Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules

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Published Aug 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i8.5966
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Vol. 103 No. 8 (2025): Tunis Med Aug 2025

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Safa Nefzaoui
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Nadia Romdhane
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Ameni Amri
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Kamilia Bouziane
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Maha Nassri
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Raja Jouini
Department of Pathology , Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Ehsen Ben Brahim
Department of Pathology , Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Dorra Chiboub
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Ines Hriga
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia
Chiraz Mbarek
Department of ENT, Habib Thameur Hospital , Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis Manar, Tunis,Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are a frequent and mostly benign pathology. Failure to recognize a cancer remains a major concern for any physician confronted with this pathology. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the reference examination when managing thyroid nodules. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of FNAC in determining the histological nature of thyroid nodules.


Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive study, spread over a 5-year period from January 2016 to December 2020, carried out in our Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.


Results: The median age of the 200 patients was 46 years. Female predominance was evident, with a sex ratio of 0.09. All our patients underwent FNAC followed by surgical excision. FNAC was non diagnostic in 8 cases (4%) and benign in 53 cases (20.50%). It revealed atypia of undetermined significance in 33 cases (16%), a follicular neoplasm in 45 cases (21.50%) and a malignant suspicion in 47 cases (22.50%). FNAC was malignant in 22 cases (10.5%). Pathological examination showed malignancy in 115 cases. FNAC has an overall sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 71.6% in predicting thyroid nodules diagnosis.


Conclusion: Combining clinical and ultrasonographic criteria with cytological results improves the sensitivity of thyroid carcinoma screening.

Keywords:

Thyroid nodule, Thyroid neoplasms, Thyroid Diseases, Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration

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