The preoperative exclusion of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter: Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging versus ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

BACKGROUND: We compared the diagnostic values of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and ultrasonography (USG)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the detection of thyroid carcinoma associated with multinodular goiter.
METHODS: USG-guided FNAB and DCE-MRI were performed consecutively on 26 patients who had multinodular goiter with dominant nodules and clinical suspicion of malignancy. DCE-MRI findings, cytodiagnosis, and final histopathologic results were correlated. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of DCE-MRI and USG-guided FNAB.
RESULTS: Of 57 nodules in 26 patients, 16, 37, and 4 nodules showed delayed, plateau, and rapid washout patterns, respectively. Thyroid carcinoma was found in 8 patients (31%). Delayed washout pattern in a nodule was correlated with the histologic diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma (P < .001). None of the nodules with thyroid carcinoma had a plateau or rapid washout pattern. The sensitivity and NPV of DCE-MRI to diagnose thyroid carcinoma were greater when compared with those in USG-guided FNAB (100 vs 71.4%, and 100 vs 91.7%, respectively; P < .001).
CONCLUSION: When other diagnostic methods are inconclusive, DCE-MRI is superior to USG-guided FNAB to exclude thyroid carcinoma in patients with multinodular goiter.