Clinical study of solitary nodule of thyroid and role of FNAC in the management of solitary nodule of thyroid

Abstract

Background: Solitary nodule of thyroid has increased in incidence in the present day as compared to two decades before. Because of possibility of malignancy, some clinicians especially those in surgical subspecialties recommended that all nodules have to be removed. Objectives: Clinical study of solitary nodule of thyroid and role of FNAC in the management of solitary nodule of thyroid. Method: This prospective study includes 70 patients, presenting in KIMS, Koppal who were clinically diagnosed as solitary nodule of thyroid. All patients were admitted and were subjected to thyroid profile, USG and FNAC. All patients were operated appropriately depending on the FNAC report. Histopathological examination of the operated specimen was done for all the patients. Depending on the histo-pathological report appropriate postoperative therapies were administered to all the patients and all the patients were followed up appropriately. Result: The peak incidence of solitary nodule was observed in 3rd to 5th decade, constituting 60% of the cases studied. Females predominated in number over males in occurrence of solitary nodule in ratio of 1:8.16. 33% of all clinically solitary nodule turned out to be multi-nodular goiter. Incidence of malignancy in solitary thyroid nodule was 10.9%. Male to female ratio in case of malignant nodule was1:5. Incidence of carcinoma in males presenting as solitary nodule was higher (16.67%) compared to that of females (10.20%). The most common cause of malignancy was papillary carcinoma (67%) followed by follicular carcinoma (33%). Conclusion: USG can be accurately used to detect patients with multinodulary goiter who clinically present as solitary nodule of thyroid. Common causes of solitary nodule of thyroid are MNG, follicular adenoma and adenomatous goiter.