Efficacy of Doppler Ultrasound in Detecting Malignant Palpable Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Doppler Ultrasound in detecting malignant palpable thyroid nodules. A Cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Radiology, Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan, from January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 196 patients with palpable thyroid nodules were included in the study. Doppler ultrasound was performed on all patients. Samples were sent for histopathology to the same laboratory whose pathologist was blinded to ultrasound results. On histopathology, 37 patients (18.9%) showed malignancy, and 159 (81.1%) showed no malignant nodules. On Doppler ultrasound, 36 (18.37%) patients were positive for malignancy, and 160(81.63%) showed no malignancy. Doppler ultrasound showed excellent sensitivity (86.4%), specificity (97.4%), positive predictive value (88.9%), negative predictive value (96.8%), and diagnostic accuracy (95.4%). Doppler ultrasound has a higher diagnostic accuracy for palpable thyroid nodules than histopathology.