ABSTRACT
The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze the frequency of nodular thyroid and to determine the incidence of benign diseases and thyroid cancer among patients who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy. The study is based on cytopathology reports of all thyroid FNAB performed at The New Modern Histopathological Laboratory in Al-Mansourah, Aden, from 2006-2007, which are reviewed and data of final pathologic results, such as sex, age, and residential area were obtained. The total cytopathology reports were 184. Females were predominantly affected by thyroid nodules with a female to male ratio of 8.7:1. In general, the mean age was 36.45 +/- 11.3 years. Males had a higher mean age [43.2 +/- 12.5 years] compared to females [35.7 +/- 10.8 years]. Most of the patients [131], representing [71.2%], were from Ibb Governorate. The benign thyroid diseases, reported in this study, were: nodular colloid goiter 101 cases [54.9%], follicular adenoma 35 cases [19%], diffuse colloid goiter 12 cases [6.5%], Hashimoto's thyroiditis 10 cases [5.4%], toxic diffuse goiter 8 cases [4.4%], multinodular goiter 7 cases [3.8%], Thyroid cyst 7 cases [3,8%]. Thyroid malignancy is represented exclusively by papillary carcinoma only; it was found in 4 cases [2.2%]. A significant difference was found in the occurrence of thyroid diseases between females and males [p < 0.05]. In conclusion, these results are in accordance with those of previous studies done in Yemen, and it provides useful information for further studies