Diagnostic Medical Sonography News January 2019 | Page 3

The Use of TIRADS for
Evaluating Thyroid Nodules
Is the application of TIRADS for assessing thyroid nodules practical and accurate?
Harry H Holdorf PhD, MPA, RDMS (OB, AB, BR), RVT, LRT
The ultrasound evaluation of thyroid nodules and its ability to differentiate benign
from malignant nodules have been called into question. The development and
application of TIRADS seems to be well-accepted as a simple and practical method
for assessing thyroid nodules and should be routinely utilized in the daily ultrasound
practice.
Created by the American College of Radiology (ACR), TIRADS (Thyroid Imaging
Reporting and Data System) is similar to BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data
System), which is utilized in breast imaging.
A Mammography report will include a description of any normalcy and abnormality.
The Mammography BIRADS scare is a number between one and six, which indicates
the radiologist’s opinion as to the absence or presence of cancer, and ultimately
recommendations for follow-up care.
As with BIRADS, TIRADS too lists any benign, minimally suspicious, moderately
suspicious or highly suspicious malignancy findings for the thyroid gland, as well as
recommendations for follow-up care. There are differences between the ACR TIRADS
and BIRADS, perhaps to make the TIRAD system easier to understand and apply.
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