Correlation of radiological parameters with cytological finding in the diagnosis of thyroid swelling

Abstract

Thyroid gland diseases are the most common endocrine disease seen in clinical practice after Diabetes mellitus. Ultrasound parameters along with correlation with cytology finding helps in differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodule.The purpose of this study was to study the sonographic features of various benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and to correlate the sonographic findings with Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and so as to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosing benign and malignant nodules.The study was conducted in the Pathology department in collaboration with the Radiology Department on 209 patients who were send for ultrasound for thyroid swelling. These patients were further send for fine needle aspiration to the pathology department.The majority of cases which turned malignant on cytology report in this study have association with ultrasound features like predominant solid lesion, hyperechoic lesion, irregular margin, AT ratio greater than 1, absent peripheral halo, microcalcification along with increased internal vascularity and solitary nodules.Ultrasonography of thyroid nodules along with fine needle aspiration cytology serves as a best screening test to detect malignancy in outpatient department. The use of different parameters in ultrasound helps in categorizing the lesion and their management. In this study we have association with ultrasound features like predominant solid lesion, hyperechoic lesion and irregular margin, AT ratio less than 1, absent peripheral halo, microcalcification along with increased internal vascularity and solitary nodules with malignancy on cytology.