CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF PALPABLE THYROID LESIONS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

In many thyroid disorders, the size of the gland tends to increase presenting as a swelling (1). The thyroid swelling can be diffuse, multinodular or appear as a solitary nodule (2). It is imperative to differentiate the types of thyroid swelling based on etiology and character because nature of the lesion will decide the treatment and prognosis of these swellings (3). Proper nature of the solitary nodules needs to be ascertained as best as possible as only a small fraction of these nodules is malignant and thereby unnecessary surgery can be avoided (4,5). 66 patients including both male and female were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study participants presented with palpable thyroid swelling in the department of ENT and Surgery. They underwent FNAC, Ultrasonography and Histology if the swelling was surgically resected. Findings were correlated with each other. Most of the sample belonged to female gender 80.3% and were of young age (Mean age-37.38 years). On Ultrasonography majority of the cases were of Benign cystic nodule (60.6%). 71.2 % patients belonged to TIRADS grade-1. On FNAC adenomatous nodules were found in 50% of cases. On Bethesda class 66.7% were of Bethesda class 2. Out of 66 cases 15 had Histology report available. Out of 15 cases colloid nodule was found in 53.3% cases. FNAC results confirmed adenomatous nodules predominantly across various USG findings, especially in cases of benign cystic nodules (62.5%) and hypoechoic nodules with irregular margins (50.0%). Lymphocytic thyroiditis was associated with USG findings suggestive of inflammation, notably thyroiditis (50.0%). These findings were statistically significant (P=0.028). When evaluating thyroid swellings, FNAC and ultrasonography are essential diagnostic techniques. Ultrasonography predicts benign and malignant lesions significantly