Table 2 Comparison of nodule diameter, location and cytology between palpation-guided and ultrasound-guided thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies

Nodule number (n)

202

184

Log(nodule diameter in mm)*

1.22 ± 0.16

1.22 ± 0.21

0.71

Right thyroid lobe (%)†

95 (47%)

76 (41%)

0.08

Left thyroid lobe (%)†

81 (40%)

93 (51%)

0.08

Isthmus (%)†

26 (13%)

15 (8%)

0.08

Malignant (%)‡

4 (2.0%)

5 (2.7%)

0.74

Benign (%)†

141 (69.8%)

147 (79.9%)

0.02

Indeterminate (%)†

2 (1.0%)

9 (4.9%)

0.02

Inadequate (%)†

55 (27.2%)

23 (12.5%)

0.0003