Sonography and Color Doppler in the Evaluation of Cold Thyroid Nodules

Background/Objective:Thyroidnodulesarea commonfinding,especiallyinourcountry.In this study, we evaluated the role of conventional ultrasonography (US) and color doppler sonography(CDS)inassessmentofcoldthyroidnodules. MaterialsandMethods:Ninety-sevenpatientswitha coldthyroidnodulewereexaminedby USandCDSbeforethyroidectomy.OnUS,thepresenceofa halosign,hypoechogenicityor microcalcification was evaluated .The vascular pattern on CDS was classified as follows: Type 1, absence of blood flow; Type 2, perinodular blood flow; Type 3, intranodular blood flow.Sensitivity,specificity,negativepredictivevalue,positivepredictivevalueandaccuracy of ultrasound and color doppler findings were evaluated. Ultrasound findings have been comparedwithpostoperativepathologicalresult. Results: In38 patients, thyroidal carcinomawas found.Absence of halo sign, presence of microcalcificationandhypoechogenicitywerepredictiveofmalignancy(P< 0.001).Presence of intranodular hypervascularity and perinodular hypervascularity were in favor of malignancy (P < 0.001) and benignity (P < 0.01), respectively. An avascular pattern could not differentiatebetweenbenignandmalignantnodules. Conclusion:US andCDS findings can predictmalignant nodules, especiallywhenmultiple signsaresimultaneouslypresent.