Clinicopathological Characteristics of Solitary Nodule of Thyroid- A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Center

Abstract

BACKGROUND Solitary Thyroid Nodules (STN) occur in 4-7% of the adult population. Owing to increasing incidence of malignancy, it is necessary to differentiate patients with benign STN from malignant ones for early intervention and better patient management. The aim of the study is to study the clinicopathological characteristics of STN for better diagnosis, evaluation and management; evaluate the efficacy of FNAC in preoperative diagnostics of solitary thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted over a period of one year at a tertiary healthcare institution in South India. One hundred patients with solitary nodule of thyroid were studied by taking detailed history and conducting clinical examination, thyroid hormone assay, ultrasonogram, FNAC and histopathological examination. The chances of malignancy and age, sex and site distribution were also analysed. RESULTS Solitary thyroid nodule cases showed female preponderance (81%), presented mostly as neck swelling followed by dysphagia (11%). Most common FNAC report was of colloid nodule (61%), followed by follicular neoplasm (20%) and papillary carcinoma (9%). Final HPR showed 53% as colloid nodule and 27% as papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSION Differentiating between benign and malignant lesions and their comprehensive management are the challenges presented by STN. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is the diagnostic tool of choice for the initial evaluation of STN.