Role of sonoelastography and thyroid imaging reporting and data system in assessment of thyroid nodules

Background
Thyroid nodules are very common and may be observed at ultrasound (US) in 50% of adult population. US elastography is a noninvasive technique for evaluating thyroid nodules to decrease the number of tissue biopsies. Thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) is the assessment of risk stratification of thyroid nodules using a score.


Patients and methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 patients with 146 thyroid nodules. The study was conducted in the period from October 2018 to October 2020 at the Radiology Department and approved by the Ethics Committee, and all patients gave their informed consent before inclusion in the study. Results were collected and then analyzed using a specialized computer statistical program.


Results
We found 124 (84.9%) benign nodules and 22 (15.1%) malignant nodules. The accuracy of elastography color score in detection of malignancy was found to be 95.1%, 89.7% for strain ratio, and 88.4% for TIRADS.


Conclusion
Adding elastography examination and TIRADS score to the routine thyroid US will be of high diagnostic value in detection of malignancy.