[The role and value of perfusion parameters in clinical discrimination of "cold" thyroid nodes]

The aim of the study was to investigate if the perfusion parameters can be of value in differential diagnosis of "cold" thyroid nodes. This procedure was performed in 60 patients with "cold" unilateral nodes. The quantitative parameters of perfusion through the "cold" nodes were obtained by our own computer programme. The parameters of perfusion which gave the most impressive results are shown in this study. The ratio of perfusion between the node and healthy thyroid lobe was significantly higher in carcinomas (0.8) than in benign "cold" nodes: cysts (0.1), autommune thyroid diseases and benign solid goiters (0.4). The radioactivity increasing rate in node was significantly higher in carcinomas (2.7) than in benign nodes: Cysts (1.3), autoimmune thyroid diseases (1.5) and solid benign goiters (1.6). The ratio of radioactivity increasing rate between the node and healthy thyroid lobe was also significantly higher in carcinomas (0.9) than in other "cold" benign lesions (0.3).