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Incidence of malignancy in solitary thyroid nodules

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2015

S M Keh ,
S K El-Shunnar ,
T Palmer  and
S F Ahsan
S M Keh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK
S K El-Shunnar*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
T Palmer
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK
S F Ahsan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK Otolaryngology Department, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr S K El-Shunnar, Otolaryngology Department, Princess Royal Hospital, Grainger Drive, Apley Castle, Telford TF1 6TF, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of solitary thyroid nodules in patients who underwent thyroid surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective review was performed of the case notes of all adult patients who underwent thyroid surgery from January 2003 to December 2009. All patients with solitary thyroid nodules identified by ultrasonography were included.

Results:

In total, 225 patients underwent thyroid surgery. The prevalence of solitary thyroid nodules was 27.1 per cent (61 out of 225 patients). Seventy-two per cent of patients were women and the mean age at presentation was 52 ± 16 years. In all, 75.4 per cent of solitary nodules had neoplastic pathology and the malignancy rate was 34.4 per cent. The sensitivity and specificity of fine needle aspiration cytology for neoplasm detection were 73.9 per cent and 80.0 per cent, respectively. There was no association between the various ultrasonography parameters and malignancy risk (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Solitary thyroid nodules should be investigated thoroughly with a high index of suspicion because there is a high probability (34.0 per cent) of malignancy.

Keywords

Thyroid GlandNeoplasmsUltrasonographyIncidenceCytology
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 7 , July 2015 , pp. 677 - 681
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

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