Endocrine Abstracts

Clinical parameters and echographic patterns are poorly predictive of malignancy in thyroid nodules with a cytological diagnosis of follicular and Hv¨rthle cell neoplasia

T Rago, G Di Coscio, F Basolo, M Scutari, P Berti, R Romani, P Faviana, P Miccoli, A Pinchera & P Vitti

Department of Endocrinology, Pisa, Italy.

Aim of the study was to evaluate whether clinical parameters and echographic patterns may be predictive of malignancy in thyroid nodules with a cytological diagnosis of follicular (FOL) and H?rthle cell (HC) neoplasia. The study included 495 patients (388 F: mean age 45±14 yr; 107 M: mean age 46±14 yr) with FOL (n=418) and CH (n=77) nodules, ‘cold’ at scintiscan and undergone to thyroidectomy. Clinical parameters considered were: sex, age, goiter association and nodule size. Echographic patterns previously described as suggestive of malignancy were evaluated with real time ultrasound apparatus (Technos, Esaote, SPA) using a 7.5 MHz linear probe. Histological diagnosis of malignancy (CA) was performed in 124 cases and benign nodule (BN) in 371 cases.

In conclusion, sex, age, goiter association and single nodularity are not predictive of malignancy. Among the echographic patterns, only the presence of microcalcifications is significantly associated with malignancy. Hypoechogenicity, at difference of what previously observed in the whole group of nodules, has no predictive value in thyroid nodules with a cytological diagnosis of follicular and Hürthle cell neoplasia.

Endocrine Abstracts (2006) 11 P860