ROLE OF RADIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF THYROID SWELLING

Background:Thyroid nodules are most common clinical entity we come across in HEAD & NECK surgery. Evaluation of the extent of a big thyroid swelling is always a challenge. The clinical examination of thyroid swelling has limitations in its deeper and inferior extensions like retrosternal, retro esophageal, tracheal compression and also subclinical swelling. There are various investigatory modalities to assess the extent of swelling. Study Design:Prospective observational study done on 200 patients who underwent surgery for thyroid swelling in whom preoperative investigatory findings were cross checked intra operatively and compared. Materials and Methods:Total of 200 patients included in study, who were diagnosed clinically with thyroid swelling further investigated with Ultrasonography (USG), Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan whenever necessary and their findings are compared with that of intraoperative findings. Results: CT was supposed to be the best investigatory modality for assessing 3-dimensional view of thyroid swelling, the nature and vascularity of thyroid swelling is well documented by the Ultrasound(U/S), relationship to the surrounding structures when in doubt MRI proved to be advantageous.