Contribution of scintigraphy and ultrasonography to the prediction of malignancy in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.
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.
Rosário
Pedro Weslley
PW
Programa de Pós-graduação, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. pedrorosario@globo.com
Salles
Daniela Santos
DS
Bessa
Breno
B
Purisch
Saulo
S
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
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine