title: Fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of thyroidal nodules diagnosed by (FNA) cytology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)--a University of Nairobi affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty two patients seen at FNA clinic at KNH between June and August 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The female to male ratio was 7:1, with the majority in the age group 31-50 years. Overall 88.1% patients had benign FNA cytologic diagnostic results, 2.4% had a malignant, and a suspicious result respectively and 7.1% were non-diagnostic. Cytological results were as follows, nodular goiter comprised 83.3%, non-diagnostic samples 7.1%, papillary carcinoma 2.4%, atypia 2.4%, thyroglossal cyst 2.4%, and thyroiditis 2.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings are comparable in terms of sex, age and FNA cytologic diagnostic results to other studies. FNA cytology offered clinicians the possibility of early diagnosis of benign (>70%) and malignant (<5%) lesions. The test was an out-patient procedure, safe, time saving, cost effective and helped determine the course of therapy in the management of patients with thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Health, School of Medicine, Moi University, P.O. Box 4606, Eldoret, Kenya.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Sang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sekadde-Kigondu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muchiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*