Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Diagnosis of Solitary Thyroid Nodules

Introduction: This study was conducted at the Department of ear, nose, throat, head and neck surgery, Post Graduate Medical Institute Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. The duration of the study was one year from June ۱۷, ۲۰۰۹ to June ۱۶, ۲۰۱۰. The sample size was ۸۲ patients with solitary thyroid nodule, fulfilling the inclusion criteria. After taking detailed history, thorough examination, relevant investigation and informed consent fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in all cases by the same cytopathologist. Thyroid surgery was performed and specimens were examined by the same histopathologist. The statistical analysis was performed using the statistical program for social sciences (SPSS version ۱۱). Materials and Methods: Our study included ۸۲ cases consisting on ۵۷ female and ۲۵ male, with female: male ratio of ۲.۲۸: ۱.The age of the patients was ranged from ۱۶-۶۵ years with mean age of ۴۲.۵۶ + S.D ۱۱.۶۰ years. Most of the patients presented in ۳rd and ۴th decade followed by the ۵th and ۲nd decade.  The diagnostic yield of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in this study was accuracy ۸۲.۹۲%, sensitivity ۸۸.۰۹%, specificity ۷۷.۵۰% and positive predictive value was ۸۰.۴۳%. Results: One hundred twenty six patients entered the study among which ۷۷ (۶۱%) were female and ۴۹ (۳۹%) male. Mean age was obtained as ۲۶.۹ ± ۷.۷ yrs. Up to ۷۹.۴% of patients had complaints concerning the cosmetic outcomes, ۳۹.۷% with respiratory and ۴.۸% with olfactory problems. The reason to sue the physician had a significant relationship with the patients’ age and sex, and also with the surgeons’ experience. Conclusion: FNAC has key rule in diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule because it is safe, minimally invasive and cost effective diagnostic tool.

Keywords:

Fine needle aspiration cytology , Histopathology , Solitary thyroid nodule