[The Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) for ultrasound of the thyroid]. / Le système TIRADS en échographie thyroïdienne.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To develop a standardized system for analyzing and reporting thyroid ultrasound, or Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS), in order to improve the management of patients with thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An atlas of imaging features, a standardized vocabulary, a report template and TIRADS categories 0 to 6 were defined, based on the BI-RADS system used for mammography. The diagnostic efficacy of the system was tested by a retrospective review of 500 nodules (159 cancers and 341 benign nodules) and comparing US imaging features to histological findings. RESULTS: Five signs allow accurate detection of 90% of thyroid cancers. The score of a nodule can be easily defined by using an organigram. Sensitivity, specificity and odds-ratio of the score were respectively 95%, 68% and 40. CONCLUSION: TIRADS is a quality assurance tool for thyroid ultrasound. It contains an image atlas, a standardized report and categories to evaluate thyroid nodules to easily assess the risk of individual nodules being cancers and facilitate patient management.