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Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Cilt: 36 Sayı: 2026 9 Ekim 2026
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Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Öz

Aim: Thyroid nodules with cytology reported as follicular neoplasm represent a diagnostic challenge, as fine-needle aspiration biopsy alone cannot reliably distinguish benign from malignant disease. Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has been proposed as a complementary noninvasive tool, its predictive value in this setting remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive role of PET/CT-derived standardized uptake values in differentiating benign and malignant pathology in thyroid nodules diagnosed as follicular neoplasm.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study included patients diagnosed with follicular neoplasm on fine-needle aspiration biopsy who underwent preoperative FDG PET/CT and subsequent thyroid surgery between November 2019 and November 2020. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) of thyroid nodules were recorded and compared with final histopathological findings. Diagnostic performance parameters, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy, were calculated using fourfold contingency tables.
Results: A total of 40 patients were included in the study. Final histopathology revealed malignant disease in 25 patients and benign pathology in 15 patients. Mean SUVmax values did not differ significantly between benign and malignant nodules. Using an SUVmax cutoff value of 2, the distribution of FDG uptake was similar in both groups. FDG PET/CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 47%, a positive predictive value of 65%, a negative predictive value of 41%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 55%. No statistically significant association was found between SUVmax values and malignancy..
Conclusions: FDG PET/CT may have limited diagnostic performance in distinguishing benign from malignant thyroid nodules diagnosed as follicular neoplasm. SUVmax alone may not provide sufficient discriminatory value for malignancy prediction and may therefore be unsuitable as a standalone criterion in preoperative decision-making.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy, Follicular neoplazm;, PET/CT;, SUVmax;, Thyroid nodule;

Destekleyen Kurum

No financial support was received for this study.

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (B.30.2.ATA.0.01.00/31).

Kaynakça

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Kaynak Göster

APA
Fakirullahoğlu, M., Akçay, M. N., Karadeniz, E., Maman, A., & Özmen, S. (2026). Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy. Genel Tıp Dergisi, 36(2026), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1919201
AMA
1.Fakirullahoğlu M, Akçay MN, Karadeniz E, Maman A, Özmen S. Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy. Genel Tıp Derg. 2026;36(2026):1-5. doi:10.54005/geneltip.1919201
Chicago
Fakirullahoğlu, Mesud, Müfide Nuran Akçay, Erdem Karadeniz, Adem Maman, ve Sevilay Özmen. 2026. “Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy”. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36 (2026): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1919201.
EndNote
Fakirullahoğlu M, Akçay MN, Karadeniz E, Maman A, Özmen S (01 Ekim 2026) Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36 2026 1–5.
IEEE
[1]M. Fakirullahoğlu, M. N. Akçay, E. Karadeniz, A. Maman, ve S. Özmen, “Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy”, Genel Tıp Derg, c. 36, sy 2026, ss. 1–5, Eki. 2026, doi: 10.54005/geneltip.1919201.
ISNAD
Fakirullahoğlu, Mesud - Akçay, Müfide Nuran - Karadeniz, Erdem - Maman, Adem - Özmen, Sevilay. “Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy”. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36/2026 (01 Ekim 2026): 1-5. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1919201.
JAMA
1.Fakirullahoğlu M, Akçay MN, Karadeniz E, Maman A, Özmen S. Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy. Genel Tıp Derg. 2026;36:1–5.
MLA
Fakirullahoğlu, Mesud, vd. “Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy”. Genel Tıp Dergisi, c. 36, sy 2026, Ekim 2026, ss. 1-5, doi:10.54005/geneltip.1919201.
Vancouver
1.Mesud Fakirullahoğlu, Müfide Nuran Akçay, Erdem Karadeniz, Adem Maman, Sevilay Özmen. Predictive Role of Positron Emission Tomography for Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules Diagnosed as Follicular Neoplasm on Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy. Genel Tıp Derg. 01 Ekim 2026;36(2026):1-5. doi:10.54005/geneltip.1919201