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HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THYROID NODULES: A CORRELATION WITH FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY

Ibrahim Khaled Al-Safi·Sara Hassan Al-Majed
Published 04 February 2025
Vol. 11, No. 3 (2023)
pp. 14-25
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Ibrahim Khaled Al-Safi
    Pathology Department, Babylon College of Medicine, Babylon, Iraq
    IQ
  2. 2
    Sara Hassan Al-Majed
    Department of Pathology, Babylon Medicine College, Babylon, Iraq
    IQ

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding, with an estimated 4-7% of adults presenting with palpable nodules, and up to 60% of individuals over 60 years old showing nodules on ultrasound screening. While most thyroid nodules are benign, a significant percentage (5-15%) are malignant, making accurate diagnosis critical. The most common malignancies include papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma, with papillary carcinoma being the most prevalent. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is widely regarded as the first-line diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules due to its minimally invasive approach, cost-effectiveness, and high diagnostic accuracy. FNAC involves aspirating cells from the nodule, which are then examined microscopically, with results classified according to the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. This system divides results into six categories: nondiagnostic/unsatisfactory, benign, atypia of undetermined significance (AUS), suspicious for follicular neoplasm, suspicious for malignancy, and malignant, helping guide clinical management decisions. Despite its widespread use, FNAC has limitations, including uncertainty in cases with AUS or suspected follicular neoplasm, and false-negative or false-positive results. As a result, histopathological examination after thyroidectomy remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis, offering a comprehensive assessment of the nodule's cellular and molecular characteristics. This review highlights the diagnostic utility of FNAC in thyroid nodule evaluation, its limitations, and the complementary role of histopathology in ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate patient management

JournalJournal of Medical Technology and Innovation
ISSN3065-0607
Volume / IssueVol. 11, No. 3 (2023)
Pages14-25
Published04 February 2025
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Al-Safi, I., Al-Majed, S. (2025). HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THYROID NODULES: A CORRELATION WITH FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY. Journal of Medical Technology and Innovation, Vol. 11 No. 3, pp. 14-25

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