Epidemiology of Thyroid Swelling and Role of FNAC in its Diagnosis – A Tertiary Care Hospital Study

Aim and Objectives: To analyze the epidemiology of thyroid swellings and to correlate the role of FNAC with Post Operative HPE report in diagnosis of thyroid swelling. Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective study conducted on patients presenting to Department of General Surgery in Govt. Stanley Medical College Chennai. All cases of thyroid swelling who attended our institute for treatment purpose has been evaluated between Jan 2016 to Jan 2017 were included in the study. They were subjected to TFT/ USG/ FNAC and subsequently underwent surgery. Totally 89 patients evaluated out of which 60 cases were operated. Post Operative HPE reports were compared with preoperative FNAC report. Results and Discussions: This study shows most common age group distribution is 21 -40 yrs, with mean age of 34.5yrs. Most common clinical presentation is Multi Nodular Goitre and Most of the them are in euthyroid state. FNAC identified 9 malignant cases (13%) preoperatively. Sensitivity was 70%. Specificity was 100%. Positive predictive value is 100%, Negative predictive value is 92%. Conclusion: There is Increasing trend of carcinoma thyroid among middle age group. In conclusion the results of this study are compared with available published data shows FNAC is a very safe, cost effective, simple OPD basis procedure for all thyroid swellings in Euthyroid state with high accuracy and specificity except for follicular neoplasm. So FNAC is a good preoperatively diagnostic technique for thyroid swellings in all developing countries. The Sensitivity of FNAC can be further increased by using USG guided FNAC because it is useful to take sample from suspicious areas/lesions.