Background:Thyroid nodules with indeterminate fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) results remain a diagnostic dilemma, because 70 - 85% of these nodules have been found to be benign after thyroid surgery.Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the preoperative diagnosis of cytologically indeterminate nodules.Patients and Methods:Forty-six patients were included in this study. These individuals had undergone FDG PET/CTs for the preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules with indeterminate FNAB results. The results of the preoperative PET/CT scans were compared with the postoperative pathological results and statistically analyzed.Results:Of the 46 patients included in our study, the histopathology of the surgical specimens revealed thyroid cancer in 17 individuals (37%, 17/46). The PET/CT scan showed a positive result in 27 patients. Of these, 16 patients (59.3%) were found to have thyroid carcinomas. In addition, the PET/CT scan was considered to be negative in 19 patients, 18 (94.7%) of whom had benign lesions. For the detection of malignant lesions, the values for the sensitivity and specificity, and the positive predictive and negative predictive values were 94%, 62%, 59%, and 95%, respectively.Conclusion:The FDG PET/CT showed a high sensitivity and a high negative predictive value for identifying malignancies in thyroid nodules with indeterminate FNAB results. Therefore, the FDG PET/CT may be a helpful tool in the clinical management of these nodules. When an FDG positive lesion is detected, further examination is recommended.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.