Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in Thyroid Lesions: A Comparative Study with Histopathological Examination
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54361/LJMR.19.2.51Keywords:
Fine-needle aspiration cytology, thyroid nodules, histopathology, diagnostic accuracy, Bethesda system.Abstract
Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, minimally invasive, and cost-effective method for evaluating thyroid Lesions. However, its diagnostic performance varies depending on sampling technique, adequacy, and cytological interpretation. Aim: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC compared with histopathological examination (HalPE). Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who underwent thyroidectomy at the Department of General Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, between June 2023 and October 2024. FNAC results were classified using the Bethesda system and compared with the final HPE. Diagnostic indices, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), were calculated using Jamovi. Results: Thirty-five patients were included (mean age 43.5 ± 13.6 years; 94% females), FNAC showed a sensitivity of 77.8%, specificity of 52.9%, accuracy of 65.7%, PPV of 63.6%, and NPV of 69.2% when compared with HPE. The majority of malignant lesions were papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusion: FNAC continues to be a valuable first-line diagnostic tool for thyroid nodules, demonstrating good sensitivity but moderate specificity. HPE remains crucial for a definitive diagnosis. Larger, multicenter studies are recommended to validate these findings and to enhance diagnostic reliability through better sampling and cytological expertise.
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