Scanning in the Preoperative Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

From May 1961 to September 1965, 4,000 thyroid scannings were performed in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the National Cancer Institute of Milan. One thousand twenty-two cases had a nodular goiter; 190 of these patiens were treated with partial or total thyroidectomy. In this study 180 nodules, 143 adenomas and 37 carcinomas were evaluated. Out of 143 adenomas, 61 (42%) showed no functional activity, 41 (29%) had a normal scanning, and 41 (29%) showed a high I¹³¹ uptake. Out of 37 carcinomas, 17 (46%) were functionally silent, 13 (35%) had a normal scanning, and 7 (19%) showed a high I¹³¹ uptake. Twenty-four percent of the cold nodules were found to be carcinomas; however, malignant tumors were not unfrequently found also in hyperfunctioning nodules (13%) or in nodules ith normal I¹³¹ uptake (5%). The thyroid scanning did not show useful informations when the nodules were less than 1.5 cm. Although the thyroid scanning may be of some help in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, its usefulness is still limited, the final preoperative diagnosis being mainly supported by the objective clinical signs.