Nomogram for selecting thyroid nodules for ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy based on a quantification of risk of malignancy. Issue 7 (22nd June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nixon, Iain J.; Ganly, Ian; Hann, Lucy E.; Yu, Changhong; Palmer, Frank L.; Whitcher, Monica M.; Shah, Jatin P.; Shaha, Ashok; Kattan, Michael W.; Patel, Snehal G.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 35:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1022
• Page End: 1025
• Publication Date: 2012-06-22
• Subjects: Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.23075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Our aim through this study was to develop a statistical tool to quantify risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules based on clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound features, which could be used to select which nodules require ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-2" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Clinical records, biochemical profiles, pathology reports, and ultrasound images were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to rank variables in their ability to predict malignancy.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-3" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In all, 190 nodules were reviewed. The final diagnoses were papillary carcinoma in 105 patients (66%), other carcinoma in 8 patients (5%), and benign thyroid pathology in 45 patients (29%). After exclusions, 182 nodules remained for analysis on a per nodule basis. The 8 variables with highest predictive value were: age; thyroid‐stimulating hormone; and ultrasound size, shape, echo texture, calcification, margin, and vascularity. The nomogram had a concordance index of 75%.</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-4" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>We produced a nomogram able to accurately predict the need to perform ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration on a thyroid nodule based on biochemical, clinical, and ultrasound features. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013</p> </sec> </abstract>