Utilidad diagnóstica de la ecografía tiroidea en la evaluación de nódulos tiroideos en niños y adolescentes / Diagnostic utility of thyroid ultrasound ecografy in thyroid nodules evaluation in children and adolescents

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of ultrasonography and other antecedents and exams usually availables, in the study of patients with thyroid nodules aged 0-20 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional analytical observational study. We reviewed the data of patients undergoing FNAP (thyroid puncture with a fine needle) and / or thyroidectomy between January 2007 and December 2013. The ultrasound evaluation was performed by 3 specialists. The surgical biopsy was considered an indicator of benignity or malignancy and, in its absence the FNAP (excluding the Bethesda diagnoses 3 and 4). The association between cancer and the different variables was evaluated through binary logistic regression, with measure of association of odds ratio (OR). With the initially significant variables, a multivariate analysis was carried out and a cut-off score was subsequently defined to allow the diagnosis to be discriminated. RESULTS: 104 nodules are included in the analysis (100 patients), 89♀ / 11♂; age x16 ± 2.8; TSH 2.8 uIU / ml ± 5; lymphocytic thyroiditis 30%; pathological anatomy: benign 46 (44%) cancer 58 (56%). Sonographic findings predictive of malignancy were: hypoechogenicity (OR 2.95 p = 0.008) irregular shape (100% CA) non-smooth edges (OR 8.5 p = 0.000) microcalcifications (OR 39 p = 0.000) thick calcifications (OR 18 p = 0.001) and presence of suspicious adenopathy (100% CA). In the TIRADS classification, cases classified as 4 and 5 corresponded to cancer in 50 and 92%. The presence of thyroiditis did not show an insignificant association with malignancy. From the joint analysis of the significant variables, a score with adequate sensitivity and specificity is obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of ultrasound as a fundamental examination in the evaluation of the pediatric patient who consults by thyroid nodule is corroborated. Accurately describing their sonographic characteristics and, above all, analyzing them together, allows us to determine an approximate risk of malignancy and define with greater certainty the indication of performing FNAP