Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid ultrasound characteristics of nodules in prediction of malignancy.

Material and methods: Retrospectively were analyzed 102 patients who underwent for FNA biopsy of thyroid nodule. All patients were examined by one ultrasound examiner. Size, taller than wide, echogenicity, borders, halo, calcification, and internal vascularity were recorded in all examined nodules. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytology was used in all cytological diagnoses.

Results: Out of the 102 patients, 88 (86.3%) were females. The mean age was 58.7±14 years. The study included 14 malignant and 88 benign nodules. Size, microcalcification and internal vascularization showed statistically significant positive associations with thyroid malignancy (P<0.05). The highest OR was found for the microcalcification (22.5 95% CI 4,48-112,78). The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound characteristics in predicting malignancy were: size 66.76% (95% CI 34.89 – 90.08%) and 70.45% (95% CI 59.78 - 79.71%); microcalcification 83.33% (95% CI 51.59 -97.91%) and 81.82 (95% CI 72.16 – 89.24%); and internal vascularization 66.67% (95% CI 34.89 – 90.08%) and 68.18 (95% CI 57.39 – 77.71%), retrospectively. Each ultrasound characteristic had negative predictive value from 93 - 97% in malignant nodules.

Conclusion: The presence of microcalcification was found the most important criteria in prediction of thyroid malignancy.