GOITER: AN OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIST’S EXPERIENCE AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL

OBJECTIVES: 1) to study the presentations and findings of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and histopathology of goiter 2) to study the outcome of surgical procedures for goiter in otorhinolaryngology ward of a teaching hospital.METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from May 2012 to April 2013. All the patients of any age and either gender having goiter requiring surgery were included. Every patient was evaluated in terms of detailed history, thorough examination and relevant investigations. Thyroidectomy was performed according to the nature and extent of disease. The data were collected on a predesigned proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 16.RESULTS: Out of 72 patients, 62 (86.1%) were female and 10 (13.9%) were males. Mean age was 38.61+13.87 years The main complaint was anterior neck swelling (100%), lasting for 2 years in 51.4% patients.Both lobes of thyroid were enlarged in 51.4% patients and mean size of goiter was 2.18±0.71 cm2. Solitary thyroid nodule was the commonest (45.8%) observation. Adenomatous colloid nodule was diagnosed 65.3% and 77.8% on FNAC and histopathology respectively. Malignancy was noted in 22.2% cases on histopathology. Partial thyroidectomy was performed in 43.1% cases. Complication rate was 23.6%; wound dehiscence (6.9%) and post-operative hematoma (5.6%) were the commonest complications.CONCLUSION: Goiter was common in females of middle age and majority had solitary thyroid nodule. Benign adenomatous colloid nodule was the commonest findings on histopathology. Majority underwent partial thyroidectomy and complication rate was 23.6%.