Assessment of Thyroid Swellings: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aim: Thyroid swellings are commonly observed in ENT practice, varying from benign cysts to malignant tumours. A clinical study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of different types of thyroid disorders among patients presenting with thyroid swellings in the region, focussing on their age and sex distribution as well as any notable trends. Material and Methods: A total of 100 patients with thyroid swellings were examined in this study. The study included patients over the age of 6 who presented with thyroid swellings. Patients underwent a thorough clinical examination that included inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, along with thyroid function tests to assess their health status. All patients underwent ultrasonography (USG) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Results: Significant portion of thyroid swellings presented bilaterally, accounting for 52% of cases. The majority of unilateral thyroid swellings observed were predominantly located in the right thyroid lobe, accounting for 24% of cases. Ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology revealed that 91% of the cases presented benign lesions, whereas a mere 9% were identified as malignant lesions. The FNAC report indicated that colloid goitre was present in the majority of cases, accounting for 44%. This was followed by colloid nodules in 14% of cases, thyroiditis in 10%, and colloid cysts also in 10% of cases. Conclusion: The ultrasonographic findings yield critical insights into various aspects such as nodularity, vascularity, calcification, and the extent of infiltration into adjacent structures. Ultrasonographic findings alone are insufficient for a definitive diagnosis, making it essential to perform FNAC to confirm histopathological features.