FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY: SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY IN THYROID LESIONS

Authors

  • Mohammed Ayub Musani
  • Faheem A. Khan
  • Shoukat Malik
  • Yousuf Khambaty

Abstract

Background: Thyroid enlargement is one of the common problems in patients presenting at outpatientsdepartment of ENT particularly in females. Thyroid nodules are common, thyroid cancer is uncommonand the most common way for it to present is as a solitary thyroid nodule. This study was conducted toevaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in thyroid diseases.Method: This prospective analytic study was conducted at ENT Department of Karachi Medical andDental College/Abbasi Shaheed Hospital during year 2004–8. One hundred and five cases wereenrolled who underwent thyroid surgery after complete evaluation by history, clinical examination,Thyroid profile, Thyroid Scintigraphy, Ultrasound neck and FNAC. In cases which were revealedmalignant by FNAC, CT scan were done to see the extent of disease and neck node status. Surgery wasdone in all cases and specimens sent for histopathology. Results: Male to female ratio of the patientswas 1:8.5. Most common lesion was benign nodule (96). Malignant lesions were 9 in FNAC. Inhistopathology, the benign nodules were 92, and malignant cases were 13. Sensitivity of FNAC was61.53% and specificity was 98.9%. Conclusion: FNAC in Thyroid has high sensitivity and specificity.Keywords: FNAC, Thyroid, nodule, malignant, cytology

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Published

2011-03-01