Solitary cold thyroid nodule: cost-ineffectiveness of ultrasonography

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · South. Med. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-198409000-00024· OSTI ID:5999862

Abdel-Nabi, H; Falko, J M; Olsen, J O; Freimanis, A K

We reviewed our experience with thyroid sonography of 60 patients with nonfunctioning (cold) solitary thyroid nodules proven by iodine 123 scan. Twenty-two patients had surgery; the remaining 38 had thyroid scan and ultrasound only. In the first group, the echograms did not demonstrate the surgically proven nodules in seven patients (32%). In the second group, the thyroid echograms were reported as negative in 12 patients (32%). Two of these patients had computerized tomography (CT) which confirmed the solitary nodule identified on the 123I scan. As a consequence, we no longer perform or recommend routine thyroid echograms on all scintigraphically cold solitary nodules. We believe that the extra cost of a thyroid echogram is not justified and that the most rational application of thyroid ultrasonography is in assessing the response of a nodule to suppressive hormonal therapy.

• Research Organization: Ohio State Univ. Hospitals, Columbus
• OSTI ID: 5999862
• Journal Information: South. Med. J.; (United States), Journal Name: South. Med. J.; (United States) Vol. 77:9; ISSN SMJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 123
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPES
THYROID
TOMOGRAPHY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ULTRASONOGRAPHY