Abstract
Introduction: Occurrence of thyroid nodules is a common clinical problem in Sri Lanka. Clinical assessment, biochemical investigations, ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histology are used in the diagnosis. Objectives: To determine the value of FNAC and ultrasonography (USS) to distinguish neoplastic nodules from non-neoplastic nodules of the thyroid. Method: A retrospective cross sectional study involving 73 patients from Base Hospital Embilipitiya, during the period 2009 January to 2013 December was carried out. Results: Study population was female predominant 70(95.9%) with the age ranging from 17-70 (mean 42.7). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive values and accuracy for FNAC were 94.1%, 87.2%, 86.5%, 94.4%, and 90.4% respectively. The corresponding values for ultrasonography were 64.7%, 69.2%, 64.7%, 69.2% and 67.1% respectively. Conclusion: The findings of this study are in keeping with the other studies in Sri Lanka and the region. In addition, FNAC has a higher validity than USS in detection of thyroid neoplasms.
Highlights
Occurrence of thyroid nodules is a common clinical problem in Sri Lanka
The findings of this study are in keeping with the other studies in Sri Lanka and the region
fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has a higher validity than USS in detection of thyroid neoplasms
Summary
Occurrence of thyroid nodules is a common clinical problem in Sri Lanka. Biochemical investigations, ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histology are used in the diagnosis. A nodular thyroid gland is a common occurrence, especially among females chances of these lesions being malignant are rare.(1) In Sri Lanka, thyroid cancer is one of the five leading cancers in females and has a life time risk of 0.357% in both males and females.(2) The gold standard for diagnosis of thyroid nodules is histopathology. Another investigation is used in combination to compensate for these limitations. Ultrasonography (USS) of the thyroid gland is considered as the most sensitive method for the diagnosis of intrathyroid lesions in some research.(7)
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