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.