Multiparametric Ultrasound Thyroid Guidelines

Thyroid nodules are being increasingly detected during thyroid evaluations or incidentally during ultrasound examinations for other clinical purposes or screening programs, thus leading to potential over diagnosis and over treatment. Therefore, the present thyroid nodule epidemic represents a challenge for clinical management, since the vast majority of identified nodules end up being diagnosed as benign. The clinical practice guidelines limit the number of nodules to be submitted to fine-needle aspiration cytology, and selection no longer relies upon size and growth pattern.

The role of ultrasonography is expanding to include not only initial diagnosis but also risk stratification, selection of nodules to be submitted to FNAC, management and follow-up of nodules with indeterminate cytology, and even provision of prognostic information. Technology developments including CEUS and US-elastography have resulted in new prospects in ultrasound, leading to the possibility of performing multiparametric ultrasound as advocated. However, stilli it is not clear the role of single parameter or the necessity to put together all of them, EFSUMB decided to contribute with a Guideline on thyroid nodules MPUS, reporting on limits and trying to asnwer all the open issues grouping together a panel of multidisciplinary experts in the field.

The group applied the Delphi strategy, with a systematic literature search done by librarians and according to the established PICO questions. The guideline is ongoing.

Publication History

Article published online:
04 December 2023