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Horm Metab Res 2018; 50(08): 597-601
DOI: 10.1055/a-0655-3016
Endocrine Care
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ultrasonography Classification of the American Thyroid Association for Predicting Malignancy in Thyroid Nodules >1cm with Indeterminate Cytology: A Prospective Study

Tiara Grossi Rocha
1   Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Pedro Weslley Rosario
1   Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Alexandre Lemos Silva
1   Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Maurício Buzelin Nunes
1   Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Tulio Henrique Silva
2   Universidade Faculdade de Itaúna, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Pedro Henrique Lopes de Oliveira
2   Universidade Faculdade de Itaúna, Minas Gerais, Brazil
,
Maria Regina Calsolari
1   Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 14 December 2017

accepted 03 July 2018

Publication Date:
06 August 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the ultrasonography classification of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) for predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules >1 cm with indication for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) whose cytology was indeterminate. Additionally, the combination of the ATA classification with Doppler analysis was evaluated. All patients with thyroid nodules >1 cm were eligible. Each nodule was assigned to one of the ATA categories. Exclusively or predominantly intranodular vascularity was considered suspicious. One hundred and thirty-seven patients with 143 nodules underwent FNA and those with indeterminate cytology (Bethesda category III or IV) were selected. All patients were referred for surgery. Among the 143 nodules evaluated, 92 were benign, 33 were malignant, 13 were noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasms with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP), and 5 were tumors of uncertain malignant potential (TUMP). The rate of malignancy, including NIFTP and TUMP in this definition, was 80%, 42.8%, 13%, 10%, and 23% for nodules with a high suspicion, intermediate suspicion, low suspicion, very low suspicion, and undefined ultrasonographic pattern, respectively. Considering NIFPT and TUMP as benign, these rates were 72%, 22.4%, 4.3%, 0%, and 15.4%, respectively. The addition of Doppler analysis did not significantly improve the prediction of malignancy obtained with the ATA classification alone. The results of this prospective study show the usefulness of the ATA ultrasonographic classification for predicting malignancy specifically in thyroid nodules >1 cm with indeterminate cytology. The ATA category of the nodule should influence the decision for follow-up, molecular tests, or surgery.

Key words

thyroid nodule - indeterminate cytology - ultrasonography - American Thyroid Association - Doppler - malignancy
 

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