The gold standard of thyroid nodule examination? Prospective validation of the ACR TI-RADS in a secondary referral center.

The aim of this prospective study was the validation of the risk stratification of thyroid nodules using ultrasonography with the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) and partly in comparison to American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines in a secondary referral center. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) (n=605) and histological examinations (n=63) were the reference standards for the statistical analysis. ACR TI-RADS cut-off value: TR4 with sensitivity 85.7 %, specificity 54.1 %, PPV 58.5 %, accuracy 67.7 % (AUC 0.738; p<0.001). ATA cut-off value: "high suspicion" with sensitivity 80 %, specificity 83.3 %, PPV 80 %, accuracy 81.8 % (AUC 0.800; p=0.0025). 18.4 % nodules (3 malignant) could not be assigned to a proper ATA US pattern group (p<0.0001). Both ACR TI-RADS and ATA have allowed fair selection of nodules requiring FNA with superiority of ACR TI-RADS according to classification of all thyroid nodules to the proper group. According to ACR TI-RADS almost one third of the patients were incorrectly classified with 17.9 % missed thyroid carcinomas, exclusively micropapillary carcinomas, even though, the amount of FNA would be reduced to 48 %.

[Subclinical thyropathies]. / Subklinické tyreopatie.

Subclinical thyreopathies are pathological states of the thyroid gland that show no corresponding clinical symptoms, yet may be detected sporadically by laboratory examination or screening methods. They represent a novel diagnostic entity (analogous to glucose tolerance impairment--IGT or impaired fasting glycemia--IFG), which appeared due to innovations in laboratory diagnostics (sensitive TSH detection methods) and recent focus on pre-clinical stages of manifestative diseases. From a wider point of view, subclinical thyreopathies include subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyrodism, thyroid volume or structure changes found accidentally by sonography, initial stages of malignancy--accidental detection of a microcarcinoma and subclinical forms of thyroiditis. Controversy remains concerning exact definition, epidemiological issues, therapeutic intervention, evaluation of risk and gain implied in treatment of these borderline clinical stages and, last but not least, early screening of risk groups if necessary.