Histopathological spectrum of thyroid lesions in thyroidectomy specimens:  A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study.

Dr Anand  Acharya; Thiragati Venu Gopala Krishna; Kandanala Mallika; Dr. Anand  Acharya

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2729

Authors

Dr. Narendra Kumar Chandrashekar Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Thiragati Venu Gopala Krishna Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Kandanala Mallika Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. Anand Acharya Dean and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2729

Keywords:

Thyroidectomy, thyroid lesions, histopathology, colloid goitre, follicular adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, observational study

Abstract

Background

Thyroid lesions include a wide range of non-neoplastic, benign neoplastic and malignant conditions. Histopathological examination of thyroidectomy specimens remains essential for final diagnosis, classification and subsequent clinical management.

Objectives

To evaluate the histopathological spectrum of thyroid lesions in thyroidectomy specimens and describe their distribution according to age, sex, clinical presentation and type of thyroidectomy specimen.

Methods

This hospital-based cross-sectional study included consecutive thyroidectomy specimens meeting predefined eligibility criteria. The minimum sample size, calculated using a single-proportion formula with 95% confidence, 50% expected prevalence, and 10% absolute precision, was rounded to 100. Demographic, clinical, surgical, and histopathological data were recorded. Specimens underwent routine processing and haematoxylin–eosin staining. Lesions were categorised histologically. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 100 consecutive thyroidectomy specimens were assessed for eligibility. All 100 met the eligibility criteria; no specimen was excluded, and all were included in the final analysis. The age of patients ranged from 18 to 72 years, with a mean age of 41.8 ± 13.6 years. Females constituted 82% of cases, giving a female-to-male ratio of 4.5:1. Anterior neck swelling was present in all patients, followed by compressive symptoms in 22%. Non-neoplastic lesions accounted for 66% of cases, benign neoplastic lesions for 21% and malignant lesions for 13%. Colloid goitre was the most frequent diagnosis (32%), followed by multinodular goitre (18%) and follicular adenoma (14%). Papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common malignant lesion.

Conclusion

Benign thyroid lesions predominated in thyroidectomy specimens, with a clear female preponderance. Histopathology confirmed colloid goitre as the leading diagnosis and papillary thyroid carcinoma as the most frequent malignancy.

Recommendations

Routine histopathological evaluation should be strengthened for all thyroidectomy specimens to improve diagnostic accuracy, detect occult malignancy and guide postoperative follow-up.

Author Biographies

Dr. Narendra Kumar Chandrashekar, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, diagnostic histopathology, cytopathology, and academic research. His areas of professional interest include surgical pathology, clinicopathological correlation, and pathology-based observational research.

Dr. Thiragati Venu Gopala Krishna, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. He contributes to diagnostic pathology services, medical education, and research activities within the department.

His academic interests include histopathology, cytology, hematology, and evidence-based laboratory medicine.

Dr. Kandanala Mallika, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. She has experience in pathology teaching, diagnostic reporting, and academic supervision. Her professional interests include surgical pathology, cytopathology, laboratory quality improvement, and clinicopathological research.

Dr. Anand Acharya, Dean and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

currently serves as Dean and Professor, Department of Pharmacology, at the Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation (KIMS&RF), Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. A distinguished academician, researcher, and medical education leader, he has been pivotal in transforming KIMS&RF from its formative phase into a premier medical institution with over 200 undergraduate and 100 postgraduate seats.

With more than 18 years of teaching and administrative experience, Dr. Acharya has held several leadership positions, including Vice Principal, Principal, Chief Warden, Member Secretary of Institutional Ethics and Animal Ethics Committees, and is an approved PhD Guide under Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada. His visionary leadership has significantly enhanced the institution’s academic quality, clinical exposure, research infrastructure, and postgraduate training standards.

He has completed prestigious national faculty development programs such as the Revised Basic Course Workshop (rBCW), Advanced Course in Medical Education (ACME), and National Teacher Training Course (NTTC, JIPMER, Puducherry). He also serves as Coordinator for Pharmacovigilance and Materiovigilance Programs under IPC–PvPI and MoHFW, Government of India, contributing actively to national drug safety and regulatory initiatives.

A prolific academician, Dr. Acharya has authored and co-authored more than 100 scientific publications in reputed national and international indexed journals. His wide-ranging research covers toxicology, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial resistance, endocrinology, neuropharmacology, and clinical pharmacology. His recent studies include long-term analyses of pyrethroid, paraquat, and chlorpyrifos poisoning, investigations into antimicrobial resistance trends, and predictive models for treatment outcomes in dermatological and toxicological emergencies.

Dr. Acharya’s professional interests include clinical pharmacology, toxicovigilance, rational drug use, pharmacovigilance systems, and innovations in medical education technologies. He continues to mentor numerous postgraduate and undergraduate researchers while playing an integral role in curriculum reform, ethics governance, and institutional academic advancement.

ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7967-9092

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