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

Table 1

Scoring system for specimen quality analysis for thyroid nodules.

Smear parameters and quality description	Scores
Background of blood or clot
Excessive: nondiagnosis	0
Intermediate: diagnosis possible	1
Minimal: diagnosed easily	2
Number of obtained cells
Minimal: nondiagnosis	0
Intermediate: diagnosis possible	1
Abundant: diagnosed easily	2
Preserved tissue architecture
Minimal to absent: nondiagnosis	0
Intermediate: some preservation	1
Well preserved: diagnosed easily	2
Cellular degeneration
Severe: nondiagnosis	0
Intermediate: diagnosis possible	1
Minimal: diagnosed easily	2

0-≤2 points: unable to diagnose; >2-≤5 points: diagnosable; >5-≤8 points: easy to diagnose.