Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Thyroid nodules are common clinical findings and distinguishing between benign and malignant nodules is essential for appropriate management. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and histopathology are primary diagnostic tools used to evaluate thyroid nodules. This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC with histopathology, the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients who underwent both FNAC and surgical excision with subsequent histopathological examination at a tertiary care center. The concordance rates, sensitivity, specificity and clinical impact of diagnostic discrepancies were assessed. Statistical analysis included calculation of odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P‐values to determine the significance of the findings. Out of 120 patients, concordance between FNAC and histopathology was observed in 70 cases (58.3%), with an OR of 2.36 (95% CI: 1.2‐2.0, P=0.035). Discordance was noted in 33 cases (27.5%), with an OR of 2.35 (95% CI: 0.3‐0.8, P=0.025). The sensitivity and specificity of FNAC were 62.5% and 69.2%, respectively. Major diagnostic discrepancies impacted clinical management in 29.2% of cases, indicating significant clinical relevance. FNAC demonstrates a substantial concordance with histopathology in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules but also highlights areas of diagnostic discrepancy that can affect patient management. While FNAC is effective as a preliminary diagnostic tool, careful consideration of its limitations is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate clinical decision‐making.
How to cite this article:
Santosh D. Gaikwad and Suresh V. Mahajan. Comparison of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Histopathology in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2016.6.725.729
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2016.6.725.729