Evaluation of thyroid nodules through ultrasound, fine needle aspiration biopsy and pathology reports: A retrospective review of diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic management

The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between ultrasound, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and pathology results of thyroid nodules and to reveal the relationship between these methods. Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between 01.01.2019 and 01.11.2023 at Celal Bayar University General Surgery Clinic were retrospectively evaluated ın our study.Patients over 18 years of age, who had undergone detailed preoperative thyroid ultrasound, FNAB and total thyroidectomy were included in the study.Since thyroid nodule ultrasound imaging and FNAB samples were obtained by the Radiology Department, while the biopsy and surgical specimens were analyzed by the Pathology Department. Data of 336 patients that were collected from the hospital's automation system were subject to analyzation. Of these 336 patients, 74.7% (n=251) were female and 25.3% (n=85) were male. The average age was 49.24 years (19- 81), while the oldest patient being 81 years old, the youngest patient was 18 years old. According to the examination of the distribution of the patients' nodules by using the Bethesda classification system, 39% (n=59) of type 1 , 20% (n=100) of type 2 , 63.7% (n=37) of type 3, 91.7% (n=11) of type 4, 95.8% (n=92) of type 5 and 100% (n=14) of type 6 nodules were malignant,respectively (p<0.001). FNAB is a minimally invasive method that provides reliable assessment of thyroid nodules for malignancy. Despite its high accuracy rates, FNAB has diagnostic limitations such as false negative or indeterminate results, which may require additional testing or follow-up. Therefore, new techniques need to be developed and diagnostic guidelines need to be updated for more effective use of FNAB.