Analysis of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System Criteria and Its Correlation With the Pathological Results

Introduction Thyroid nodules are frequently encountered and may be discovered roughly in around 4-8% of individuals by clinical palpation. Aim The present study aims to analyze the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) classification and assess the validity of each criterion in predicting malignancy. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research from June 2020 to October 2021. Fifty patients who presented to the outpatient clinic with thyroid swelling got an ultrasound (USG) neck performed followed by either fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or thyroidectomy. They were included in the study and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Results Among 50 patients considered for the study, 36 were females. The mean age for malignant patients is 46 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 15, and for benign lesions is 47 years with an SD of 1. Most of the patients were TIRADS 4, which has a 56.2% risk of malignancy. The pathological results show a significant difference in ACR (American College of Radiology) TIRADS and echogenic foci between FNAC. The present study's solid composition showed a sensitivity of 25% and specificity of 75%, with an odds ratio of 0.90 in picking up malignant nodules. The shape of a nodule taller than wider, a malignant feature, showed a specificity of 92.3%. Punctate echogenic foci showed a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 76.9% with a statistical significance of p-value 0.048. Conclusion TIRADS scoring avoids unessential invasive techniques for lower TIRADS scores. Certain criteria are more specific in recognizing malignant nodules. Proportional priority shall be given to certain criteria over others, and not all criteria should be considered.