Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effi cacy of scintigraphy, ultrasound and fi ne-needle aspiration in thyroid nodules and to establish the best diagnostic pathway in detecting thyroid cancer. Method: Two hundred and sixteen patients with thyroid nodules were examined using high-resolution ultrasonography, 99mTc thyroid scintigraphy and ultrasound-guided fi ne-needle aspiration. Of these, 113 patients subsequently underwent thyroidectomy. The remaining 103 were followed up for two years without any evidence of malignancy. Results: Cytopathology classifi ed 71% of the aspirate as benign, 3% as positive for malignancy, 21% as suspected neoplasia and 5% as unsatisfactory. Fine- needle aspiration cytology had a sensitivity of 87.5% and specifi city of 80%. On ultrasound 33% of malignant nodules were hypo-echoic and on scintigraphy 16% of solitary cold nodules were malignant. Neither test could reliably diagnose thyroid cancer. conclusion: Ultrasound-guided fi ne-needle aspiration cytology should be the fi rst test performed in euthyroid patients with a thyroid nodule. Scintigraphy and ultrasound imaging should be reserved for follow-up studies and patients who have suppressed levels of thyroid stimulating hormone.
Publication details
- DOI
- 10.18295/2075-0528.2576
- Journal
- Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 3(1), 29-33
- Publisher
- Sultan Qaboos University
- Open access
- Gold open access
- License
- CC BY-ND 4.0
Cite this article
APA 7
Sankhla, D. K., Hussein, S. S., El Shafie, H., Omeima, Woodhouse, N. J., & Nirmala, V. (2025). Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 3(1), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2576
MLA 9
Sankhla, Dilip K., et al. "Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 3, no. 1, 2025, pp. 29-33. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2576.
Chicago (author–date)
Sankhla, Dilip K., Samir S. Hussein, Haddia El Shafie, Omeima, Nicholas J. Woodhouse, and V Nirmala. 2025. "Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules?" Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 3 (1): 29-33. https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2576.
Harvard
Sankhla, D. K., Hussein, S. S., El Shafie, H., Omeima, Woodhouse, N. J. and Nirmala, V. (2025) 'Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules?', Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 3(1), pp. 29-33. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.2576.
Vancouver
Sankhla DK, Hussein SS, El Shafie H, Omeima, Woodhouse NJ, Nirmala V. Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules? Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal. 2025;3(1):29-33. doi:10.18295/2075-0528.2576
IEEE
D. K. Sankhla, S. S. Hussein, H. El Shafie, Omeima, N. J. Woodhouse, and V. Nirmala, "Are Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography Necessary Before Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules?," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 29-33, 2025, doi: 10.18295/2075-0528.2576.