Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Thyroid Lesions - 10 Year Retrospective Study at Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration cytology is a well-established simple, safe technique among diagnostic tests for evaluation of thyroid lesions. It helps for the preoperative diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions, thus minimizing and preventing the unwanted surgeries. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study is to classify various cytomorphological lesions of the thyroid swellings in our setup & to know the age and sex incidence. METHOD: A retrospective study of 506 patients was conducted from January 2003 to December 2013 in pathology department of our hospital, Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, Bilaspur. Fine needle aspiration of all cases was done after detailed clinical history, physical examination and thyroid function test. Then lesions were classified cytomorphologically. Age and sex incidence was calculated. RESULTS: FNAC results were classified as inadequate material, non-neoplastic, neoplastic and malignant. Out of total 506 cases studied. 416(82.2%) were non neoplastic 64(12.6%) were neoplastic 17(3.35%) were malignant lesions and 9(1.77%) cases were inadequate material. Age and sex incidence was calculated. Thyroid lesions showed female predominance, out of 506 cases, 428 were females and 78 were males. Commonest malignancy was papillary carcinoma of thyroid (7 cases). CONCLUSION: FNAC is a safe, simple less expensive widely accepted outpatient procedure for diagnosis of thyroid lesions. It also helps to avoid unwanted surgical interventions in patients with benign lesions.