Integrating High-Resolution Ultrasound, Color Doppler, and FNAC in the Surgical Workup of Thyroid Nodules
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N\AAbstract
Background: Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent, especially among women, with malignancy seen in less than 10% of cases. Differentiating benign from malignant nodules remains a clinical challenge. High-resolution ultrasound (HRUSG) with color Doppler is a valuable non-invasive imaging modality, while fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the gold standard for diagnosis.
Aim: To correlate HRUSG and color Doppler findings with FNAC results and assess their diagnostic accuracy in thyroid nodule evaluation.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, involving 280 patients with palpable thyroid nodules. Sonographic findings were scored using the TIRADS system and compared with FNAC results.
Results: Most nodules were benign. HRUSG demonstrated a sensitivity of 98.3% and specificity of 80.7%. Features like hypoechogenicity, irregular margins, microcalcifications, and intranodular vascularity were significantly associated with malignancy.
Conclusion: HRUSG with color Doppler, when correlated with FNAC and TIRADS scoring, is an effective diagnostic tool in the evaluation of thyroid nodules.
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