Purpose
Thyroid nodules are a common cause of concern among population, notably female, there detection increases to up to 50%, when ultrasound imaging are employed. The nodule is usually assessed by ultrasound examination in order to determine which of them can be malignant or benign. This exam is well-established as the diagnostic investigation of choice, because it is simple, safe, cost-effective and provides for reliable results.
However, an important interexaminer variability was observed in the recognition and descriptions of thyroid nodules. To narrow these gaps, guidelines...
Methods and materials
Population:
This is a retrospective study conducted from January to March 2018. The study population was composed of people of both genders, regardless of age or ethnicity, who underwent an ultrasound exam and guided-fine needle aspiration (FNA) in our service. Two hundred and six nodules were analyzed from the examination of 200 patients: 60 men with a mean age of 65 (range 18- 80 years); 140 women, mean age of 55 (range 18-75 years). Patients previously diagnosed with thyroid cancer or who have had thyroidectomy...
Results
The correlation analysis is shown in Table 1.
We found that the strongest correlation between the classification and cytological results was at a subjective impression of an expert radiologist (R= 0,3215). When we compared TI-RADS, ATA and echogenicity with cytology, we noticed a positive and significant correlation in all these criteria too. Among these correlations, the most evident is that with TI-RADS (R= 0,2701), followed by echogenicity (R= 0,2280) and lastly by ATA (R=0,2002).
On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between the...
Conclusion
In our research, TI-RADS, ATA and subjective impression are appropriate to assess thyroid nodules and avoid unnecessary FNA, but the most significant correlation was the subjective impression of the radiologist. One of the reasons for this may be the fact that all criteria are analysed in association with the radiologist experience.
When we compare TI-RADS and ATA, there is a stronger correlation between TI-RADS and Bethesda classification. This was one reason for the standardization of the reports based on the TI-RADS guideline and the expert...
Personal information and conflict of interest
Bianca L. Pereira; Belo Horizonte/BR - nothing to disclose
Ana Paula A. F. Martins;
Bia N. Passamani;
Flávio C. Barros;
Rogério A. Pinto Da Silva;
Otton L. D. L. Reis;
Pedro A. L. Tito;
Julho G. Domingues;
Alan D. A. Ribeiro.
Diagnostic Imaging Center, Madre Teresa Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Corresponding author:
Bianca Larissa Pereira
[email protected]
References
1. Tessler FN, Middleton WD, Grant EG, Hoang JK, Berland LL, Teefey SA, et al. ACR Thyroid imaging, reporting and data system (TI-RADS); white paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee. J Am Coll Radiol 2017; 13: 1-9.
2. Haugen BR, Alexander EK, Bible KC, Doherty GM, Mandel SJ, Nikiforov YE, et al. 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 2015; 26: 1 - 155.
3. Rahal Junior A, Falsarella PM, Rocha RD, Bacellar JPCL, Iani...
