CYFRA 21-1 in lymph node fine-needle aspiration washouts: added value in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Cohort studyClinical chemistry and laboratory medicine· Jun 2026

CYFRA 21-1 in lymph node fine-needle aspiration washouts: added value in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Alfredo Campenni, Lilla Bonanno, Petra Petranović Ovčariček … Luca Giovanella

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CytopathologyCohort studyDiagnosisQ1IF 3.6

FNA washout CYFRA 21-1 nearly perfectly distinguishes metastatic thyroid cancer lymph nodes

CYFRA 21-1 in lymph node fine-needle aspiration washouts: added value in differentiated thyroid cancer.

Alfredo Campenni … Luca Giovanella

Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine · Jun 2026 · Q1 in General Medicine

Background

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (fine-needle aspiration cytology) and thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement in fine-needle washout (FNA-Tg) are widely used but have recognized limitations.

Purpose

Cervical lymph node metastases represent a key challenge in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (differentiated thyroid carcinoma).

Methods

In this observational diagnostic accuracy study, 226 suspicious cervical lymph nodes were assessed by fine-needle aspiration cytology, FNA-Tg and FNA-CYFRA 21-1.

n = 226 suspicious cervical lymph nodes

Results

near flawless at separating cancerous from benign nodes, 1.0 would be perfect

AUC 0.99 (95% CI 0.99 to 1)

null 0

0.99

1

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Of 226 lymph nodes, 87 were metastatic and 139 benign.

Diagnostic accuracy remained robust across anti-thyroglobulin antibody strata.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

FNA-CYFRA 21-1 provides excellent diagnostic accuracy for metastatic cervical lymph nodes in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and performs at least comparably to established approaches.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Its integration into a multimodal strategy may enhance diagnostic confidence, particularly in cytologically indeterminate or Tg-challenging scenarios.

CYFRA 21-1 in lymph node fine-needle aspiration washouts: added value in differentiated thyroid cancer.

CYFRA 21-1 in lymph node fine-needle aspiration washouts: added value in differentiated thyroid cancer.

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