Enhancing diagnostic accuracy with core needle biopsy and immunohistochemistry in indeterminate thyroid nodules: a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study

Purpose

Accurate preoperative cancer diagnosis is important for establishing treatment strategies. Core needle biopsy (CNBx) has become the second diagnostic tool for previously indeterminate cytology by fine-needle aspiration (FNA), such as Bethesda III or IV, but uncertainty remains. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) can offer improved diagnostic accuracy by staining patterns of specific markers. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of CNBx combined with various IHC methods for indeterminate nodules.