My biopsy result does not show any evidence for cancer cells, but my physician still suggests I consider surgery. What are the chances that I might have cancer?
The answer to this question depends on the size of the thyroid nodule, the ultrasound findings, the rate of growth, family history, presence or absence of associated risk factors, clinical findings and history, and the actual findings on biopsy. In summary, it is not possible to give a uniform answer to this question that applies to all patients. Nevertheless, patients need to be aware that biopsies are not always 100% reliable as sole predictors of the presence or absence of cancer. For example, in one study from the Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, fine needle aspiration biopsy correctly identified only 50% of the cancers that were confirmed later at surgery Role of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and frozen section analysis in the surgical management of thyroid tumors. Ann Surg Oncol. 2001 Mar;8(2):92-100. Similarly, patients with previous exposure to radiation may have a higher rate of “false negative” biopsy results, as suggested in Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in patie
