Ultrasound grading of thyroid nodules

For many diseases, we need to use professional medical equipment for testing. Especially for diseases such as thyroid nodules, you can make a preliminary judgment based on the clinical reactions of the body, but if you want to go to the hospital for a confirmed diagnosis, you need to undergo a B-ultrasound examination of the thyroid nodules. Professional doctors all know about the B-ultrasound grading of thyroid nodules. So, what is the B-ultrasound grading of thyroid nodules?

TI-RADS grading of thyroid nodules

TI-RADS (Thyroid imaging reporting and data system) is the thyroid imaging reporting and data system. The system has not yet been widely accepted and applied, and there is no unified standard.

Kwak et al. classified thyroid nodules based on five malignant characteristics: 1. solid nodules; 2. low echo or very low echo; 3. small lobes or irregular edges; 4. gravel-like calcification; 5. aspect ratio ≥1.

TI-RADS 1: normal thyroid gland, no thyroid nodules, routine follow-up is recommended;

TI-RADS 2: Benign lesions with characteristics of simple cysts, septate cysts, individual calcifications, and echogenic cavernous nodules. Routine follow-up is recommended.

TI-RADS 3: possible benign nodules, oval in shape, with regular borders, isoechoic or hyperechoic on ultrasound, and no other suspicious features. Short-term follow-up is recommended.

TI-RADS 4:

①4a-Suspicious nodules, oval in shape, with regular borders and mild hypoechoic on ultrasound. A puncture biopsy is recommended. If the result is benign, follow-up is recommended.

②4b - Suspicious nodules, dense, low echo on ultrasound, biopsy is recommended. If it is a papilloma, resection is recommended;

③4c-Suspicious nodules, firm, hypoechoic, irregular borders, higher and wider in shape, biopsy is recommended. If it is a papilloma, incision is recommended;

TI-RADS 5: Possible malignant nodule, dense, hypoechoic, irregular borders, calcification, taller and wider in shape, appropriate treatment is recommended. Such tissues should be sampled with caution, and if the results are benign, short-term follow-up should be performed.

The above ultrasound manifestations also need to be comprehensively judged in combination with nodule size, recent changes, blood indicators, etc. In short, most nodules detected by B-ultrasound are benign, and patients should not worry too much.