Abstract

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is simple, readily available, reliable, time saving, and minimally invasive procedure. Hence, it is widely accepted as a diagnostic tool in recent years. Histopathological examination of surgically excised thyroid swelling is also one of the accurate ways to determine the pathology. However, it requires prepa- ration and long procedure like anesthesia, hospitalization, and sometime even over treatment. Objectives: Primary objective of this study was to evaluate the result of FNAC in diagnosis of various thyroid lesions and correlate the result of FNAC with histopathological examination in diagnosis of various thyroid lesions. Material and Methods: A prospective study was carried out for the duration of 2 years. Data collected were detailed history of participants, general physical examination, and local examination. Investigations like thyroid function test, FNAC and whenever it was possible histopathological examination was done. Correlation of FNAC with histopathological exam- ination was done in those patients.
Results: Out of total 150 recruited patients 132 (82%) were female. Common age group of presentation was 21–40 years of age with > 60% were presented during this period. Non-neoplastic non-inflammatory lesions were common (76.67%) with common lesion were colloid goiter (36.67%), benign cystic lesion (10.67%), and adenomatous goiter (10.67%). Briefly, 15 (10%) cases diagnosed as inflammatory lesion and 15 (10%) were neoplastic lesions. While 5 lesions were undiagnosed. Out of 60 correlated cases of FNAC with histopathological examination four were incorrectly diagnosed. The sensitivity of the FNAC was 85.71% and specificity was 96%. While positive predictive value (PPV) was 85.71% and negative predictive value was 96%. Conclusion: FNAC could be considered as a primary investigational tool for diagnosis and to differentiate thyroid lesions and so for the selection of patients for surgery.