Beristain Hernández JL, Servín Torres E, Sosa Caballero A, Velázquez García JA, Pozzo Bobarín R, Delgadillo Teyer G, Serrano Galeana I, Márquez Hernández A, Bevia Pérez F, Piscil Salazar MA, Ortiz De La Peña Salazar Ilarregui D, Sánchez González FJ, and Espinoza Aguilar A
Background: 99mTc sestamibi scanning and aspiration biopsy can predict the histopathological result of a thyroid nodule fairly accurately., Objective: To determine the accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in patients with thyroid nodule confirmed by definitive histopathological report after thyroidectomy., Material and Methods: A total of 69 patients with a solitary thyroid nodule were studied. In all patients, fine needle aspiration, total thyroidectomy for suspected thyroid cancer, and histological analysis of the surgical specimen were performed. There were 54 patients with a positive 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, malignancy was confirmed by histological analysis in 25 and excluded in 29. There were 15 patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan; of these, three had a final diagnosis of cancer and 12 were confirmed as cancer-free., Results: The diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc sestamibi scanning in detecting malignancy in thyroid nodules was determined through a statistical analysis. 99mTc sestamibi scan for thyroid cancer had a sensitivity of 89.28% and a specificity of 29.25%. The positive predictive value was 46.29% and the negative predictive value was 80%., Conclusions: We believe that 99mTc sestamibi scan should be routinely used in all patients with a thyroid nodule and an indeterminate result on fine needle aspiration. This procedure is most useful in excluding malignancy in patients with a negative 99mTc sestamibi scan., (Copyright © 2010 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)