Thyroid nodules have a high incidence in the population. This study aims to observe the value of the association between the aspiration and non-aspiration biopsy and to compare the obtained cytology by these two techniques. Sixty-one patients with thyroid nodules were selected and underwent ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsies by both techniques. Quality of the obtained material was analyzed by two independent pathologists, according to five criteria. There was no difference between the techniques regarding the sum of the points of the criteria when they were analyzed together or separately (p>0.05). The kappa index between the techniques was very small (k=0.13). There was no significant difference between techniques when they were compared to the sum of the criteria according to the pathologists (p>0.05). The non-aspiration technique was superior to the aspiration one in the hyperechogenic nodules (p<0.05). The techniques provided similar quality material and the association of both techniques reduced the number of false diagnoses.
Thyroid nodule; Biopsy; Ultrasound; Thyroid cancer
