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Characterization of Thyroid Nodules by 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Initial Experience
Ryan T Fitzgerald1, Manohar Kuruva, Ryan David
1From the Departments of *Radiology and †Geriatrics, ‡Thyroid Center, and §Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UAMS, Little Rock, AK.
Objective:
We aimed to evaluate the use of 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) for characterization of thyroid nodules.
Methods:
Our study drew from 100 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent 4D parathyroid CT imaging for adenoma localization. Included subjects had tissue sampling of a thyroid nodule within 3 months of 4DCT.
Results:
Twenty subjects (18 women and 2 men) had thyroid nodules that were pathologically confirmed. Precontrast nodule attenuation was significantly lower in malignant nodules when compared with benign nodules (36 vs 61 HU, P = 0.05). Arterial phase and delayed phase nodule attenuations were not significantly different in malignant and benign nodules (128 vs 144 HU, P = 0.7; 74 vs 98 HU, P = 0.3).
Conclusions:
Our initial experience with a small group of patients was unable to support the use of 4DCT for characterizing thyroid nodules; however, precontrast nodule attenuation was significantly lower in malignant nodules when compared with benign nodules.
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