Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System standardises reporting of thyroid ultrasounds
Submitted: 24 September 2019 | Published: 06 February 2020
About the author(s)
Mariska Botha, Department of Health, Faculty of Radiology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South AfricaMargaret Kisansa, Department of Health, Faculty of Radiology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Wim Greeff, Department of Health, Faculty of Radiology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Thyroid nodules are common, the majority benign. The small risk of malignancy leads to excessive workup. Thyroid ultrasound is essential for risk stratification and management guidance. Without an organised reporting guideline, reports do not add significant value to referring clinicians. The American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) was developed to aid ultrasound reporting, lessen excessive biopsies and diagnose thyroid cancers.
Objectives: To standardise reporting of thyroid ultrasounds by utilising an organised reporting guideline based on ACR TI-RADS.
Method: Thyroid ultrasound reports generated by radiology registrars at an academic hospital were studied in two phases. In Phase 1, the reports were generated as free text, and in Phase 2, using a guideline based on ACR TI-RADS. The percentages of reports that described the maximum size, the five ACR TI-RADS features and a management recommendation were compared.
Results: A total of 130 reports were studied. Significant improvement was observed in the description of all five ACR TI-RADS categories (p < 0.0001) from Phase 1 to Phase 2. Of all the reports, 89% included a management recommendation. Reports including an ACR TI-RADS-based recommendation increased from 48% to 75% (p < 0.05). Recommendation for biopsy increased from 35.4% to 53.8% (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Introduction of an organised reporting guideline based on ACR TI-RADS, standardised reporting of thyroid ultrasounds by increasing description of thyroid nodule features and ensuring appropriate management recommendations. This, in future, will prevent underdiagnosis of thyroid cancer and unnecessary workup of benign nodules.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5148Total article views: 7261
Crossref Citations
1. Innovative standardized reporting template for prostate mpMRI improves clarity and confidence in the report
Joseph M. Caputo, Luis A. Pina, Elisabeth M. Sebesta, Hiram Shaish, Sven Wenske
World Journal of Urology vol: 39 issue: 7 first page: 2447 year: 2021
doi: 10.1007/s00345-020-03487-3
2. Effect of needle gauge on thyroid FNA diagnostic rate
Sivan Saraph, Hector Cohen, Ohad Ronen
Endocrine vol: 74 issue: 3 first page: 625 year: 2021
doi: 10.1007/s12020-021-02797-9
3. Follicular thyroid carcinoma in South Africa: Insights from 103 cases
Z Pienaar, L Martin, T Luvhengo, JA Lübbe, A Bestbier, M Bhuiyan, I Bombil, SR Čačala, L Cairncross, C Changfoot, BS Jackson, HS Jehle, L Jonas, MR Lukusa, M Makgoka, A Yeo, NT Sishuba, R Razack, K Baatjes, W Conradie
South African Journal of Surgery vol: 64 issue: 1 first page: 17 year: 2026
doi: 10.36303/SAJS.02669
4. Prevalence of thyroid nodules and characteristics of thyroid ultrasound in children with goiter: a single center experience
Fahad Al Juraibah, Khalid Al Noaim, Abdulaziz AlDbas, Ahmed AlMuallimi, Omar AlOtaibi, Mozon AlShareef, Alanoud AlSuhibani, Ahmed AlZaharani, Mohammed AlDubayee, Amir Babiker
BMC Pediatrics vol: 22 issue: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03696-2
5. Evaluation of Concordance of Ultrasound, Cytology, and Histopathology in Solitary Thyroid Nodules
Sunil Chumber, Surabhi Vyas, Kamal Kataria, Shipra Agarwal, Yashwant S Rathore, Gopal Puri, Sushma Yadav, Kanika Sharma, Amit Patidar
Indian Journal of Endocrine Surgery and Research vol: 18 issue: 1 first page: 17 year: 2023
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10088-11204
6. Evaluation and Management of Thyroid Nodules: A Joint Consensus Statement From the British Thyroid Association (BTA), British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS) and Collaborating Bodies
Ram Moorthy, Saba P. Balasubramanian, Kate Farnell, Mairead Kelly, Gitta Madani, Mufaddal Moonim, Carla Moran, Julia Priestley, Michael Stechman, Emma Watts, Kristien Boelaert
Clinical Endocrinology vol: 104 issue: 6 first page: 682 year: 2026
doi: 10.1111/cen.70116
7. Structured Reporting of Superficial Soft Tissue Masses on Ultrasonography: A Closed-Loop Clinical Audit From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan
Muhammad Ahsan Asif, Abdul Subhan Zahid, Ayesha Naseer, Muhammad Ubaid Ullah Khan, Zaeem Bhatti, Muhammad Waris W Khan, Muhammad Faraz K Nizami, Khunsha Shehzad, Usama Afraz Younas, Haseeb Ahmad, Haseeb Mehmood Qadri, Saira Bilal
Cureus year: 2024
doi: 10.7759/cureus.61884
8. Thyroid nodules stratification by American Thyroid Association and American College of Radiology lexicons: Thi-qar study
Dheyaa Kadhim Al-Waeli, Adel Gassab Mohammed, Samih Abed Odhaib, Mahmood Thamer Altemimi, Shakir Aglah Khalifa, Israa Ali Hasan, Mohammed Uday Hatim, Imad Hatim Tahir
Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale vol: 99 issue: 1 year: 2026
doi: 10.4081/jbr.2026.14148