ROLE OF ULTRASOUND IN DIFFERENTIATING BENIGN AND MALIGNANT THYROID NODULES IN COMPARISON WITH EXCISIONAL BIOPSY

Background: Thyroid lesion classification is important for treatment plan. Ultrasound is helpful in diagnosing and differentiating the benign lesions from malignant thyroid nodules. Results of ultrasound will be compared with post excisional biopsy results. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the role of ultrasound in differentiating the benign and malignant thyroid nodules and results was compared with the findings of post excisional biopsy. Methodology: This prospective cross sectional cohort study was conducted in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology for three months’ time. The study has involved 50 patients from both gender referred to the Department for diagnosing the thyroid nodule lesions. Findings of ultrasound was compared with results of post excisional biopsy. Results: Total 59 patients were included in the study and mean age of the patients was 43.15 ±10.43. Female patients were 48(81.4%) and male patients were 11(18. 6%).Disease duration mean was 7.58± 2.82 months and nodule size mean was 4.98± 1.72 cm. Ultrasound accurately detected 6 out of 8 malignant cases when compared with post excisional biopsy results and false diagnosis was 2 out of 59 benign cases.3 cases were found true negative. All the calculation made were with confidence interval 95%. Sensitivity of ultrasound results were 92.51%, specificity was 93.96%, positive likelihood ratio was 10.86, negative likelihood ratio was 0.98, positive predictive value was 82.97%, negative predictive value was 87.03%and diagnostic accuracy of gray scale ultrasound was found 91.64% Conclusion: Ultrasound is reliable and accurate modality to differentiate the benign thyroid nodules from malignant thyroid nodules.