Abstract
One hundred and twenty four cases of thyroid nodules treated surgically at the Department of Otolaryngology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine from 1989 to 1992 were analyzed to evaluate the usefulness of various imaging techniques.
1. Plain neck X-rays were performed on 107 cases. Calcifications were found in 14% of the benign nodules, 39% of the malignant nodules and in 30% of all cases. All nodules with minute calcification were malignant.
2. Ultrasonography was performed on 100 cases. The results of a qualitative diagnosis were sensitivity 80.3%, specificity 79.5%, and accuracy 80.0%
3. Scintigraphy with 123I or 99mTcO4- followed by 201T1 was performed on 106 cases. The results of a qualitative diagnosis were sensitivity 71.6%, specificity 64.1%, and accuracy 69.8%.
4. CT scanning was performed on 101 cases, but 12 cases were not able to be qualitatively diagnosed because of lack of information or poor images.The results of a qualitative diagnosis of 89 cases were sensitivity 74.0%, specificity 69.2%, and accuracy 71.9%.
These results together with the physical stress and cost associated with each imaging technique, indicate that ultrasonography is the most useful imaging technique for a qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
