title: [Techniques for thyroid imaging].
abstract: Advances in imaging techniques has improved our understanding of diseases. The different imaging techniques for visualizing the thyroid parenchyma, including cytopuncture, sonography, CT-scan, scintigraphy, magnetic resonance imaging, have provided various types of information. Do these techniques really provide the clinician with the answers to his question? The information provided by the different imaging techniques is presented together with the insufficiencies of each method. Faced with the rising cost of health services, we developed analysis instruments which should help the clinician in a more rational use of diagnostic examinations. The question which most often arises is that of an isolated nodule within a multinodular goiter: is it malignant or benign? the analysis of the available techniques shows that the cost-effective strategy uses conventional Tc99m or I123 scintigraphy and thallium 201 scintigraphy. With this strategy, the risk of missing a thyroid cancer is approximately 1.75%. With cytopuncture, this risk is multiplied by a factor of 2.5 reaching 4.5%.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermans
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography