Correlation between Ultrasound Aspects, Per-Operative Macroscopic and Histopathological Aspects of Thyroid Nodules

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the correlation between ultrasound aspect per-operative macroscopic and histopathological aspects of thyroid nodules in Abidjan. Patients and methods: This is a retrospective, prospective study; it is an analytical and a descriptive type one. It has been carried out over a period of 5 years and 5 months on 61 patients who has undergone surgery for a thyroid nodular pathology in the ORL departments of the University Hospitals of Abidjan and extended to a specialized Polyclinic of the city. Results: The frequency of the thyroid nodular surgery was 64.4%. The study involved 54 women (88.5%) and 7 men (11.5%) and the average age was 43.77 years old ± 14. The correlation between ultrasound and histopathological aspects was insignificant; the sensitivity was 83% and the specificity, 67%. The correlation between per-operative macroscopic aspects and the histopathological results were insignificant. The per-operative macroscopy sensitivity was 17%, the peroperative macroscopy specificity (70%) (insignificant). Conclusion: The pre-operative ultrasound and per-operative macroscopic aspects of thyroid nodules do not always reflect the post-operative histopathological results. This enhances the interest of a candid and continuous co-operation among ORL surgeons, endocrinologists, radiologists and pathologists.