Abstract

Introduction: In the preoperative decision-making of the thyroid swellings, fine needle
aspiration cytology (FNAC) is becoming an ever more vital tool.
Aim: To determine the incidence and role of FNAC in the management of the solitary
nodule thyroid.
Materials and methods: A prospective analysis of 55 cases of solitary nodule of thyroid,
admitted to Govt .E.N.T. Hospital, Hyderabad, during the period 18 months from Jan
2014 to June 2015.
Results: Commonest presentation of solitary nodule is swelling in front of neck. The
peak age at presentation of solitary nodule thyroid is 3rd to 5th decade, constituting
about 60% of the cases. Solitary nodule is more common in females with the ratio M:F
= 1:8:16. Most of the solitary nodule of thyroid are benign (89%). Most of patients with
solitary nodule of thyroid are in euthyroid state(95%). After evaluation of solitary
nodule thyroid, 33% of all the clinically solitary nodule turned out to be multi-nodular
93 goiter. Common causes of solitary nodule thyroid are MNG (33%), follicular
adenoma (25%) and adenomatous 93goiter (25%).Incidence of malignancy of solitary
nodule is about 10.9%. Male to female ratio in case of malignant nodule is 1:5.
Incidence of carcinoma in males presenting as thyroid nodule is higher (16.67%)
compared to that of females (10.20%).The most common malignancy in solitary nodule
thyroid is papillary carcinoma (67%), followed by follicular carcinoma (33%).
Conclusion: FNAC is an important investigation in the evaluation of the solitary nodule
of thyroid. Surgery has been the treatment of choice in most of the either because of
cosmetic reasons or toxicity or FNAC diagnosis of follicular neoplasm or malignancy.