Analysis of 665 thyroid nodules using both EU-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS classification systems.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Radiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Ultrasound-based classification systems stratify thyroid nodules for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) based on malignancy risk.
• Discrepancies in these systems can impact thyroid cancer detection rates.
• Comparing the European Thyroid Association (EU-TIRADS) and American College of Radiology TI-RADS (ACR TI-RADS) is crucial for optimizing diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the EU-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS classification systems.
• To evaluate differences in FNA indications between the two systems.
• To assess the diagnostic performance of each system in thyroid nodule assessment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 665 thyroid nodules from 598 patients.
• Nodules classified using EU-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS based on sonographic features.
• Cytological and pathological diagnoses obtained for comparison.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between EU-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS (p < 0.001).
• ACR TI-RADS resulted in a greater reduction of FNA procedures (32% vs 24.5%).
• Both systems demonstrated comparable sensitivity for malignancy detection, with ACR TI-RADS showing slightly higher specificity.

Conclusions:

• Both EU-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS are suitable for thyroid nodule risk stratification and avoiding unnecessary FNAs.
• ACR TI-RADS led to fewer FNA procedures and demonstrated slightly greater efficiency in excluding malignancy.
• The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate classification systems for accurate thyroid nodule management.