The Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Lesions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) in the pre-operative diagnostic management of patients with solitary or dominant thyroid nodules. Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid was performed on 632 patients referred to the Department of Pathology, Kind Edward Medical College. Out of the total of 632 aspirations performed, 532 (84.17%) were classified as benign. Colloid goiters / Cysts / Colloid nodules were the dominant benign lesion accounting for 479 (75.79%) cases. Other benign lesions included 45 (7.11%) adenomas and 8 (1.26%) cases of thyroiditis. 35 (5.53%) aspirates were included in the suspicious category and excisional biopsy was advised. Malignant lesions numbered 28 (4.43%), out of which Papillary carcinoma was the commonest malignancy diagnosed (42.8% of the thyroid cancers). 37 (5.85%) aspirates were considered inadequate for diagnostic evaluation. Results were tabulated and compared with other similar studies.