Positive Predictive Value of Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) (3-5) When Compared to Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Results

Abstract

Abstract Background Thyroid nodules are a very common finding in the population. Evaluation of a patient with a thyroid nodule for possibility of malignancy could be challenging. Ultrasound is one tool that could be of help, several scoring systems are utilized to help differentiate benign from malignant nodules. One of the most used is TIRADS as proposed by ACR. Another invasive tool that could help is fine needle aspiration cytology. Objective Evaluating and comparing the accuracy of TI-RADS in the assessment of suspicious thyroid nodules by matching their results with the results of FNAC. Patients and Methods Our study was conducted on 72 adult patients with thyroid nodules and were referred to undergo FNA procedures in ‘Interventional radiology unit’ at the Radiology Department “Ain Shams University hospitals”, Cairo, Egypt. Results The present study concludes that TIRADS classification as proposed by ACR showed less statistical significance in predicting malignancy when compared to results of fine needle aspiration cytology. However, several components of the TIRADS scoring system were better predictors of malignancy than other components, namely the irregular margin, the taller than wider shape and the presence of calcifications within the nodule. Conclusion Our study concludes that better applying and implementing the TIRADS scoring system by the sonographer or using other scoring system available in evaluating thyroid nodules like ATA scoring system might result in more reliable ultrasound results decreasing the need to do fine needle aspiration.