Study shows 2017 ACR ultrasound guidelines accurately ID patients for thyroid cancer biopsy
New ultrasound guidelines can accurately identify pediatric patients who should undergo biopsy for thyroid cancer, according to recent research presented May 18 at the Society for Pediatric Radiology’s annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.
Last year, the American College of Radiology (ACR) released a system for grading nodules on a one to five scale, with one being benign and five highly suspicious of cancer. These scores are based on ultrasound features—such as how white or black a nodule appears, whether the edges are smooth or jagged and if there are white dots inside the nodule.
In this study, performed at Loyola University in Chicago, two radiologists used the ACR system to retrospectively grade 74 thyroid nodules from 62 pediatric patients. Results found the grading system accurate and reproducible. Specifically, for each one unit increase in the numeric ACR scale, nodules were 2.63 times more likely to have a malignant diagnosis that was confirmed by biopsy or surgery.
This study should reassure physicians and parents that the ACR system can be reliably used to differentiate which thyroid nodules in children require biopsy, said lead author Jennifer Lim-Dunham, MD, with the department of radiology at Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, and colleagues.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.