Abstract: Objective　To compare the sample satisfaction rate of different  needle passes in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules, and provide the basis for clinic operation. Methods　Ninety-five patients with 106 solid or mainly solid thyroid nodules were included in our hospital and randomly divided into a one-needle passes group, a two-needle passes group, a three-needle passes group. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid was performed under ultrasonic guidance. The obtained specimens were sent for cytopathological diagnosis which was classified according to the Bethesda System. Bethesda I was defined as unsatisfactory, and Bethesda Ⅱ~Ⅵ were defined as satisfactory. The satisfaction rate of specimens with different number of passes needles was compared.　Results　The overall satisfaction rate of nodule samples was 92.5% (98/106). There were no statistical differences in the satisfaction rate among the one-needle passes group, two-needle passes group, and three-needle passes group (90.2%, 93.9%, and 93.8%, respectively, P>0.05).　Conclusions　For solid or mainly solid thyroid nodules, the number of needle passes guided by ultrasound has no significant effect on sampling and the satisfaction rate of specimen with one needle passes is equivalent to that with 2 or 3 needles.

Key words: Fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules, 　Number of needle passes, 　Satisfaction rate of sampling