Correlation of Ultrasound Features in the TIRADS Scoring System with Cytological Findings in the FNAC of Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

Background:According to American College of Radiology - Thyroid Association guidelines, the imaging modality of choice for examination is ultrasound.‌‌‌Ultrasonographic examination detecting the thyroid nodules and determining their size, number, and character, and assisting in cytological assessment by guiding fine needle aspiration cytology of worrisome nodules.‌‌Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System is scale for risk stratification based on well-defined ultrasonography characteristics. Aim of the study:‌‌‌Our objective was to distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid nodules using an ultrasound-based stratification approach.Materials and methods:The study was done during the period between January 2022 and March 2024. It included 70 patients (43 female and 27 male) with thyroid nodules. Each patient's thyroid gland nodules were examined via ultrasound based scoring system with fine needle aspiration cytology from the most significant thyroid nodule.Results:70 patients who had thyroid nodules were included in this prospective study. Among our studied population, 41 patients (58.6%) had benign thyroid nodules and 29 patients (41.4 %) had malignant thyroid nodules.The Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System showed 80.80% sensitivity, 77% specificity, 72.5% positive predictive value and 74.3% negative predictive value in evaluation of thyroid nodules with increased malignancy risk as the final TIRADS category increased from 1 to 5 (P value < 0.001).Conclusions: The Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System is an ultrasound based method with high diagnostic accuracy for the discrimination between benign and malignant thyroid nodules.