Comparative Study Of FNAC And HistopathologyIn The Diagnosis Of Thyroid Swelling

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of Fine needle aspiration cytology in detection of thyroid swellings in our ENT unit and to assess the correlation between preoperative cytodiagnosis and postoperative histopathological diagnosis.Study design: Cross sectional studyPlace & Duration of study: Department of ENT- Head & Neck Surgery, Charak hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, from January 2010 to December 2010.Method: Fifty patients with enlarged thyroid gland, of both sexes were selected. All patients had preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNAC), performed by pathologist at histopathology department and postoperative specimens were also examined after which histopathological diagnosis were made. All FNAC reports were correlated with histopathology diagnosis.Results:Out of 50 patients 46 were female and 4 male. FNAC was accurate in 94% patients. Over all sensitivity was 91.66% and specificity of 97.29%.Conclusions:FNAC is reliable, safe and accurate method as a first line of evaluation in thyroid gland nodulesbefore surgery. FNAC is more specific than sensitive in detecting thyroid gland malignancy andtherefore histopathological analysis still remains essential for the final diagnosis.