ASSOCIATION BETWEEN OSPITAL NG MAKATI-BASED THYROID ULTRASONOGRAPHY DESCRIPTIVE FINDINGS AND FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY FINDINGS WITH HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF THYROID MALIGNANCIES

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem. Ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy (FNAB) have been used for diagnosis. Worldwide, the use of international standards of reporting such as the American Thyroid Association (ATA) Sonographic Pattern Risk Assessment and the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology are used to detect thyroid malignancies. However, ultrasonography and FNAB reports are different at Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK), wherein these deviate from international standards. The study aimed to validate the association of OSMAK-based reports with histopathology results, and to determine their accuracy in detecting malignancy as confirmed by histopathology.

METHODOLOGY
A retrospective cohort study was utilized among patients 20 years old and above with thyroid malignancies who had thyroid ultrasonography and FNAB done at OSMAK between January 2012 and January 2017. Descriptive statistics were utilized to present the variables. Review of thyroid ultrasonography and FNAB were done based on report descriptions. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to test for association. The accuracy of these OSMAK-based descriptions and reports were then analyzed.

RESULTS
There was not enough evidence to conclude that OSMAKbased thyroid ultrasonography was associated with histopathologic findings (p=0.135); it had an accuracy of detecting malignancy at 40.5%. There was not enough evidence to conclude that OSMAK-based FNAB was associated with histopathologic findings (p=0.083); the test had an accuracy of 56.8%.

CONCLUSION
The use of OSMAK-based ultrasonography and FNAB reporting are not accurate in detecting thyroid malignancies. Hence, the use of validated, internationally-accepted guidelines should be implemented to help physicians provide the most appropriate care for these patients.