CYTOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HASHIMOTO THYROIDITIS-WITH SONOLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL FINDINGS-ANALYSIS OF 80 CASES

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto thyroiditis is the most common form of thyroiditis. The incidence is found more in the coastal areas for which iodine excess is described as a probable etiology .Ours is a coastal area, where significant number of females is coming to the hospital with diffuse enlargement of thyroid. This prompted us to do the current study. FNAC is a simple, cost effective, diagnostic modality which when used in combination with sonological and serological investigations, helps the clinicians in the correct diagnosis, even in the early stage of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study was done for a period of 18 months from January1 rst 2013 to JUNE 31 rst 2014. The clinical, sonological and serological aspects of 80 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were studied and compared with the cytomorphological features. RESULTS: The peak incidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis was seen in women of 2nd decade. Coexisting colloid goiter was noted in significant number of cases. Subclinical thyroid and euthyroid cases (serologically) showed cytomorphological features diagnostic of thyroiditis. Correlation with sonological features were seen in 66 % of cases. Lymphocytic infiltrate in follicular cell clusters, background lymphocytes and plasma cells and hurthle cells were diagnostic of hashimoto's thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: The increased frequency of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in younger age group, in euthyroid cases and its coexistence with colloid goiter should prompt us to take more detailed and large scale study in Kerala, especially in the coastal areas. FNA should be done as a first line mode of investigation, since it helps in identifying Hashimoto thyroiditis in the initial stages when the serological findings may be normal.