CORRELATION BETWEEN ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY IN DETERMINATION OF BENIGNITY AND MALIGNANCY OF THYROID NODULES AT SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Sonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) have been approved as method of choice in diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules. Unnecessary FNAC not only is invasive and costly but also results in second biopsy or unnecessary surgery because up to one third of the FNAC are not diagnostic and require open biopsy. So we aimed to determine the specificity and sensitivity of sonography and histopathology, in diagnosis of malignant and benign thyroid nodules. Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the reliability of ultrasound-based characteristics of thyroid nodules, in diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules in comparison with histopathology assessment as a gold standard. Methods: Patients with thyroid nodule referred to SPHMMC 2017–2018 and candidates for surgical nodule resection were selected consecutively till sample size attained. Patients were evaluated by sonography. Sonographic characteristics of nodule were described. All patients underwent surgical resection and gross samples were sent for pathological evaluation, the gold standard for measuring the specificity and sensitivity of sonographic findings in diagnosis of malignant nodules. Results: Out of 106 cases, 44 had malignant nodules and 56 cases had benign nodules. Nodules were assessed on the basis of echogenicity, vascularity, calcification, texture and presence of lymphadenopathy. Conclusion: Ultrasound is a sensitive and specific modality in assessment of thyroid nodules with good overall accuracy. Keywords: Ultrasound, thyroid, accuracy, ecogenesity, sensitivity, specificity.