“A STUDY OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PARAMETERS AND ROLE OF FNAC AS PRIMARY MODALITY IN DIAGNOSING PATIENTS WITH THYROID SWELLINGS”

Abstract

Background: Thyroid swellings are one of the commonest presentations in ENT. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is now accepted as a cost effective, minimally invasive, non-operative diagnostic procedure for most of the thyroid lesions. Materials And Methods: 30 patients presenting with thyroid swellings to the otorhinolaryngology outpatient department during the period February 2022 – August 2022 who were willing to participate in this study were included. FNAC was performed followed by thyroidectomy and the thyroid specimen was sent for histopathological examination. Results: Out of 30 cases, as per FNAC, benign cases reported were 76.66% and malignant cases were 23.33%. Based on histopathology 70% were benign and 30% were malignant. Sensitivity of FNAC was 77.7 percent while specicity was 100 percent. Conclusion : FNAC can be used as the primary modality of investigation in a patient with a thyroid swelling as it is cheap, cost effective, easily performed.