BACKGROUND Thyroid nodules and goitre are common carcinoma occurs in 5% of thyroid nodules. Early detection and treatment is beneficial to prolong the survival. Higher TSH values in patients with thyroid nodule is associated with greater risk of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The aim of the study is to-1. Study the association between serum thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroid nodules. 2. Study the various aetiological factors attributing to the causation of thyroid malignancy. 3. Asses serum TSH concentration as a predictor of thyroid malignancy in patients with thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study included 100 patients presenting with thyroid swellings in Department of General Surgery, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, during the study period-November 2014 to March 2016. RESULTS 30 patients belonged to age group of 26-35, 28 pts. belonged to 36-45. 82 were women, 18 were men. 32 nodules were more than 4 cms in size. Final HPE showed 17 papillary carcinoma, 2 follicular and 1 medullary carcinoma, remaining were benign. Mean TSH value for colloid goitre 1.84 mIU/lit., adenoma 1.89 mIU/lit., PTC 2.75 mIU/lit., FTC 3.26 mIU/lit., MTC 1.1 mIU/lit. CONCLUSION Thyroid diseases are common in females. Nodules in male are associated with high chances of malignancy. Swellings that are hard or variable are more likely malignant. Swellings of size 4 or >4 cms are more likely to be malignant. The incidence of malignancy is higher in SNT (36%) compared to multinodular goitre (19%). Mean preoperative TSH value in the present study is 2.27±0.80 mU/L. All patients are euthyroid. The mean TSH value was significantly higher in malignancy than in benign disease, i.e. 2.72±1.2 mU/L vs. 1.78±1.40 mU/L.

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