Thallium-201 scan in evaluating thyroid nodules following equivocal fine-needle aspiration cytology

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the usefulness of the thallium-201 (Tl-201) thyroid scan in the detection of malignancy in cold thyroid nodules whose status was equivocal following palpation fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Patients, methods: Fifty-one patients with clinically palpable solitary cold thyroid nodules classified as non-diagnostic or suspicious following biopsy underwent Tl-201 thyroid scans. Each scan was performed 15 min (early scan) and 3 h (delayed scan) after an intravenous administration of 74 MBq Tl-201. Thallium uptake in the nodules was visually assessed and scored on a three point scale, with a grade of three defining malignancy. All patients underwent surgery and the histopathology of nodule tissues were compared with results of the scans. Results: Fifty-one nodules were examined. Forty were benign and 11 were malignant. For early scans, the diagnostically relevant parameters were: sensitivity (100%), specificity (75%), and accuracy (80%). Corresponding findings for the delayed scan were: 91%, 98%, and 96%. Conclusion: The Tl-201 scan is useful for detecting malignancy in cold thyroid nodules classified as nondiagnostic or suspicious lesions by FNAC.