ABSTRACT
To see the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] for neoplastic lesions in nodular goitre. A prospective comparative analytic study. The study was conducted in Pathology Department, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad in association with the Department of surgery, Allied Hospital Faisalabad from September 1[st], 2008 to May 31[st], 2010. With an informed and explained consent, the study was conducted on 117 patients of primary euthyroid nodular goitre who underwent thyroid surgery. Preoperative diagnosis in all the patients was established by fine needle aspiration cytology and thyroid function tests. After thyroid surgery, excised tissue was sent for histopathology to confirm the diagnosis. Cytological diagnosis was compared with histological diagnosis to see the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology for neoplastic lesions. Among the 117 patients, FNAC showed neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions in 27 and 90 patients respectively. While, histological diagnosis revealed neoplastic lesions in 24 patients and non-neoplastic lesions in 93 patients. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNAC for neoplastic lesions in nodular goitre remained 79.17%, 91.4% and 88.89% respectively. Fine needle aspiration cytology plays a pivotal role in pre-operative differentiation between the neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of nodular goiter