CORRELATION BETWEEN ULRASOUND AND RADIONUCLIDE SCAN IN THE EVALUATION OF THE CLINCALLY SOLITARY THYROID NODULE

*Dr. Adnan Ibraheem Ali and Dr. Muhammad H. Al- Eshaiker

ABSTRACT

Ninety five patients clinically through to have a solitary thyroid nodule where examined scintigraphically and ultrasonographically. Pathological results were obtained in fifty two patients and correlated with functional criteria of the radionuclide, and the morphological criteria of the ultrasound. The results indicate that both imaging methods have sensitivity in detecting the lesion; ultrasound being more sensitive. Radionuclide provides important functional but limited anatomic information in comparison to those obtained from ultrasound. Both images lack the specificity in differentiating benign from malignant lesion, which can be increased significantly if combined with fine needle aspiration cytological study, and restricted for the high risk patient regarding scintigraphic and ultrasonic criteria of the lesion. Ultrasound is safe, reliable, easily repeatable and non invasive in comparision with scintigraphy.

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