ULTRASOUND OF THYROID NODULES: FINDING THE BEST PARAMETER FOR PREDICTING MALIGNANCY

INTRODUCTION: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) has been the preferred means to rule out malignancy in thyroid nodules so far. Role of ultrasound in thyroid nodules has been widely studied, but there is no clinically feasible method based on ultrasound for predicting risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules. METHODS: Morphology of non palpable thyroid nodules in 40 patients was evaluated on ultrasound for multiple parameters. The findings were compared with pathological evaluation and results were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: High accuracy, specificity, sensitivity were obtained with all grey scale parameters used individually as well as collectively. Presence of poorly defined margins and thick incomplete halo were found to be most significant statistically. CONCLUSION: Presence of poorly defined margins and thick incomplete halo were the most reliable parameters for predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules.