Predictive value of the single most suspicious ultrasound feature in subcentimeter thyroid nodules: a retrospective observational cohort study

Purpose Proper management of subcentimeter thyroid nodules remains challenging for both clinicians and patients.

Conducting extensive sonographic research using a safe and inexpensive tool for identifying thyroid nodules is necessary.

The aim of this study was to identify whether having the highest-risk ultrasound (US) characteristic suggests that US-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of subcentimeter nodules is more appropriate for the identification of malignancy than active surveillance (AS) or surgery.

Methods The data of patients with highly suspicious subcentimeter thyroid nodules and US characteristic data who underwent surgery were retrospectively examined.

Results Among a total of 556 subcentimeter nodules, 223 (40.1%) were benign, and 333 (59.9%) were malignant, with a mean maximal nodule size of 8.1 mm.

In addition to age younger than 45 years, several US features were significantly associated with malignancy: irregular margins, the presence of microcalcifications, and taller-than-wide shapes ( P  < 0.001).

Multivariate analysis also revealed that a taller-than-wide shape (OR = 8.988, P  = 0.0015) was an independent factor associated with malignancy in subcentimeter thyroid nodules.

The diagnostic performance of preoperative FNA was classified as a malignancy, with a sensitivity of 98.4%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 76.9%.

Conclusions This is one of the few reports based on actual data of the most suspicious US features in subcentimeter thyroid nodules.

A taller-than-wide shape US feature is most significantly associated with malignancy.

FNA is a simple, accurate, and reliable preoperative method for diagnosing malignant subcentimeter thyroid nodules with highly suspicious US characteristics.

AS was less appropriate than FNA for subcentimeter nodules with a taller-than-wide shape, especially in patients ≤ 45 years of age.