ROLE OF COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN DIFFERENTIATING MALIGNANT FROM BENIGN THYROID NODULES

Aim To evaluate the role of color Doppler ultrasonography in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules Materials and Methods This is a retrospective study over 1 year, involving 51 patients. All patients underwent CDUSG, followed by FNAC. CDUSG findings were evaluated taking FNAC as standard. Results Of the 10 patients who were found to be having malignant thyroid nodules on FNAC, color Doppler was true positive in 4 cases and false negative in 2 cases. Thus, CDUSG showed a Sensitivity= 66.6%; specificity= 93.3%; negative predictive value= 95.4%; positive predictive value=57.1%. Conclusions The color Doppler characteristics of thyroid nodule cannot be used as an independent diagnostic tool to differentiate malignant thyroid nodules from benign. FNAC is a must needed diagnostic tool to know the nature of these nodules.