Thyroid scintigraphy: its place in preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules?

• Published in: Annales de chirurgie Vol. 127; no. 9; p. 685
• Main Authors: Varcus, F, Peix, J L, Berger, N, Bordos, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01-11-2002
• Subjects: Diagnosis, Differential; Goiter, Nodular - blood; Goiter, Nodular - diagnostic imaging; Goiter, Nodular - surgery; Humans; Prospective Studies; Radionuclide Imaging; Thyroid Gland - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Hormones - blood; Thyroid Nodule - blood; Thyroid Nodule - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Nodule - surgery; Thyrotropin - blood; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0003-3944

To evaluate the real contribution of the thyroid radionuclid scanning in the preoperative evaluation of the thyroid nodules.
The authors prospectively studied 369 patients who underwent surgical intervention: 160 (43.4%) for isolated nodules and 209 (56.6%) for multinodular goiters.
The scintigraphy of the thyroid was performed in 281 (76.2%) patients: 39 (13.8%) patients with nodules less than 1.5 cm in diameter and 242 (86.2%) patients with nodules more than 1.5 cm in diameter. In 234 patients (83.3%) the scintigraphic evaluation did not bring any utile information for the therapeutic decision. The scintigraphy proved its utility only in 47 patients, which represents 16.7% from the scintigraphic exams performed, or 12.7% from the patients that underwent a surgical procedure.
In the presence of thyroid nodule or multinodular goiter, the scintigraphy is indicated only in decreased TSH level, suspicion of ectopic thyroid or retrosternal goiter.