[Clinical evaluation of diagnostic methods of nodular goiter]

In 47 patients who had undergone roentgenography, ultrasonography, 201 Tl-scintigraphy, and aspiration cytology and on whom a pathological diagnosis had been made, the diagnostic value of the above-mentioned 4 examinations was evaluated. The correct diagnosis rate for aspiration cytology and 201 Tl-scintigraphy was 76.6%; for ultrasonography and roentgenography it was 70.2%. The false-negative rate of cancer for aspiration cytology was 14.9%; for the other examinations it was 10.6%. The false-negative rate upon combining 3 examinations, except roentgenography (soft tissue technique), proved to be 0% and 24 patients with thyroid cancer were preoperatively correctly diagnosed as "malignant" by means of the combination method.