ACCURACY OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF THYROID SWELLING COMPARED TO THE POSTOPERATIVE PATHOLOGY REPORT

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Thyroid nodules are common clinical lesion with a prevalence of 4 to 7% in the general population. Most are ultimately determined to be benign, but approximately 5% are malignant. Recent literature suggests that each patient with thyroid nodule should undergo a complete evaluation that includes a detailed history and physical examination these reports suggest that thyroid function tests radioactive scan, and ultrasonography add useful information. These measures however, cannot distinguish with certainly benign from malignant lesions. High-risk categories classically are defined by older age, male gender, history of radiation exposure, family history. The presence of a solitary, fixed" cold" hard or growing nodule, hoarseness, lymphadenopathy, fixation, nonregression with thyroid hormone treatment, and a solid or complex mass on ultrasound. Objective: Our goal was to evaluate the clinical work up of patients with thyroid nodules to correlate factors which may predict benign or malignant disease. We evaluated preoperative FNA and post operative histopathological examination to determine relative accuracy and usefulness in guiding management of thyroid nodules. We analyzed outcomes of patients with equivocal FNA findings, e.g. "follicular" to determine the final pathologic diagnosis of these lesions.