Use of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) ultrasound in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules

Aya Mohamed Hamed Abdelaal, Resident of Diagnostic Radiology, Mansoura Fever Hospital, EgyptFollow
Ghada M Ahmed GabAllah, Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt.
Donia Mohamed Sobh, Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt

Subject Area

Radiodiagnosis

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: Thyroid nodules refer to masses of abnormally proliferating cells with abnormal tissue stiffness in thyroid. This study aimed to assess diagnostic accuracy of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included forty adult patients with sixty-two thyroid nodules. A 7.5-10 MHz linear array transducer was used to perform imaging protocol. Three-dimensional measurements were done on nodules. All thyroid nodules were examined using doppler ultrasound. All thyroid nodules were described in terms of composition, echogenicity, margins, shape and echogenic foci. According to ACR TI-RADS, the points were given prior to results using the TI-RADS scoring system. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) was the gold standard for diagnosis of the pathology of thyroid nodules.

Results: 37 nodules were benign whereas 25 were malignant. A statistically significant difference was documented in the TI-RADS classification of the benign and malignant nodules. Benign nodules were discovered in both TI-RADS grade 1 and 2. In TI-RADS 3, there were 15 benign nodules and 2 malignant nodules. TI-RADS-4 had 4 benign and 14 malignant and all TI-RADS 5 were malignant. The detection of malignant nodules, as compared to FNAC, showed Sensitivity (92%, 95% CI: 86-96%), Specificity (89.2%, 95% CI: 82-94%), Accuracy (90.3%, 95% CI: 84-95%), PPV (85.2%, 95% CI: 78-91%) and NPV (94.3%, 95% CI: 89-98%) for TI-RADS (4, 5).

Conclusion: ACR TI-RADS is a reliable, non-invasive tool with high diagnostic performance for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, aiding clinical decision-making and reducing unnecessary biopsies.

Recommended Citation

Abdelaal, Aya Mohamed Hamed; Ahmed GabAllah, Ghada M; and Sobh, Donia Mohamed (2026) "Use of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) ultrasound in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules," Mansoura Medical Journal: Vol. 55 : Iss. 5 , Article 3.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.58775/2735-3990.1560