CORRELATION BETWEEN THE THYROID IMAGE AND REPORTING DATA SYSTEM (TIRADS) AND THE BETHESDA SYSTEM FOR REPORTING THYROID CYTOPATHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH THYROID NODULES

Objective: To determine the correlation between the thyroid image and reporting data system (TIRADS) and the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology in patients presenting with thyroid nodules. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at the histopathology department of Allama Iqbal teaching hospital DG Khan, over six months. A total of 87 patients aged 18 to 60 years referred to the pathology department for FNAC of thyroid nodules were included. Exclusion criteria were prior thyroid cancer diagnosis, ongoing chemo / radiotherapy or recurrence. Demographic details laterality and TIRADS grading were recorded. Samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and assessed microscopically. Histopathology reporting followed the Bethesda system. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Spearman’s correlation was used to evaluate TIRADS and Bethesda grades. Results: The mean participant age was 36.3 ± 10.7 years. Gender distribution was almost equal. Unilateral thyroid nodules were noted in 51.7% of the cases. TIRADS grading showed most nodules as grade 3 (40.2%) or grade 4 (39.1%). FNAC reported benign cytology (grade 2) in 72.4% and malignant (grade 6) in 11.5%. Malignancy was suspected in 48.3% by TIRADS and confirmed in 22.9% on histopathology. A weak but significant positive correlation existed between TIRADS and Bethesda grade (rs = 0.245, p = 0.022). Conclusion: TIRADS showed a weak correlation to cytopathologic grading.