Analysis of 105 uninodular goitres.

Data on 105 solitary thyroid nodules, confirmed at surgery to be solitary, is presented. Six (5.7%) were malignant, 4 papillary and 2 follicular. The sensitivity and the specificity of 131I radionuclide thyroid scan (n = 90) were 100% and 24% respectively. Similarly, the sensitivity and specificity of fine needle aspiration cytology (n = 65) was 75% and 100% respectively. In both instances, the "gold standard" was the histopathology of the surgically removed nodule. In order to avoid unnecessary surgery, without missing malignancy, we would recommend the combination of radionuclide thyroid scan and FNAC for investigation of solitary thyroid nodules.