Can thyroid surgery be decided based on ultrasonographic findings, irrespective of cytopathological findings? Five-year retrospective study in a district general hospital.

•Role of Ultrasonography in the characterization of thyroid nodules.•Correlation of Ultrasonography and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology with postoperative histopathological findings.•Role of Ultrasound and cytopathology in thyroid surgery decision making.