Accuracy of Ultrasound Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules remains difficult. Ultrasound has been established as a non-invasive and relatively simple imaging technique for thyroid nodules. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules by meta-analyzing published studies. METHODS: Literature was retrieved from the PubMed and Embase databases from inception to May 31, 2022. The literature was screened using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS2) scale was used to assess the quality of the included literature. Publication bias of the included studies was assessed by Deek's funnel plot. Heterogeneity tests were performed using Cochrane Q statistic and I(2) statistic. RESULTS: Finally, 9 articles were included. The meta-analysis showed that the combined sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules were 0.88 [95% CI (0.83–0.91)] and 0.86 [95% CI (0.79–0.90)], respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) was 0.92 [95% CI (0.90–0.94)]. There was no significant publication bias in this study. Discussion. Existing evidence shows that ultrasound has a certain accuracy in diagnosing benign and malignant thyroid nodules, providing a scientific basis for thyroid assessment and diagnosis.