What Does This FNAC Thyroid Report Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 Answered on

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi
My wife got an ultra sound guided FNAC done for thyroid. Can you please explain me the details of the attached test reprot.
T3 T4 and TSH are normal

Answered by Dr. Ajish TP (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is a report of "possible cancer " category

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,

Thanks for sending the report.

In layman terms there can be 4 categories of FNAC thyroid report

1. Cancer
2. Not at all cancer
3. Possibility of cancer
4. Cannot comment the type

Follicular lesion belongs to - "possible cancer" category. That is chance of cancer is there, but cannot say completely with FNAC reports.

Follicular cancer - cannot be said as benign (not cancer) or malignant ( Cancer ) from FNAC. We have to do excision biopsy for that.

If the report is follicular lesion, current treatment options are :

1. Do a hemithyroidectomy - Half thyroid is removed - and if it turn out to be cancer do a repeat thyroid surgery to remove other half

2. Total thyroidectomy - Remove the entire thyroid - so no need for repeat surgery.

After surgery for follicular lesion - 80% the report is benign, and 20 % it can be cancerous. But we don't have tests to differentiate cancer and non cancer before surgery.

Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.

Regards
Dr Ajish TP
Consultant Endocrinologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju