Clinicopathological evaluation of thyroid incidentaloma: a prospective study

P. B. Thrishuli; N. Mallikarjunarao Medam

doi:10.18203/2349-2902.isj20163996

Authors

P. B. Thrishuli Department of Surgery, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
N. Mallikarjunarao Medam Department of Surgery, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20163996

Keywords:

Fine needle aspiration biopsy, Incidental thyroid nodule, Thyroid cancer, Ultrasound

Abstract

Background:Incidental thyroid nodules are typically non-palpable thyroid nodules found during radiographic evaluation for a non-thyroid related issue (USG neck, CT scan, PET scan, carotid duplex).The prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas ranges from 1.6% to 67% based on radiographic modality of detection. The rate of malignancy in incidental thyroid nodule can again quite variable based on how it was discovered and range from 4% to 50%. (The overall risk is approximately 15%).

Methods: A prospective study was carried out in 100 patients. Discovery of a thyroid nodule by imaging investigations in individuals, who are asymptomatic for thyroid disease, was done in the study. FNAC of the nodule is done to know the pathology.

Results:Incidence of thyroid incidentaloma was found to be 9%. In 40 patients who underwent carotid doppler the incidence was found to be 10%. In 50 patients who underwent USG neck, the incidence was found to be 10%. There was no incidentaloma detected in CT done in the 10 patients observed in this study. 9 patients with thyroid incidentalomas out of which 7 patients diagnosed benign lesion and 2 patients diagnosed with malignancy.

Conclusions:Incidence of thyroid incidentaloma in our study is comparable to worldwide statistics. The incidence of incidentaloma (9%) and malignant pathology (22.2%) picked up in incidentalomas in our study is going in favour of advocating screening programme in our population (>50 years). USG neck appears to be most suitable investigation for screening.

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