Thyroid Nodule Shape Independently Predicts Risk of Malignancy.

CONTEXT: Predictive models of thyroid nodule cancer risk are presently based upon nodule composition, echogenicity, margins, and the presence of microcalcifications. Nodule shape has shown promise to be an additive factor helping determine the need for nodule biopsy. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if calculation of a nodule's spherical shape independently associates with cancer risk. METHODS: This prospective cohort study, conducted at a single large academic healthcare system in the United States, included patients with 1 or 2 clinically relevant thyroid nodules (predominantly solid and over 1 cm) presenting for diagnostic evaluation. Thyroid ultrasound, cytological evaluation with fine-needle biopsy, and/or histopathological examination on occasion of thyroid surgery were performed. We calculated the nodule's long to short ratio (spherical shape), and its association with tissue proven benign or malignant endpoints. RESULTS: The long to short nodule ratio was significantly lower in malignant compared to benign nodules indicating greater risk of malignancy in more spherical nodules (1.63 ±â€…0.38 for malignant nodules vs 1.74 ±â€…0.47 for benign, P < 0.0001). The risk of malignancy continually increased as the long to short ratio approached a purely spherical ratio of 1.0 (ratio > 2.00, 14.6% cancer; ratio 1.51-2.00, 19.7%; ratio 1.00-1.50, 25.5%, P < 0.0001). In multiple regression analysis, younger age, male sex, and nodule's spherical shape were each independently associated with cancer risk. CONCLUSION: The more a thyroid nodule is spherically shaped, as indicated by a long to short ratio approaching 1.0, the greater its risk of malignancy. This was independent of age, sex, and nodule size. Incorporating a nodule's sphericity in the risk stratification systems may improve individualized clinical decision making.

Thyroid Nodules in Children With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound screening for thyroid cancer is recommended in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This study investigated the prevalence of thyroid neoplasia in children with FAP. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of children with FAP at an academic hospital. Clinical and ultrasound data were analyzed for the prevalence of thyroid nodules and cancer. RESULTS: Of 37 children with FAP, 8 (22%) had thyroid nodules and 2 (5%) had thyroid cancer. Nodules (30%) and cancer (9%) were more common among female subjects and rare among male subjects. DISCUSSION: Thyroid ultrasound screening in adolescence may benefit female subjects with FAP but has limited utility in male subjects.

Natural History of Thyroid Disease in Children with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome.

CONTEXT: Thyroid ultrasound screening is recommended in children with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) due to increased risk of thyroid neoplasia, but the natural history of thyroid disease in children with PHTS is unclear. OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence and natural history of thyroid disease in children with PHTS. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study (1998-2019) in an academic pediatric hospital of individuals with genetically confirmed PHTS diagnosed before age 19 years. Clinical, thyroid ultrasound, and laboratory characteristics are described. Primary outcomes were the prevalence of thyroid nodules ≥10 mm diameter and time course and risk factors for nodule development assessed by Cox regression analysis. Secondary outcomes included thyroid nodule requiring biopsy, other ultrasound findings, and prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease. RESULTS: Among 64 subjects with PHTS, 50 underwent thyroid ultrasound. A thyroid nodule ≥10 mm was diagnosed in 22/50 (44%) subjects at median (range) age 13.3 (7.0-22.9) years. Nodules were diagnosed earlier in females than in males (10.8 [7.0-17.9] vs 14.2 [9.9-22.9] years, P = .009). In multivariate analysis, risk of thyroid nodules was significantly associated with female sex (hazard ratio 2.90, 95% CI 1.16-7.27, P = .02) and inversely associated with the presence of neurologic findings of PHTS (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10-0.69, P = .007). Abnormal-appearing lymph nodes with echogenic foci were observed by ultrasound in 20% of subjects, but these were not associated with malignancy. Autoimmune thyroid disease was present in 10/33 (30.3%) of subjects in whom it was assessed. CONCLUSION: Thyroid disease is common in children with PHTS. This study supports current consensus recommendations for ultrasound screening.

Sonographic characteristics and follow-up of pancreatic cysts.

OBJECTIVES: To assess sonographic characteristics and outcome of patients with pancreatic cystic lesions seen by ultrasound. METHODS: From our ultrasound electronic reporting database we identified all patients in which "pancreatic cyst" or "pancreatic cysts" were reported from 1995 to 2018. In patients with more than one sonogram, the first was used for our study. For each case, we recorded sonographic characteristics, maximal diameter, cyst location, and results of follow-up ultrasound, CT or magnetic resonance imaging, as well as patient sex, age, relative clinical history, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) or surgical findings when available. RESULTS: Our study included 177 patients of whom 121 were female (68.4%). Mean age at diagnosis was 65 (±16, SD, range 22-99). Ultrasound was the initial diagnostic test in 122 (68.9%). Mean diameter of the index cyst was 13.7 mm (±11.5 mm, SD, range 2-91 mm). Among 177 index cysts, 155 were simple and 22 complex. Three complex cysts were surgically resected, yielding a primary pancreatic malignancy, a metastasis, and an epithelial-lined cyst. One simple cyst was resected, yielding a benign intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Seventeen patients underwent EUS showing six mucinous cysts and 11 nonmucinous cysts. One hundred-eighteen patients had follow-up imaging for a mean time of 5.6 years (±3.8, range 0.25-21 years). One patient was presumed to have primary pancreatic cancer. The overall rate for primary pancreatic malignancy was 1.7% (2/118). CONCLUSIONS: Cystic pancreatic lesions seen on ultrasound are most often benign, with a low risk of pancreatic malignancy. Ultrasound is an excellent method to follow-up these cysts.

Assessment of American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) for Pediatric Thyroid Nodules.

Background The American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) is a recognized tool for management of thyroid nodules in adults but has not been validated in pediatric patients. Purpose To assess the performance of the ACR TI-RADS criteria for guiding decisions on whether to biopsy thyroid nodules in pediatric patients in a single referral center. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, a database of thyroid nodules in patients younger than 19 years who underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy between January 2004 and July 2017 was analyzed. ACR TI-RADS criteria were applied to each nodule, and an ACR TI-RADS score was created to determine how the nodule would be managed. The number of nodules that would be biopsied with FNA on the basis of ACR TI-RADS was compared with the total number of nodules biopsied with FNA in this clinic to determine if the use of ACR TI-RADS would have changed the rate of FNA (eg, decreased the number of procedures) and whether that change would have affected the timely diagnosis of cancer. Results A total of 314 patients (mean age, 14.9 years; age range, 2-18 years; 28 prepubertal patients; 286 postpubertal patients; 260 female patients) were evaluated. In these 314 patients, 404 thyroid nodules were scored, of which 19.1% (77 of 404) were malignant. Most cancers were papillary carcinoma (68 [88.3%] of 77). The use of ACR TI-RADS criteria for management of nodules in this pediatric study sample would have resulted in 17 (22.1%) of 77 cancers being missed at the patient's initial visit. Conclusion Use of the current American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System criteria for management of pediatric thyroid nodules is inadequate because a high percentage of cancers would be missed at the initial encounter. © RSNA, 2019.

Thyroid Nodules in Pediatric Patients: Sonographic Characteristics and Likelihood of Cancer.

Purpose To determine the relationship between demographic and sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules and malignancy in a pediatric population. Materials and Methods All thyroid nodules in patients younger than 19 years that underwent ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy between January 2004 and July 2017 were retrospectively identified. Age, sex, and background appearance of the thyroid gland were recorded for each patient, and sonographic characteristics and pathologic diagnosis were recorded for each nodule. Demographic and sonographic characteristics were assessed to determine which were associated with malignancy. Categorical and continuous variables and interobserver variability were assessed. Results A total of 404 nodules in 314 patients (82.8% female) (age range, 2-18 years; mean age, 14.9 years) were analyzed. A total of 77 nodules (19.1%) were malignant, the majority of which were papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 68 [88.3%]). The likelihood of malignancy did not differ between boys and girls (27.8% vs 22.7%, P = .64), nor did it differ between prepubertal and pubertal patients (18.8% vs 19.1%, P > .99). The cancer rate in patients with a solitary nodule was higher than that in patients with multiple nodules (29.4% vs 14.2%, P = .003). Sonographic characteristics associated with malignant nodules included larger size, solid parenchyma, taller-than-wide shape, presence of speckled calcifications, lack of a smooth margin, and presence of abnormal lymph nodes. Interobserver variability for assessment of sonographic characteristics ranged from moderate to very strong. Conclusion In children with thyroid nodules, solitary nodules, larger nodule size, solid parenchyma, taller-than-wide shape, speckled calcifications, irregular margins, and abnormal lymph nodes raise concern for malignancy.

Magnetic resonance imaging performance for diagnosis of ovarian torsion in pregnant women with stimulated ovaries.

BACKGROUND: To determine if asymmetric ovarian edema on non-contrast MRI can be used to distinguish torsed from non-torsed stimulated ovaries in pregnant women. METHODS: In this retrospective study, our radiology database was searched for women who were pregnant and who had undergone ovarian stimulation and underwent MRI abdomen/pelvis from 1/2000-12/2012. At our institution, ultrasound is typically performed as a first line study for pregnant women with pelvic pain, with MR for those patients with indeterminate findings. 64 pregnant women (gestational age range 3-37 weeks) were included. MRI indication, prospective interpretation, operative diagnosis, and follow-up were recorded. Two blinded radiologists (with a third radiologist tie-breaker) independently measured and described the ovaries, including the likelihood of torsion. If one or both ovaries/adnexa had an underlying lesion such as a dermoid, cystadenoma, or abscess, the patient was excluded from size and signal intensity comparison (N = 14). For the remaining 50 women, comparison was made of the ovaries in women with normal ovaries (N = 27), stimulated ovaries without torsion (N = 11), non-stimulated ovaries with torsion (N = 3), and stimulated ovaries with torsion (N = 3). Patients with asymmetric ovarian edema without stimulation or torsion (N = 3) and with polycystic ovary syndrome (N = 3) were analyzed separately. RESULTS: Average normal ovarian length was 3.2 cm, compared to 4.5 cm for asymmetric edema and 5.6-8.8 cm for the other four groups. Average difference in greatest right and left ovarian diameter was 19% for normal ovaries compared to 24-37% for the other 5 groups. Asymmetric signal on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) was seen in 12% (3/27) of normal ovaries compared to 9% (1/11) of stimulated patients without torsion, 33% (1/3) of patients with PCOS and 67% (2/3) of patients with torsion both without and with stimulation. The correct diagnosis of torsion was made prospectively in 5/6 cases but retrospectively in only 3/6 cases. In patients with stimulation, correct diagnosis of torsion was made in 2/3 cases prospectively (both with asymmetric T2 signal) and retrospectively in only 1/3 cases. In 13/64 patients, other acute gynecologic and non-gynecologic findings were diagnosed on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Enlarged edematous ovary can be seen with ovarian stimulation, ovarian torsion, or both. Although asymmetric ovarian edema occurred more frequently in patients with torsion than without, in pregnant patients with stimulated ovaries referred for MRI (typically after non-diagnostic ultrasound), ovarian torsion could not be confidently diagnosed or excluded retrospectively with non-contrast MRI.

Patterns of misinterpretation of adnexal masses on CT and MR in an academic radiology department.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess potential quality assurance (QA) issues in the diagnosis and characterization of adnexal masses on pelvic computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Images from 128 women who had oophorectomies during a 16-month period with CT and/or MR studies within 5 years of surgery (145 CT scans from 103 women and 49 MR studies from 42 women, with 17 having both MR and CT studies) were reviewed by three radiologists who assigned QA scores of 0 (no QA issue), 1 (minor issue with minimal impact on clinical care), or 2 (major issue with potential impact on clinical care). The difficulty of diagnosis was assigned a score of 0 (very difficult diagnosis to make), 1 (difficult but possible to make the diagnosis), or 2 (diagnosis should be made). The incidence of adnexal QA issues was calculated using total CT and MR pelvic examinations performed on women during the interval. RESULTS: Twenty-nine QA issues were identified in 28 women in 17 of 145 CT studies (11.7%) and 12 of 49 MR examinations (24.5%) in women having adnexal surgery (17 of 11,194 [0.15%] of female pelvic CT studies and 12 of 603 [2.0%] of female pelvic MR studies performed in the time interval). Issues included missed lesions, lesions misidentified as leiomyomas, fat described in the lesion but not seen histologically, postmenopausal status of patient not considered, ultrasound correlation not recommended, and confusion of right and left sides. CONCLUSION: Errors in CT and MR studies regarding the diagnosis and characterization of adnexal masses in a highly enriched population of women undergoing adnexal surgery are common. Knowledge of the types of QA issues found in CT and MR studies of adnexal masses should aid in decreasing future errors.

Assessment of factors that affect the quality of performance and interpretation of sonography of adnexal masses.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess factors that affect the quality of performance and interpretation of sonography of adnexal masses. METHODS: Two gynecologic sonographers performed blinded reviews of up to 3 sonograms within 5 years before surgery in 325 consecutive women who underwent oophorectomy (610 sonograms). Three 5-point quality scores were assigned (with 5 being the best score) on the basis of the technical quality of the images, accurate description of findings, and summary impression in the report. The location of the examination (on-site, remote, or emergency department), type of fellowship, practice experience (<5, 5-10, or >10 years), and specialty (women's imaging, abdominal imaging, or other) of the radiologists were recorded. Analysis of variance was used to assess the impact of these multiple factors on quality. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among 31 radiologists on the basis of the type of training, years in practice, or number of examinations read. Average scores among radiologists for technical quality, findings, and impressions were 4.96, 4.88, and 4.83, respectively. Radiologists who specialized in women's imaging performed best in the quality of their impressions (4.86 versus 4.79; P = .029). There were no significant differences in scores with respect to the examination location. CONCLUSIONS: Within this sample of radiologists, the technical quality of the examinations was not affected by the type of training or subspecialty practice. Reports of adnexal mass findings were accurately described by all radiologists, although specialization in women's imaging improved the ability to provide an accurate impression.

Histologic, surgical, and imaging correlations of adnexal masses.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to quantify, categorize, and illustrate discrepancies between preoperative radiologic, surgical, and pathologic diagnoses and to assess the potential impact of discrepancies on clinical care. METHODS: Adnexal masses reported by pathology during a 16-month period were included if prior imaging at our institution had been performed. Up to 3 sonographic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging examinations were reviewed by a gynecologic sonographer and compared with the reported pathologic findings. Cases in which ambiguities were not resolved by consulting the surgical notes were reviewed by a gynecologic pathologist, who confirmed or modified the diagnosis and assigned a score to the pathology quality assurance issue: 0, no pathology quality assurance error; 1, differences in terminology; 2, discrepancy of diagnostic interpretation, benign findings; or 3, discrepancy of diagnostic interpretation, malignant findings. RESULTS: Of 418 total masses, there was a discrepancy between imaging and pathology in 73 (17%) masses and 68 (21%) pathology reports. Twenty-five (6%) had pathology discrepancies resolved by correlation with the surgical notes alone (eg, torsion seen during surgery but not evident on pathologic examination). Histologic review was performed for 48 (11%) of 418 masses, with pathology errors identified in 34 (71%) of 48. Quality assurance scores were 0 (n = 14), 1 (n = 14), and 2 (n = 20), with no cases receiving a score of 3. Examples of pathology errors included gross (complex versus simple) and microscopic (neoplastic versus functional versus mesothelial) characterization of cysts, sizes of lesions not being described, characterization of fibrous lesions (cystadenofibroma versus cystadenoma), and lack of correlation with imaging (lesions not described). CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the importance of imaging, surgical, and histologic correlation in assessing the diagnostic accuracy of sonography of adnexal masses.

Variations in appearance of endometriomas.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the range of patient ages with endometriosis, the persistence of endometriomas, and the degradation of internal blood products over time, the appearance of endometriomas is variable. The purpose of this study was to identify the prospective diagnoses in cases of surgically proven endometriomas and to illustrate the variety of appearances of endometriomas. METHODS: Sonographic images from 325 women with histologic confirmation of an adnexal mass during a 16-month period were reviewed. Eighty-seven endometriomas in 71 women were found. Prospective diagnoses were scored as follows: 1, the diagnosis was endometrioma only; 2, the differential diagnosis listed endometrioma first; 3, the differential diagnosis listed endometrioma but not first; 4, the diagnosis did not include endometrioma but included a complex or hemorrhagic cyst; and 5, the diagnosis did not include endometrioma. Lesions with the classic appearance of an endometrioma (hypoechoic mass with diffuse low-level internal echoes) or an atypical appearance were chosen for illustration. RESULTS: Thirty-five (60.3%) of 58 endometriomas measuring at least 2 cm in greatest dimension included endometrioma in the differential diagnosis at sonography. In 6 (10.3%) of 58, the lesions were described as complex or hemorrhagic cysts. Atypical endometriomas included cases with retracted clots that appeared solid but without blood flow, endometriomas in pregnant patients, and endometriomas in postmenopausal women with heterogeneous internal echoes and central calcification. A ruptured endometrioma was interpreted as pelvic inflammatory disease. Five endometriomas were suspected to be malignancies because of a solid appearance, blood flow, surrounding adhesions, and, in 1 pregnant patient, extensive decidualization. CONCLUSIONS: Recognition of the varied appearance of endometriomas should aid the interpreting physician in giving an appropriate prospective diagnosis of endometriomas.