Ultrasound classification of thyroid nodules: does size matter?

• Autor(a) principal: Sakajiri,Raissa Kitaguchi
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Rahal Junior,Antonio, Francisco Neto,Miguel José, Queiroz,Marcos Roberto Gomes de, Garcia,Rodrigo Gobbo, Martins,Leandro Aurélio Liporoni, Malerbi,Domingos Augusto Cherino
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Einstein (São Paulo)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082022000100250
• topic: Thyroid gland nodule; Thyroid gland/pathology; ACR-TIRADS; Bethesda; Malignance; Ultrasonography

ABSTRACT Objective To determine whether the size of thyroid nodules in ACR-TIRADS ultrasound categories 3 and 4 is correlated with the Bethesda cytopathology classification. Methods Thyroid nodules (566) subclassified as ACR-TIRADS 3 or 4 were divided into three size categories according to American Thyroid Association guidelines. The frequency of different Bethesda categories in each size range within ACR-TIRADS 3 and 4 classifications was analyzed. Results Most nodules in both ACR-TIRADS classifications fell in the Bethesda 2 category, regardless of size (90.8% and 68.6%, ACR-TIRADS 3 and 4 respectively). The prevalence of Bethesda 6 nodules in the ACR-TIRADS 4 group was 14 times higher than in the ACR-TIRADS 3 group. There were no significant differences between nodule size and fine needle aspiration biopsy classification in any of the ACR-TIRADS categories. Conclusion Size does not appear to be an important criterion for indication of fine needle aspiration biopsy in thyroid nodules with a high suspicion of malignancy on ultrasound examination.