J Korean Surg Soc.  2010 Aug;79(2):86-93. 10.4174/jkss.2010.79.2.86.

Can Review of Sonographic Findings Spare Diagnostic Thyroidectomy in Patients with Thyroid Nodules Suspicious of Follicular Neoplasm Cytologically?

• Choi HL
• Kim DJ
• Sun WY
• Yun HY
• Jang LC
• Choi JW
• Lee SY
• Lee OJ
• Park JW

• KMID: 2211977
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2010.79.2.86

Abstract

PURPOSE
Follicular neoplasms (FNs) such as follicular adenoma and carcinoma (FTC), nodular hyperplasia (NH) and follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPC) share cytological features. In the present study, we investigate whether review of sonographic findings in patients with thyroid nodules suspicious of FN spares diagnostic thyroidectomies (DTs) by excluding benign diseases such as NH or not.
METHODS
From June 1999 to May 2007, DTs were performed on 98 patients who had nodules suspicious of FN. High resolution sonographic findings are available for 53 patients. According to the final histologic diagnosis: Group I (23 patients) consisted of 20 FNs (11 FTCs), 1 Hurthle cell adenoma, 2 FVPC; Group II (30 patients) consisted of all others (23 NHs, 4 Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 3 papillary carcinomas (PTCs). Sonographic features were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
Three differential sonographic findings (DSF) i.e. irregular margin, absence of peripheral halo or marked inhomogeniety were identified more often in Group II than Group I (P<0.05). If we spared DTs for patients who have at least one DSF, 18 patients (34.0%) would have been selected for clinical follow-up whose final diagnoses were 14 NHs and 4 PTCs (including 1 FVPC). Sparing DTs by DSFs shows sensitivity, 56.7%; specificity, 95.7%; positive predictive value, 94.4%; negative predictive value, 62.9%; and accuracy, 73.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
In patients with thyroid nodules suspicious of FN, sonographic findings such as irregular margin, absence of peripheral halo or marked inhomogeneity might spare DTs with the help of other diagnostic modalities such as cytogenetic or immunohistochemical studies.

Keyword

Follicular neoplasm; Nodular hyperplasia; Follicular variant of papillary carcinoma; Sonography; Diagnostic thyroidectomy

MeSH Terms

Adenoma
Carcinoma, Papillary
Cytogenetics
Factor IX
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hyperplasia
Sensitivity and Specificity
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Nodule
Thyroidectomy
Thyroiditis
Factor IX

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Ultrasonographic feature and characteristics of thyroid nodules. Demarcation, smooth (A) versus irregular (B); peripheral low echogenic rim (halo), present (C) versus absent (D); degree of inhomogeneity, mild to moderate (E) versus marked (F).

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