Correlation of fine needle aspiration and final histopathology in thyroid disease: a series of 702 patients managed in an endocrine surgical unit

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are a common clinical entity found among the adult general population. With increasing use of imaging investigations like ultrasonography, there has been a significant rise in the detection of non-palpable thyroid nodules that require further evaluation and management. The routine use of FNAC has reduced the number of unnecessary surgical procedures for thyroid nodules. Taking a decision as to whether to operate on a thyroid nodule is dependent on accurate FNAC testing. This study describes the experience with FNAC in a consecutive series of patients with thyroid nodules who underwent thyroidectomy at a tertiary care hospital in the department of endocrine surgery. Patients and methods: Clinical and pathologic data of patients with thyroid nodules or diffuse goitre who were operated in a single endocrine surgical unit between January 2008 and December 2010 were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. The anatomical lesion of the thyroid (solitary nodule, STN, multinodular goitre, MNG or diffuse