Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) in differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are a frequent finding on neck sonography. Ultrasound is the most commonly used imaging technique for the evaluation of thyroid nodules.

The Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) developed by the American college of radiology (ACR) for classification of thyroid nodules is a practical and convenient method for risk stratification of thyroid malignancy, based on allocating points for different sonographic features of thyroid nodules in five morphologic categories (composition, echogenicity, margins, shape and presence of echogenic foci).

The following sonographic features showed a significant association with malignancy in this study: solid composition, marked hypoechogenicity, taller-than-wide shape, lobulated or irregular margins, extrathyroidal extension and presence of echogenic foci. According to ACR TI-RADS scoring system, each of the previous suspicious features are assigned 2 or 3 points, raising the total points given and therefore raising the risk of malignancy.