, and a case of salivary gland.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1993

This study was performed in order to evaluate the accuracy and the usefulness of the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) on the breast lesions, to compare the FNAC findings between fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease, and to determine the accuracy of cytologic Black's nuclear grading. The subjects in this study were 110 cases of FNAC, later confirmed by biopsy, between January 1988 and December 1991. The results are as follows ; 1 Comparison between the results of the FNAC and the histologic findings revealed that FNAC had a sensitivity of 96.6%, a specificity of 100%, a false negative rate of 3.4% a false positive rate of 0.0%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 98.2%. 2 Semi-quantitative evaluation of epithelial celluarity, stroma, and naked nuclei in the smears of aspirate showed high celluarity in 56.7% of the aspirates from fibroadenoma and in 0% of those from fibrocystic disease. Abundant stroma was found in 46.7% of the fibroadenoma and none of fibrocystic disease. Numerous naked nuclei were found in 60% of the fibroadenoma and 4.5% of the fibrocystic disease. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 98% 3. In order to determine the accuracy of Black's nuclear grading of FNAC on breast carcinoma, we retrospectively studied 38 cases of ductal carcinomas diagnosed by FNAC with subsequent histologic confirmation. The concordance rate with histology was 94.7%. These results suggest that FNAC of breast is a diagnostically accurate method, and provide for the preoperative differential diagnosis between fibroadenoma and fibrocystic disease. Our results also suggest that the evaluation of nuclear grading of FNAC can predict clinical outcome and decide the way of management of breast cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1998

To compare the diagnostic yields and complication rates of transthoracic fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) and gun biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary mass, a retrospective review was performed in 125 cases. Under the fluoroscopic guide, FNAC was performed by 20G Chiba needle in 91 cases, core biopsy was done by 18.5 G vaccum needle attached with automated biopsy gun in 74 cases and both procedures were done together in 37 cases. Overall sensitivity was 88.4% in FNAC and 87.5% in gun biopsy. For malignant pulmonary tumors, correct type correlation with final diagnosis was obtained in 33(76.7%) out of 43 cases by FNAC and 30(75.0%) out of 40 cases by gun biopsy. For benign pulmonary lesions, there were correct type correlation in 14(35.0%) out of 40 cases by FNAC and 14(53.8%) out of 26 cases by gun biopsy. The complication was pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Pneumothorax occured in 11.1% of FNAC, 10.9% of gun biopsy and 10.9% of both technique, among which chest tube drainages were necessary in one patient by gun biopsy and in three patients by both technique. Although no significant difference of diagnositc accuracy and complication rate was found between FNAC and gun biopsy, gun biopsy was more helpful in the diagnosis of pulmonary benign lesions than FNAC.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 1999

Objectives: Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) is a well established preoperative diagnostic procedure in the thyroid nodules. However, diagnostic accuracy of FNAC varies according to the size and the structural characteristics of thyroid nodule. We performed the ultrasound guided FNAC(US-guided FNAC) for impalpable thyroid nodule, and estimated the sampling accuracy rate through a comparison study between the cytologic diagnosis and the final histologic diagnosis of the postoperative specimens in order to determine clinical efficacy of the US-guided FNAC. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 117 patients underwent US-guided FNAC from January 1997 to December 1998. These patients had 129 thyroid nodules to need cytologic examination. Whereas the nodules were so no graphically classified into cystic, solid, and mixed type according to echo pattern, the aspirated thyroid specimens were classified into benign, malignant, suspicious, and insufficient. Results: Positive sampling for diagnositc examination was achieved in 75 nodules(58.1%), and US-guided FNAC in our study showed the accuracy rate of 95.2%, false positivity rate of 0%, and false negativity rate of 5.5%. Conclusions: US-guided FNAC is a powerful techniques for evaluating cytologic characterics and allowing a reliable diagnositc result in the impalpable thyroid nodule. However, the experienced technique is recommanded in order to obtain the sufficient samples for reliable results.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2000

