Differentiation of thyroid nodules using Tl-201 scintigraphy quantitative analysis and fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

We studied the differentiation of thyroid nodules using fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and Tl-201 scintigraphy quantitative analysis. One-hundred and thirty-one thyroid nodules were examined: 83 follicular lesions (58 benign and 25 malignant lesions) and 48 non-follicular lesions (8 benign and 40 malignant lesions). During Tl-201 scintigraphy examinations, an early and a delayed image were acquired 10 and 120 min after an intravenous injection, respectively.

Quantitative evaluation by Tl-201 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of thyroid follicular nodules.

We examined the diagnostic capability of a quantitative evaluation by determining the optimum area for comparisons with nodule and optimum imaging time by Tl-201 scintigraphy in thyroid follicular nodules, retrospectively. Ninety-one thyroid follicular nodules, for which the pathological diagnosis had been established, were examined (60 benign, 31 malignant). After 74 MBq of Tl-201 chloride was injected intravenously, Tl-201 scintigrams were obtained at 10, 20, 30, and 120 min.

The usefulness of serum thyroglobulin levels and Tl-201 scintigraphy in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid follicular lesions.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic capabilities of various serum thyroglobulin levels (Tg) and Tl-201 scintigraphy with regard to thyroid follicular lesions.

Methods: We examined 80 thyroid follicular lesions (benign: 55, malignant: 25) in patients with nodular goiter for whom a pathological diagnosis was made based on surgical findings. Tg was measured by an I-125 (radioimmunoassay) method.