Clinicopathological Correlation of Core-Needle Biopsy in Thyroid Nodule Assessment: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center

Abstract Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the mainstay for thyroid nodule assessment, boasting excellent specificity and cost-effectiveness. However, its diagnostic limitations often yield nondiagnostic or indeterminate results, especially in complex thyroid cases. Core-needle biopsy (CNB) has emerged as a complementary technique that preserves tissue architecture, enabling improved morphological and molecular analysis. This study compares the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of FNAC and CNB in a tertiary care setting. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, 116 patients with thyroid masses underwent both FNAC and CNB between 2014 and 2024. Clinicopathological features, imaging, and cytological/histological data were reviewed. Diagnoses were correlated with final surgical outcomes where available.