Cathepsin D is a protease which is known to facilitate invasion and metastasis of breast carcinoma. Overexpression of cathepsin D is associated with poor clinical outcome and biologic aggressiveness of the breast cancer. We underwent immunocytochemical assay(ICA) for cathepsin D in fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) specimens from the breast carcinoma and benign breast diseases. In FNAC specimens cathepsin D was expressed in 21(42.9%) out of 49 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, whereas negative result was observed in all 15 cases of benign breast diseases including 7 fibroadenomas, 6 fibrocystic diseases, and 2 benign ductal hyperplasias. Among the 11 FNAC specimens from ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS), cathepsin D was expressed in 3 cases(27.3%). In FNAC specimens immunocytochemistry for cathepsin D showed positive result in 24 out of 60 carcinomas(sensitivity, 40%) and negative result in 15 out of all 15 benign breast diseases(specificity, 100%). No significant correlation was noted between cathepsin D expression in FNAC specimen and clinicohistological characteristics of the breast carcinoma, such as hormone receptors and cell differentiation. In conclusion, ICA of cathepsin D in FNAC specimens thought to be a good adjunct to differentiate malignancy from benign breast diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2000

Pulmonary hamartomas are uncommon benign tumors, usually discovered radiologically as a solitary coin lesion in asymptomatic individual. The approach to the patient with a peripheral lung nodule has changed with the increasing acceptance of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) as a rapid, safe, inexpensive, and highly accurate diagnostic tool. However, a few reports describing the FNAC findings of pulmonary hamarioma have appeared in the cytologic literature and the experience of FNAC is limited. We reviewed all 9 cases of pulmonary hamartoma with histologic confirmation after FNAC seen at Asan Medical Center since 1995 to evaluate cytologic findings and to determine the value of FNAC in identifying that lesion. Originally, seven of nine patients were diagnosed as pulmonary hamartoma, while two patients were diagnosed as inflammatory lesion and adenocarcinoma of each. On review, eight of nine patients were considered as diagnostic of pulmonary hamartoma. The diagnostic findings in FNAC of pulmonary hamartoma were the presence of fibrillary myxoid tissue with spindle cells as well as hyaline cartilage.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2006

Purpose : There are few reports in Korean literature on the diagnostic efficacy of fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) for pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy. This study examined the diagnostic value of FNAC on cervical lymphadenopathy in children. Methods : Data from 57 pediatric patients(aged 0.3 to 14 years) who underwent FNAC due to cervical lymphadenopathy between January 2001 and March 2005 was reviewed retrospectively. Results : Reactive cervical lymphadenitis was the most common result of the FNAC(52.5 percent). Malignant disease were revealed in 14 percent of all cases. The sensitivity, specificity was 86 percent and 96 percent, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for malignant disease was 75 percent and 98 percent, respectively. There were two false-positive cases on FNAC; one case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and another with infectious mononucleosis. A false-negative case on FNAC was found to be acute lymphocytic leukemia. In seven cases(12 percent), the final diagnosis was confirmed by an open biopsy after the FNAC. There were four FNAC cases where the specimen was not satisfactory for making a diagnosis(7 percent). There were no serious complications of the FNAC procedure. Conclusion : FNAC had a high diagnostic efficacy for evaluating children with cervical lymphadenopathy.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 1996

Fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) is preferred because of simplicity, safety, and reliability in the evaluation of patients with thyroid nodule or hyperplasia. However, there are a few limitations such as false-negative or false-positive cases and non-diagnostic material. To evaluate the usefulness of FNAC in thyroid lesions, we reviewed 704 FNAC cases of thyroid nodules from 1988 to 1994 at Soonchunhyang University Hospital. The results are as follows. 1. Among 704 FNAC cases of thyroid gland, 571(81.1%) cases were benign, 12(1.7%) were suspicious, 71(10.1%) were malignancy, and 50(7.1%) were material insufficiency. The cytologic diagnoses of the benign lesions included 168 cases of follicular neoplasm, 139 cases of adenomatous goiter, 162 cases of follicular lesion such as follicular neoplasm or adenomatous goiter, 61 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 13 cases of subacute thyroiditis, and 28 cases of colloidal nodule or benign nodule. The malignant lesions included 68 cases of papillary carcinona, two medullary carcinomas and a case of metastatic colon cancer. 2. The average number of cytologic smear slides was $4.12{\pm}1.81$ in material insufficiency and $5.63{\pm}1.79$ in diagnostic cases. This difference was statistically significant(p<0.00001). 3. Histological assessment of 150 cases revealed 2 false negative and 1 false positive cases. The false negative cases were a case of marked sclerosis in papillary carcinoma and an occult case of papillary carcinoma. The false positive case resulted from pseudo-ground glass nuclei due to marked dry artifact. 4. Comparison between the FNAC and the histologic diagnosis revealed that FNAC had a sensitivity of 93.5%, a specificity of 99.2%, a false negative rate of 6.6%, a false positive rate of 0.8%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 98.0%. Therefore, FNAC of thyroid gland is a very reliable diagnostic method with excellent accuracy rate.