Comparative Application of 5 mL Syringe and 22G PTC Needles in Thyroid Nodule Fine-Needle Aspiration

Abstract

This study aims to compare the differences in sampling satisfaction rates between 5 mL syringe and 22G percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) needles in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to provide economical and reasonable needle selection. From January 2021 to March 2022, 187 patients with thyroid nodules (a total of 200 nodules) who underwent ultrasound-guided FNA were punctured using 22G PTC and 5 mL syringe needles once for each nodule, and the sample was sent for pathological examination. The sample satisfaction rate of the two methods was statistically analyzed, and factors affecting the sample satisfaction rate were determined. Results demonstrated that the overall sample satisfaction rates of 5 mL syringes and 22G PTC needles were 83% and 85% (P>0.05), respectively. The satisfaction rates of the two specimens were 92.6% and 91.1% (P>0.05) among 136 nodules with poor blood supply. For 64 nodules with rich blood supply, the satisfaction rate of both specimens was significantly lower than that of the nodule with poor blood supply (P<0.05), and that of the 5 mL syringe needle was significantly lower than that of the latter (62.5% vs. 71.8%, P<0.05). The results suggest that satisfactory sampling results can be obtained using either a 5 mL syringe or 22G PTC needles. The 22G PTC needle is more likely to yield FNA results if the nodule is rich in blood supply.