title: Contribution of scintigraphy and ultrasonography to the prediction of malignancy in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the contribution of (131)I scintigraphy and ultrasonography to the prediction of malignancy in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology in euthyroid patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 102 patients with thyroid nodules, submitted to FNAC and presenting an indeterminate cytological diagnosis (follicular neoplasm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malignancy was observed in 19/25 (76%) nodules with suspicious ultrasonographic characteristics versus 5/77 (6.5%) without suspicious findings. When (131)I scintigraphy showed a cold or hot nodule, the chance of malignancy was 38.5% and 2.5%, respectively. This exam was inconclusive in 10% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery is indicated when a thyroid nodule with indeterminate cytology exhibits suspicious ultrasonographic characteristics. Otherwise, (131)I scintigraphy can exclude thyroidectomy when reveals uptake in the nodule, which is observed in half the cases.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. pedrorosario@globo.com
authors.forename: Pedro Weslley
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Rosário
authors.forename: Daniela Santos
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Breno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bessa
authors.forename: Saulo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purisch
mesh_terms: D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine