Imaging-detected incidental thyroid nodules that undergo surgery: a single-center experience over 1 year.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Incidental thyroid nodules are commonly seen on imaging, and their work-up can ultimately lead to surgery. We describe characteristics and pathology results of imaging-detected incidental thyroid nodules that underwent surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 303 patients who underwent thyroid surgery over a 1-year period to identify patients who presented with incidental thyroid nodules on imaging. Medical records were reviewed for the types of imaging studies that led to detection, nodule characteristics, and surgical pathology. RESULTS: Of 303 patients, 208 patients (69%) had surgery for thyroid nodules. Forty-seven of 208 patients (23%) had incidental thyroid nodules detected on imaging. The most common technique leading to detection was CT (47%). All patients underwent biopsy before surgery. The cytology results were nondiagnostic (6%), benign (4%), atypia of undetermined significance or follicular neoplasm of undetermined significance (23%), follicular neoplasm or suspicious for follicular neoplasm (19%), suspicious for malignancy (17%), and diagnostic of malignancy (30%). Surgical pathology was benign in 24 of 47 (51%) cases of incidental thyroid nodules. In the 23 incidental cancers, the most common histologic type was papillary (87%), the mean size was 1.4 cm, and nodal metastases were present in 7 of 23 cases (30%). No incidental cancers on imaging had distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging-detected incidental thyroid nodules led to nearly one-fourth of surgeries for thyroid nodules, and almost half were initially detected on CT. Despite indeterminate or suspicious cytology results that lead to surgery, more than half were benign on final pathology. Guidelines for work-up of incidental thyroid nodules detected on CT could help reduce unnecessary investigations and surgery.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Bahl, M; Sosa, JA; Nelson, RC; Hoang, JK
Published Date
- 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 35 / 11
Start / End Page
- 2176 - 2180
PubMed ID
- 24970551
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC7965188
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1936-959X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.3174/ajnr.A4004
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States