SOLITARY THYROID-NODULE, A COMPARATIVE-ST UDY OF CYTOLOGY, SCINTIGRAPHY AND HISTOLOGIC-FINDINGS

OBJECTIVES: Nodular thyroid disease, indicated by the presence of sing le or multiple nodules within the thyroid gland is a common clinical p roblem, the main question remains the malignancy. Radionuclide scannin g, ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy have been helpful to distinguish beningn from malignant nodules and to select patients for surgery. METHODS: We periormed a prospective study to assess the c omparative value of fine needle nonaspiration biopsy and thyroid scint i scan in the management of 412 patients operated for solitary thyroid nodule. RESULTS: Sensitivity and negative predictive values were the same for both methods, but specificity of cytology was greater than th at of thyroid scinti scan (80.53% vs. 10.47%, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Thyroid radionuclide scanning remains valuable in the evaluation of a cytological beningn solitary thyroid nodule when TSH value is low, in order to distinguish toxic adenoma from cold nodule in Craves' disease .