Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Cytology Quality in Thyroid Nodules with 22-, 23-, and 25-Gauge Needles

Table 3

Specimen scores of 25-, 23-, and 22-gauge needles in FNA and FNC.

Scores	No. of thyroid nodules (%)
	FNA				FNC
	25 G	23 G	22 G	value	25 G	23 G	22 G	value
0-2 points	34 (14.17)	47 (19.58)	37 (15.42)	0.027	30 (12.50)	45 (18.75)	42 (17.50)	0.192
3-5 points	79 (32.92)	95 (39.58)	94 (39.17)		113 (47.08)	112 (46.67)	102 (42.50)
6-8 points	127 (52.92)^a	98 (40.83)^a	109 (45.42)		97 (40.42)	83 (34.58)	96 (40.00)

FNA: fine-needle aspiration; FNC: fine-needle capillary sampling. ^a (significant difference between 25 G and 23 G in FNA).