The Value of Ultrasound in Classification of Thyroid Hypoechoic Nodules

Abstract

This study evaluates  the value of ultrasound in classifying hypoechoic nodules of thyroid of 70 patients at the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Oncology of E Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. The study results show that the patients’ average age was 55.29 ± 13.7; the female/male ratio was approximately 6.5/1; patients with a history of radiotherapy to the neck area and chronic thyroid disease had a very high risk of developing cancer; homogeneous hypoechoic nodules had a higher risk of malignancy than  the heterogeneous; the sign of height ≥ width had the diagnostic value of thyroid malignant nodule with Se = 57.8%, Sp = 89.6%, PPV = 88%, NPV = 89.6%, Acc = 41.4%, OR = 10.03; the sign of border irregularity had the diagnostic value of thyroid malignant nodule with Se = 77.8%, Sp = 80%, PPV = 87.5%, NPV = 66.7%,  Acc = 57.1%, OR = 14; microcalcification has a diagnostic value of thyroid malignant nodule with Se = 71.1%, Sp = 56%, PPV = 17.4%, NPV = 51.9%, Acc = 57.1%, OR = 3.1. TIRADS 4B, 5 actually had a higher risk of malignancy than TIRADS 4A. The study concludes that ultrasound has a great value in orienting malignant lesions of hypoechonic thyroid nodules.

Keywords: Thyroid nodule, thyroid hypoechoic nodule, TIRADS.

References

 [1] F. Bray, J. Ferrlay, I. Soerjomataram et al., Global Cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol. 68, No. 6, 2018, pp. 394-424. https://doi.org/full/10.3322/caac.21492.
[2] E. Papini, R. Guglielmi, A. Bianchini, A. Crescenzi et al., Risk of Malignancy in Nonpalpable Thyroid Nodules: Predictive Value of Ultrasound and Color-Doppler Features, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol. 87, No. 5, 2002, pp. 1941-1946, https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.87.5.8504.
[3] T. T. Hong, Image Characteristics and Value of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Localized Thyroid Lesions, Master of Medicine Thesis Majoring in Diagnostic Imaging of Hanoi Medical University, 2013 (in Vietnamese).
[4] V. T. Giao, Research on Ultrasound Values in TIRADS Classification of Localized Thyroid Lesions, Master of Medicine Thesis Majoring in Diagnostic Imaging, Hanoi Medical University, 2015 (in Vietnamese).
[5] B. Y. Cho, H. S. Choi, Y. J. Park, J. A. Lim, H. Y. Ahn et al., Changes in the Clinicopathological Characteristics and Outcomes of Thyroid Cancer in Korea Over the Past Four Decades, Thyroid, Vol. 23, No. 7, 2013,
pp. 797-804, https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2012.0329.
[6] C. M. Oh, S. Park, J. Y. Lee et al., Increased Prevalence of Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis in Korean Patients With Papillary Thyroid Cancer, PLoS One, Vol. 9, No. 6, 2014, pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099054.
[7] G. Grani, L. Lamartina, V. Ramundo, R. Falcone, et al., Taller-Than-Wide Shape: A New Definition Improves the Specificity of TIRADS Systems, Eur Thyroid J, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2020, pp. 85-91, https://doi.org/10.1159/000504219.
[8] B. Moifo, E. O. Takoeta, J. Tambe et al., Reliability of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) Classification in Differentiating Benign from Malignant Thyroid Nodules, Open Journal of Radiology, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2013, pp. 103-107, http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojrad.2013.33016.
[9] H. J. Moon, J. Y. Kwak, M. J. Kim et al, Can Vascularity at Power Doppler US Help Predict Thyroid Malignancy?, Radiology, Vol. 255, 2010, pp. 260-269, https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.09091284.
[10] E. Horvath, S. Majlis, R. Rossi et al., An Ultrasonogram Reporting System for Thyroid Nodules Stratifying Cancer Risk for Clinical Management, J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Vol. 94 No. 5, 2009, pp. 1748-1751, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2008-1724.
[11] G. Russ, B. Royer, C. Bigorgne et al., Prospective Evaluation of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System on 4550 Nodules With and Without Elastography, Eur J Endocrinol, Vol. 168, No. 5, 2013, pp. 649-655, https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-12-0936.
[12] J. H. Shin, J. H. Baek, J. Chung et al., Ultrasonography Diagnosis and Imaging-Based Management of Thyroid Nodules: Revised Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Consensus Statement and Recommendations, Korean J. Radiol., Vol. 17, No. 3, 2016, pp. 370-395, https://dx.doi.org/10.3348%2Fkjr.2016.17.3.370.
[13] F. N. Tessler, W. D. Middlenton, E. G. Grant et al., ACR Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): White Paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee, J Am Coll Radiol., Vol. 14, No. 5, 2017, pp. 587-595, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2017.01.046.
[14] N. T. T. Thao, N. L. Lam, V. D. Luu, Research Into the Value in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer of the EU-TIRADS 2017 Classification, Vietnamese Journal of Radiology, No 33, 2019, pp. 12-18, https://radiology.com.vn/bao-cao-khoa-hoc/nghien-cuu-gia-tri-chan-doan-ung-thu-tuyen-giap-cua-phan-do-eu-tirads-2017-n125.html/, (accessed on: Deceber 4th, 2019) (in Vietnamese).