Benign and malignant thyroid nodules with Hashimoto thyroiditis: Sonographic characteristics and diagnostic value of thyroid imaging reporting and data system / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules under the background of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), and to observe the value of the American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) in identifying benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 208 thyroid nodules with 129 patients under the background of HT were enrolled. The sonographic characteristics of nodules were investigated according to ACR TI-RADS, including composition, echogenicity, shape, margin and echogenic foci. The nodules were divided into malignant and benign groups. The ultrasonic signs of the two groups were statistically analyzed. The pathological results were used as the gold standard, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUC of ACR TI-RADS classification score in diagnosis of malignant HT thyroid nodules were obtained. Results: Of the 208 nodules in 129 patients, 49 were malignant and 159 benign nodules. There were significant differences in composition, echogenicity, shape, margin and echogenic foci in both groups (all P0.05). AUC of ACR TI-RADS classification score in diagnosis of malignant HT thyroid nodules was 0.924 (P<0.01), the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy was 91.84%, 84.27% and 86.05%, respectively. Conclusion: HT may make sonographic characteristics of benign nodules tend to be malignant. ACR TI-RADS has high accuracy in identifying benign and malignant thyroid nodules with HT.