Evaluation of diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound scoring system to select thyroid nodules requiring fine needle aspiration biopsy

Mohammadi, A and Hajizadeh, T (2013) Evaluation of diagnostic efficacy of ultrasound scoring system to select thyroid nodules requiring fine needle aspiration biopsy. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 6 (8). pp. 641-648.

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Abstract

Introduction: The large number of patients that require fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to discriminate malignant from benign thyroid nodules is a practical problem especially in iodine deficient area. To obtain an ultrasound (US) score and for predicting malignant nodules and reduce the number of unnecessary and expensive FNAB. Materials and Methods: A total of 280 thyroid nodules observed from August 2009 to August 2011 that had underwent FNAB were evaluated by US for echogenicity, peripheral halo, microcalcifications and intranodular vascularity. Results: showed that nodules with two ultrasonographic features (US score = 4) were characterized by a 67.9% sensitivity and a 87% specificity for prediction of malignant thyroid nodules. Conclusion: According to our data, we suggest FNAB for nodules with US score ≥ 4. The practical use of this US score may help reduce unnecessary and expensive FNAB especially in iodine-deficient areas.

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