A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY VS FINE NEEDLE NON ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY VS ULTRASOUND GUIDED FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY IN THE CYTOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THYROID LESIONS

Introduction: FNAC is mainly used in differentiating malignant thyroid nodules from benign nodules as the later can be followed up clinically. A modified sampling technique called fine needle non-aspiration cytology (FNNAC), has come into clinical use in recent times. To evaluate the efficacy of fine-needle non-aspiration cytology (FNNAC) with that of standard fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and USG guided FNAC of thyroid lesions as regards to cellular and hemorrhagic yield. Methodology: Patients attending Out patient and In patient Department of General Surgery with clinically palpable thyroid swelling for a period of one year are included in this study. Patients were randomised into 3 groups_ 25 patients in each group. After a thorough clinical examination, all the patients in group 1 were subjected to FNAC. Patients in group 2 were subjected to FNNAC .Patients in group 3 were subjected to USG guided FNAC. The details of the technique of Fine needle cytology were explained to the patient and an appropriate consent was obtained from each case before performing the procedure. After subjecting patients to FNNAC and FNAC using 23 gauge needle,the samples were smeared and air dried and sent to the pathologist. Cytological evaluation and reporting was done by pathologist. Results: Out of 50 patients, 25 patients were subjected to FNNAC & 25 patients were subjected to USG guided FNAC from thyroid lesions. The smears was scored and graded accordingly. Based on the results, it was found that superior quality smears were more in FNNAC technique, but diagnostically adequate samples are more in USG guided FNAC than FNNAC. Conclusion: For highly vascular organs like thyroid , FNNAC is the preferred technique as there is better material with less admixture of blood. The number of superior quality smears without admixture of blood is more from FNNAC. FNAC smears although equally diagnostic, mostly produced diagnostically adequate rather than superior quality smears.