THYROID CANCERS IN NODULAR THYROID A STUDY OF CLINICAL, CYTOLOGICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL CORRELATION

Background Thyroid nodules are common disorders in general clinical practice, detected in 4-8 of adults by palpation, 13-67 with ultra-sono-gram while detection at autopsy has been reported in approximately 50 individuals. Epidemiologic data, reports the incidence of nodular goiters at 0.1-1.5 per year, translating into 2,50,000 new nodules diagnosed annually. The incidence of malignancy in multi-nodular goiter is reported not to differ significantly from that in solitary nodules. Materials and Methods A prospective case study was conducted in Department of Pathology, Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. All patients who presented with thyroid enlargements were evaluated with ultrasono-gram and laboratory tests, the findings were recorded, tabulated, statistically evaluated and analyzed. Results Discussion Of 165 patients with goiter received in our laboratory for assessment, 69 patients had solitary nodules, 81 had multi-nodular and 15 had diffuse goiter. The cytology indicated definite malignancy in 7 (4.24) patients, suspicion of malignancy in 3(1.82) and was benign or hyperplasia in 155 patients. Surgical samples were received for all 165 patients and malignancy was proven in 41 patients (24.85) of whom 31(75.61) were papillary carcinomas, 5 (12.20) were follicular carcinoma, 3(7.32) medullary carcinomas and 2(4.88) were anaplastic carcinomas. Of these 41 patients 26 presented with solitary nodules, 15 with multinodular goiter. The results are discussed.