Evaluation of correlation between ultrasonography and FNAC of thyroid nodules

Back ground: Nodular disease of the thyroid is very common, while cancer is less common; a definite diagnosis of either is difficult to make. The general prevalence of thyroid nodules is very high. They are detectable in 5 % of the normal population on clinical examination in over 48% on high- resolution ultrasound and in over 50% at autopsy. Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinically thyroid swelling by sonography and FNAC in various disorders of thyroid gland with histopathological correlation. Materials and methods: The present study included 100 patients with clinically palpable thyroid swelling. The patients included in the study were subjected to gray scale and colour Doppler examination of the thyroid gland and fine needle aspiration cytology and histopathological examination. Results: Among the 100 patients examined 30 patients had malignant lesions and 70 patients had benign lesions on final histopathology. All the diagnosis made by ultra sound was compared with FNAC reports. The characteristics of malignant lesions on ultrasonography included single ill-defined micro calcifications, lymphadenopathy and solid predominantly hypo echoic nodule. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is valuable for identifying many malignant or potentially malignant thyroid nodules. Although there is some overlap between the ultra-sonography appearance of benign nodules and that of malignant nodules, certain ultrasonography features are helpful in differentiating between the two. FNAC can itself diagnose benign conditions and can also be helpful as an aid to ultrasonography features to suggest malignancy even though it can report malignancy follicular variety.