All thyroid gland FNAs referred to our center for cytopathologic opinion from June 2000 to August 2004 were reviewed. Patients in whom FNA biopsies were performed for thyroid cancer recurrences or core biopsies and patients in whom only a cytopathologic opinion was requested without a clinical consultation were excluded from the study. FNA results were divided into benign, indeterminate, suspicious, malignant, and nondiagnostic categories