Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Management of Thyroid Nodules: a Preliminary Retrospective Review of 53 Cases at King Faisal Hospital

ABSTRACT

This is a retrospective review of 50 thyroid nodules investigated by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). On clinical grounds alone; it is not easy to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. The use of FNAC in the preliminary investigation of cases assisted in the clinical management of these nodules in ruling out malignancy and in helping to avoid unnecessary open biopsies and surgery. Its cost-effectiveness and rapidity of results and attendant relief of anxiety to the patient make it acceptable to both physician and patient. Materials and Methods: 53 thyroid nodules were evaluated clinically and sampled by FNA using 23G and 25G needles and 10 ml syringes. Ethanol fixed and air-dried methanol -fixed smears were prepared for Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik staining; respectively. Stained preparations were evaluated on the light microscope.Results: Cytodiagnoses included 24 nodular goitres; 19 colloid goitres; 5 cystic lesions; 1 hyperplastic lesion; 1 thyroidifis; and 1 fungal infection. Conclusions: FNAC was useful in ruling out malignancy and avoiding unnecessary surgery. Benign thyroid nodules were more frequent than thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid nodules were more frequent in female patients than male patients with a ratio of 61. Further studies are required to unravel any related aetiologic factors; if any