Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Thyroid Lesions: a Personal Experience

Background: Different invasive and non-invasive investigations are used in the diagnosis and management of thyroid. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a safe test, technically easy to perform and cost effective. This study was conducted to throw a light on practicing FNAC in Baghdad, Iraq. Aim of the study: This study was conducted to throw a light on FNAC from a personal experience with thyroid disorders in Baghdad, Iraq. Methods: A total of 79 patients of clinically diagnosed thyroid swelling was included in the study. FNAC performed and then all patients subjected to surgery. Thyroidectomy specimens were evaluated by histopathological exam. Analysis of variance ANOVA (Is a collection of statistical models used to analyze the differences between group means and their associated procedures such as variation among and between groups) was used to examine the effect of age and duration on FNAC results. Chi square was used to examine the effect of histopathological diagnosis on FNAC readings. Accuracy of the FNAC was assessed using 2X2 table. Results: FNAC results was significantly affected by age of the patients (p=0.005), duration of thyroid swelling (p=0.0001) and histopathological diagnosis (p = 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 75%, 57%, 94.7% and 18.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Low negative predictive value for FNAC was reported. the accuracy of FNAC affected by the experience of the histopathologist