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► CHUYÊN ĐỀ LAO ◄
INSTITUTE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ULTRASOUND IMAGES AND
CYTOLOGY OF SMALL THYROID NODULES AT THONG NHAT HOSPITAL
Tran Huynh Hanh Thao1*, Nguyen Thi Mai Huong1, Ha Kieu Trang2, Phan Dang Anh Thu1,2
1Thong Nhat Hospital - 1 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 14, Tan Binh Dist, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city - 217 Hong Bang, Ward 11, Dist 5, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Received: 04/09/2024
Revised: 10/09/2024; Accepted: 14/10/2024
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Ultrasound of the thyroid is becoming increasingly common, aiding in the
detection of small thyroid nodules. The indication for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in small
thyroid nodules remains a topic of much debate. However, early detection of malignant small
thyroid nodules is crucial for appropriate management.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study involved patients with thyroid nodules who
underwent ultrasound and FNA at Thong Nhat Hospital in 2023. Ultrasound evaluations were
categorized using the TIRADS system, while thyroid cytology was classified based on the 2023
Bethesda system.
Results: The study included 827 patients with 1173 thyroid nodules, who underwent both
ultrasound and FNA at Thong Nhat Hospital. Among the nodules classified as TIRADS 4 and
5, most had cytological diagnoses in Bethesda categories I, II, and III, with 164 cases (26.2%),
and only 46 cases (7.4%) fell into categories IV, V, and VI. The TIRADS classification was
significantly correlated with the Bethesda cytological classification for benign small thyroid
nodules.
Conclusion: There is a relationship between ultrasound images and cytology of small thyroid
nodules, the most obvious association is thyroid nodules in TIRADS groups 1, 2, 3 (group
with little suspicion of malignancy) with cytological aspiration results in the TIRADS group. II
according to Bethesda (group with low risk of malignancy).
Recommendation: FNA should be performed for small thyroid nodules with malignant
potential based on ultrasound assessment. Especially thyroid nodules larger than 5 mm in size.
In addition, consider monitoring and re-doing FNA for patients when indicated to avoid missing
cases of malignant thyroid nodules.
Keywords: Thyroid ultrasound, TIRADS, FNA, small nodule.
*Corresponding author
Email: hanhthao121@gmail.com Phone: (+84) 986035751 Https://doi.org/10.52163/yhc.v65iCD10.1622
Vietnam Journal of Community Medicine, Vol. 65, Special Issue 10, 214-221