ABSTRACT
Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology along with ultrasound and assessment of thyroid function status remains the mainstay of evaluation of thyroid swellings. According to the guidelines put forth by American Thyroid Association, serum estimation of TSH should be part of initial assessment of thyroid swellings. Present study aims to assess the cytomorphological features of various thyroid lesions, classify them in different categories based on The Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytology and correlate them with thyroid hormone status of patients. Methods: 165 cases of thyroid lesions were subjected to FNAC, smears were categorised according to The Bethesda System of Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology and cases were also assessed for T3, T4, TSH hormone levels. Results: On interpretation of FNAC non-neoplastic lesions outnumbered the neoplastic lesions and Colloid goitre accounted for the majority of the cases (40.6%). Among the neoplastic lesions, follicular neoplasms were most common. Cytologically majority of the lesions belonged to category II (benign) as per the Bethesda System. On evaluation of thyroid function majority of the cases (69.1%) were euthyroid and were interpreted as either colloid goitre or adenomatoid nodule, whereas most patients of lymphocytic thyroiditis presented with either hypo or hyperthyroidism. Majority of malignant cases also turned out to be hypothyroid (9/12 Cases). None of the malignant case presented with hyperthyroidism. Conclusions: Thyroid cytology proves to be a reliable, simple and cost-effective first line diagnostic procedure. FNAC together with thyroid function test can be used for early and accurate diagnosis of various thyroid lesions, and reduces unnecessary intervention.
ABSTRACT
Background: Iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) during pregnancy continue to be of worldwide concern.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of maternal iron status on neonatal iron status and anthropometric characteristics.Methodology: A total of 86 pregnant women aged between 19 and 31 years delivering singleton live births at term gestation (37-41weeks) were included in the study. The pregnant women were divided into three groups according to their pre-delivery haemoglobin (<11gm/dl) and serum ferritin concentration (<12ng/dl) levels. Analysis of maternal and cord blood for estimation of haemoglobin level and serum ferritin was performed. Weight, length and head circumference of neonates was also recorded. Results: Amongst the pregnant women, 32.6% were anaemic and 17.4% were iron deficient. Neonatal haemoglobin and neonatal serum ferritin was significantly different (p<0.001) across 3 groups suggesting that maternal anaemia affected the iron status including iron stores of the newborn. Neonatal haemoglobin and neonatal serum ferritin had a significant positive correlation with maternal iron status. However no significant correlation was found between maternal iron status and neonatal anthropometric parameters except in case of neonatal birth weight which had a significant positive correlation with maternal haemoglobin levels. Conclusion: This study showed that maternal iron deficiency anaemia has an adverse effect on iron status of their newborns. Thus effective strategies are urgently needed to control maternal anaemia in the developing world.