Evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule at AL-Yarmouk teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To define the value of clinical, imaging and histopathological investigations in the evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule, and to predict malignant risk or any abnormal functional activity.

METHODS

The prospective study was conducted at AlYarmouk Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, from March 2016 to March 2018, and comprised patients with thyroid nodule who underwent thyroidectomy. The patients were evaluated by history, clinical examination, thyroid isotope scan, thyroid ultrasonography, and fine needle aspiration cytology, and the results were correlated with post-operative histopathological examination. Data was analysed to determine sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.

RESULTS

Of the 108 patients, 88(81.5%) were females and 20(18.5%) were males. The highest incidence occurred in those aged <30 years 56(51.9%). Besides, 65(60%) patients had cold nodules on thyroid isotope scan, and 8(7.4%) had malignancy. Thyroid ultrasonography had a sensitivity 70% and specificity 94%. Fine needle aspiration cytology had sensitivity 75% and specificity 96%.

CONCLUSIONS

By using clinical data, and with the assistance of ultrasound, thyroid isotope scan, thyroid function test and fine needle aspiration cytology, unnecessary surgeries could be avoided.