Evaluation of dominant thyroid masses. [/sup 125/I, /sup 75/Se, /sup 99m/Tc tracer techniques]

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Ann. Surg.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-197605000-00002· OSTI ID:7309662

Thomas, Jr, C G; Buckwalter, J A; Staab, E V; Kerr, C Y

Controversy exists concerning the management of solitary thyroid nodules because of conflicting information concerning the high clinical incidence of thyroid nodules, the varying incidence of cancer reported in those surgically excised and the infrequency of death from thyroid cancer. During the past several years, a plan for evaluating patients with dominant thyroid masses has evolved. The objective is to avoid unnecessary operations by identifying patients with a high risk of cancer. The criteria which are used are the age and sex of the patient, the duration of the mass, /sup 125/I or /sup 99m/Tc scans, /sup 75/Selenomethionine scans, B-mode ultrasonography and the response of the mass to suppressive therapy. This is a report of the findings in 222 patients who have been studied employing this approach. Thirty percent of the patients were operated upon. Forty percent had neoplasms (well differentiated cancer--28.8 percent, adenoma--12.1 percent), 47.0 percent--nodular goiter, 6.1 percent cysts, and 6.1 percent chronic thyroiditis. The incidence of cancer in the 222 patients was 8.6 percent and adenoma 3.6 percent. Patients at greatest risk of having cancer are those with solid nonfunctioning nodules which fail to regress with suppressive therapy. This study indicates that the approach described above is effective in selecting for surgical excision those individuals at greatest risk of having thyroid cancer.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• OSTI ID: 7309662
• Journal Information: Ann. Surg.; (United States), Journal Name: Ann. Surg.; (United States) Vol. 183:5; ISSN ANSUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
GLANDS
HAZARDS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 125
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
SCINTISCANNING
SELENIUM 75
SELENIUM ISOTOPES
SURGERY
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
THERAPY
THYROID
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES