Ultrasonographic predictors of thyroid cancer in Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules.

Background: Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules continue to be difficult to manage. Although molecular testing may assist in decision-making, it is expensive, not widely available, and not without pitfalls. The objective of this study is to assess whether certain thyroid ultrasonographic features may predict the risk of thyroid cancer in patients with Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules and be used as additional decision-making tools to complement cytopathological results in deciding on diagnostic thyroidectomy. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the ultrasonographic features of Bethesda categories III and IV thyroid nodules in patients who underwent subsequent thyroidectomy. We used the final histopathological examination of the surgical specimens as the gold-standard test and analyzed individual preoperative ultrasonographic features as predictors of malignancy. Results: Of the 278 patients who were diagnosed with Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), 111 (39.9%) had thyroid cancer, and 167 (59.9%) exhibited benign nodules. The malignancy rate was higher in patients with Bethesda IV nodules (28/50, 56%) than those with Bethesda III nodules (83/228, 36.4%; p=0.016). In univariate analysis, hypoechogenicity (55.6% in malignant vs. 35.3% in benign, p=0.006) and calcifications (54.5 in malignant vs. 35.4% in benign, p=0.008) were significantly different between the benign and malignant pathology groups, whereas the size of the dominant nodule, number of nodules, irregular borders, taller-than-wide shape, and the presence of lymph nodes were comparable between the two groups. These two ultrasonographic features (hypoechogenicity and calcifications) remained significantly associated with the risk of malignancy in multivariate logistic regression analysis (for hypoechogenicity, p=0.014, odds ratio: 2.1, 95% CI:1.0-3.7 and for calcifications, p=0.019, odds ratio: 1.98, 95% CI:1.12-3.50). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were 31.5%, 83%, 55.6%,64.7%, and 62.6%, for hypoechogenicity, respectively and 32.4%, 82%, 54.5%, 67.8%, and 62%, for calcification, respectively. Conclusions: Hypoechogenicity and calcifications in Bethesda III and IV thyroid nodules are strong predictors of thyroid cancer and associated with a two-fold increased risk of malignancy.

Disparity among Endocrinologists and Gynaecologists in the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare endocrinologists' versus gynaecologists' approaches in using the Rotterdam criteria to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Physiology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between December 2017 and April 2018. A validated self-administered questionnaire in English was used to obtain information from endocrinologists and gynaecologists regarding their approaches to diagnosing PCOS. Each group's diagnostic use of the Rotterdam criteria, association between years of experience and clinical decision-making, clinical features leading to diagnosis and considerations in the diagnosis of biochemical parameters that define hyperandrogenism were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 132 physicians were included in this study (response rate: 27%); 77 (58.3%) were endocrinologists and 55 (41.7%) were gynaecologists. Most of the respondents (79.5%) had ≤20 years of experience. A statistically significant difference was detected between the endocrinologists and gynaecologists (98.7% versus 81.8%; P = 0.001) in their consideration of hyperandrogenism in the diagnosis. The gynaecologists relied more on ovarian morphology than the endocrinologists did (76.4% versus 45.5%, P <0.0001). Physicians with more experience used ovarian ultrasonography more compared to those with less experience (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: There was disparity in the diagnostic approaches of endocrinologists, who rely more on androgen levels for diagnosis of PCOS versus gynaecologists, who more frequently use an ovarian morphology assessment. Increased years of experience increased the rate of ultrasonography use for PCOS diagnosis in both groups.