Histological, Cytological, and Radiological Correlation in Thyroid Lesions

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Pathology
• Radiology

Background:

• Thyroid disorders are common endocrine diseases requiring accurate preoperative diagnosis.
• Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), ultrasonography (USG), and histopathology are key diagnostic tools.
• Correlating these modalities improves diagnostic accuracy for thyroid lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between cytological, histopathological, and radiological findings in thyroid lesions.
• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 150 patients with thyroid swellings.
• Inclusion of clinical evaluation, thyroid function tests, USG (TIRADS classification), and FNAC.
• Histopathological examination of surgical specimens for correlation.

Main Results:

• Majority of patients were middle-aged females; most lesions were benign (colloid goiter most common).
• All TIRADS 5 lesions were malignant (P < 0.001).
• FNAC showed 96% adequacy, 62.5% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity, and 92.3% accuracy; strong cytoradiological and cytohistological concordance observed.

Conclusions:

• Integrating cytological, radiological, and histopathological evaluations enhances diagnostic precision for thyroid lesions.
• FNAC is a reliable first-line investigation; TIRADS effectively stratifies malignancy risk.
• Combined modalities facilitate accurate diagnosis, rational surgical intervention, and optimal patient management.