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9306396 
Journal Article 
Risk factors for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients with thyroid nodular disease 
Raza, SN; Shah, MD; Palme, CE; Hall, FT; Eski, S; Freeman, JL; , 
2008 
1 
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
ISSN: 0194-5998
EISSN: 1097-6817 
MOSBY-ELSEVIER 
NEW YORK 
21-26 
English 
18585556 
WOS:000257530300004 
Evaluate current accepted risk factors for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and develop a predictive model to determine one's risk of malignancy given a thyroid nodule.Retrospective analysis of 600 patients.Patients with benign thyroid nodular disease and with well-differentiated thyroid cancer were randomly selected. Patient, clinical, and investigational data were compared by means of univariate and multivariate regression analyses.Age, regional lymphadenopathy, ipsilateral vocal cord palsy, solid and/or calcified nodules, and an aspiration biopsy being malignant or suspicious predicted for cancer (P < 0.05). Regional lymphadenopathy and vocal cord palsy are perfect predictors of malignancy. Multivariate analysis indicated age, solid and/or calcified nodules, and all fine-needle aspiration biopsy results to be significant in assessing risk (P < 0.05).Taking individual risk factors in isolation is not always reliable. Using a predictive model, one can anticipate a patient's risk of malignancy when the diagnosis is unclear.