Acta Biomedica Scientia

CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THYROID NODULE

Durairaj I, Vivekananda Subramanianathan K, Rajasekaran S

Durairaj@gmail.com

Thyroid nodules, Clinical evaluation, Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), Ultrasonography

Thyroid nodules pose a common clinical challenge, necessitating accurate characterization to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the clinical evaluation of thyroid nodules, emphasizing the diagnostic process, challenges encountered, and the correlation between clinical findings and histopathological outcomes. A prospective study was conducted among 100 patients aged 15-60 years presenting with nodular thyroid swelling. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients with thyroid nodules, while non-nodular swellings and non-cooperative patients were excluded. Clinical examinations, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and thyroid ultrasonography (USG) were performed to assess nodules. High-resolution 7.3 MHz ultrasonography aided in differentiating benign and malignant nodules based on size, location, and echotexture. Subsequently, patients underwent surgery, and histopathological specimens were obtained and correlated with FNAC and USG results for specificity and sensitivity analysis. The study population predominantly comprised females (65%) in the age range of 28-40 years. Clinical examinations revealed swelling in all patients, with additional complaints of pain, difficulty in breathing, and swallowing. FNAC identified 59 benign, 31 suspicious, and 10 malignant cases, aligning with histopathological findings. The most common histopathological diagnosis was benign follicular adenoma. Surgical interventions primarily involved hemithyroidectomy (66%), subtotal thyroidectomy (6%), total thyroidectomy (12%), and functional neck dissection (16%). This study contributes to the understanding of thyroid nodule clinical evaluation, emphasizing the significance of FNAC and USG in distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions. The correlation of clinical, cytological, and histopathological data refines diagnostic accuracy, offering clinicians valuable insights for personalized patient management. Improved risk stratification and decision support in the clinical evaluation of thyroid nodules are anticipated outcomes, enhancing patient outcomes in this commonly encountered clinical scenario