ObjectiveTo compare two methods-power Doppler and thermography-for the analysis of
nodule vascularization and subsequent selection of nodules to be
biopsied.Materials and MethodsA total of 510 subjects with thyroid nodules were analyzed by power Doppler
and submitted to fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Thirty-seven patients
were submitted to nodule excision (29 due to carcinoma or suspected
carcinoma and 8 by patient choice). Among those patients, power Doppler had
raised the suspicion of malignancy in 39 lesions, compared with 48 for FNAB.
Another group, comprising 110 patients, underwent thermography, which raised
the suspicion of malignancy in 124 thyroid nodules, as did FNAB. Malignant
nodules were excised in all 110 of those patients (95 underwent nodulectomy
and 15 underwent thyroidectomy), malignancy being confirmed by
intraoperative examination of frozen biopsy samples.ResultsIn relation to the FNAB findings, the sensitivity, specificity, positive
predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of power Doppler
were 95.16%, 23.52%, 96.22%, 16.70%, and 89.51%, respectively, compared with
100%, 58.06%, 87.73%, 100%, and 89.51%, respectively, for thermography.ConclusionThermography was more precise than was power Doppler for the selection of
thyroid nodules to be biopsied.