Abstract:

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of ultrasound with serology and BRAF testing in the identification of benign and malignant thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) category 4 nodules.Methods The data of 102 patients with TI-RADS category 4 nodules form department of ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, and serological and BRAF gene tests were performed in all of them. Patients were divided into benign group and malignant group according to surgical and pathologic findings, the different diagnostic efficacy in differentiating benign and malignant TI-RADS category 4 nodules was evaluated.Results TI-RADS indicated the numbers of hypoechoic rim with internal calcification, blurred boundary, irregular shape of patients with malignant nodules was more than those of patients with benign nodules (P<0.05). The higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) value of patients with malignant nodules was common (P<0.05). The numbers of BRAF gene mutation of patients with malignant nodules were significantly higher than those of patients with benign nodules (P<0.05). The accuracy (98.04%), sensitivity (97.22%), specificity (100.00%) and diagnostic efficiency (0.926) of ultrasonography, serology and BRAF testing were higher than any of the three alone check (P<0.05).Conclusion The combined of the above three has more clinical value in the identification of benign and malignant TI-RADS category 4 nodules.

Key words: ultrasonic, serological examination, BRAF gene, thyroid nodule, TI-RADS