Histopathological study of solitary thyroid nodules in a sample of Iraqi patient

Objectives: To examine solitary thyroid nodules and their behavior, clinicopathological characteristics, age, sex, ultrasonography, Thyroid Imaging Reporting & Data System results (TIRADS), and cytological groupings (Bethesda). Methods: A retrospective study includes 100 solitary thyroid nodules from archives of Medical city labs between 2021 and 2023. TIRADS and Bethesda categories were recorded when accessible. Radiology records were provided for 98 patients and cytology for 21. Results: The average age of patients was 37.5±11.8 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:4.7. The nodules were 67% benign, 22% malignant, and 11% low-risk. The most prevalent pathological diagnosis of single nodules was colloid nodules (45%) followed by papillary carcinoma (16%). Twenty-two present of single thyroid nodules were malignant, all were welldiff erentiated. In ultrasonography, TIRADS classifi cations 3-5, malignancy risk was 4.7%, 30.8%, and 53.3%. The risk of malignancy for Bethesda 2-5 was 0, 14.3%, 25%, and 100%. All malignancies were in adults with 1:4.5 female predilection. No signifi cant association was seen in patient’s age, sex, or nodule side. Ultrasound had greater sensitivity (90.9% vs 85.7%), while cytology was more specifi c (76.9% vs 64.6%) and had a larger positive predictive value (66.7% vs 46.5%). Cytology was more accurate than ultrasonography (80% vs 71.3%). Conclusion: There was a 22% risk of cancer in solitary thyroid nodules, all were well-diff erentiated. Bethesda was more precise, while ultrasound was more sensitive.