Presurgical differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules / 中国实用内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the utility of clinical characters and variant examinations in discriminating benign from malignant thyroid lesions before operation.Methods We had retrospectively analyzed 1367 cases of thyroid nodule that were operated in Ruijin Hospital from 1999 to 2004.Results Clinical symptoms and signs,ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration(FNA)were all useful in indicating malignant thyroid lesions,especially FNA,whose sensitivity,specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 65.12%,95.08% and 82.69%,respectively.By logistic regression analysis,the thyroid nodule of young patients or solid or hard nodules,or nodules hard,or accompanied with calcification or nonached lymphadenectasis might be maligment nodules.At this time,FNA shoud be performed.Conclusion The above findings emphasize the importance of reviewing carefully and utilizing effectively the clinical information of each patient.