Purpose The purpose of this systematic literature review was to assess the usefulness of the Thyroid Image Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) classification proposed by Kwak for differentiation of thyroid nodules. Material and methods Four literature databases were searched for relevant articles through early January 2017. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR-) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). The area under the curve (AUC) from the pooled receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to assess the usefulness of this classification for differentiation of thyroid nodules. Meta-analysis was conducted by using meta-analysis software. Results We analysed six publications describing 10,926 nodules. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, LR+, LR-, DOR, and AUC for pooled ROC were 0.983 (95 % CI 0.976–0.989), 0.552 (95 % CI 0.542–0.562), 2.666 (95 % CI 1.692–4.198), 0.05 (95 % CI 0.035–0.072), 51.020 (95 % CI 15.241–170.79) and 0.938, respectively. Conclusions Kwak TIRADS has high sensitivity and low specificity. Thus, it is very useful to discard the benign cases and to reduce the number of biopsies. Key Points • Routine, adequate standardization of thyroid nodules ultrasound classification is mandatory. • Kwak TIRADS parameters are accurate for differentiating focal thyroid lesions. • Kwak TIRADS system is simple to apply. • Kwak TIRADS system may become a useful diagnostic tool.

Although elastography can enhance the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, its diagnostic performance is not ideal at present. Further improvements in the technique and creation of robust diagnostic criteria are necessary. The purpose of this study was to compare the usefulness of strain elastography and a new generation of elasticity imaging called supersonic shear wave elastography (SSWE) in differential evaluation of thyroid nodules. Six thyroid nodules in 4 patients were studied. SSWE yielded 1 true-positive and 5 true-negative results. Strain elastography yielded 5 false-positive results and 1 false-negative result. A novel finding appreciated with SSWE, were punctate foci of increased stiffness corresponding to microcalcifications in 4 nodules, some not visible on B-mode ultrasound, as opposed to soft, colloid-inspissated areas visible on B-mode ultrasound in 2 nodules. This preliminary paper indicates that SSWE may outperform strain elastography in differentiation of thyroid nodules with regard to their stiffness. SSWE showed the possibility of differentiation of high echogenic foci into microcalcifications and inspissated colloid, adding a new dimension to thyroid elastography. Further multicenter large-scale studies of thyroid nodules evaluating different elastographic methods are warranted.

It is the prospective observational study aimed at early prediction of pregnancy complications in women with symptoms of MS. 124 Caucasian women in singleton pregnancies 11th to the 13th wks 6 days of gestation with MS criteria compared to 30 healthy controls. Perinatal maternal and fetal results were analyzed. Increased in the MS group were: age (32.9 y vs. 28.6 y; p = 0,00), weight 11 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation (79.0 kg vs. 59.7 kg; p = 0.00), BMI (29 kg/m² vs. 21.6 kg/m²; p = 0.00), waist-hip ratio (WHR) (0.9 vs. 0.8; p = 0.00). Maternal serum parameters were higher in the MS group: LDL-cholesterol (124.1 vs. 109.6 mg/dL; p = 0.02), t-PA (2556.8 vs. 1949.5 pg/mL; p < 0.00), GGTP (16.8 vs. 13.3 IU/L; p = 0.02) and lower values for: adiponectin (6.4 vs. 7.5 μg/mL; p = 0.01), SHBG (273.4 vs. 338.4 nmol/L; p = 0.001). MS group neonates higher body weight (3594.4 vs. 3312.2 g; p = 0.01), significantly frequent macrosomic neo-nates (> 4000 g) (20.9% vs. 6.6%; p = 0.042), GDM (12% vs. 0; p = 0.019). Higher E-selectin serum concentration, GGTP and lower SHBG in first trimester are additionally to fasting maternal glucose, higher BMI and maternal age predictive for GDM. Higher E-selectin, fasting glucose, increased BMI and lower adiponectin serum concentration in first trimester are significant predictors of fetal macrosomia. Maternal BMI > 24.5 kg/m² is the best predictor of increased risk of fetal macrosomia and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) and other risk stratification systems may improve ultrasound image interpretation. This prospective study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of CAD and the European Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (EU-TIRADS) classification applied by physicians with S-Detect 2 software CAD based on Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) and combinations of both methods (MODELs 1 to 5). In all, 133 nodules from 88 patients referred to thyroidectomy with available histopathology or with unambiguous results of cytology were included. The S-Detect system, EU-TIRADS, and mixed MODELs 1–5 for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer showed a sensitivity of 89.4%, 90.9%, 84.9%, 95.5%, 93.9%, 78.9% and 93.9%; a specificity of 80.6%, 61.2%, 88.1%, 53.7%, 73.1%, 89.6% and 80.6%; a positive predictive value of 81.9%, 69.8%, 87.5%, 67%, 77.5%, 88.1% and 82.7%; a negative predictive value of 88.5%, 87.2%, 85.5%, 92.3%, 92.5%, 81.1% and 93.1%; and an accuracy of 85%, 75.9%, 86.5%, 74.4%, 83.5%, 84.2%, and 87.2%, respectively. Comparison showed superiority of the similar MODELs 1 and 5 over other mixed models as well as EU-TIRADS and S-Detect used alone (p-value < 0.05). S-Detect software is characterized with high sensitivity and good specificity, whereas EU-TIRADS has high sensitivity, but rather low specificity. The best diagnostic performance in malignant thyroid nodule (TN) risk stratification was obtained for the combined model of S-Detect (“possibly malignant” nodule) and simultaneously obtaining 4 or 5 points (MODEL 1) or exactly 5 points (MODEL 5) on the EU-TIRADS scale.

Background: To validate the European Thyroid Imaging and Reporting Data System EU-TIRADS classification in a multi-institutional database of thyroid nodules by analyzing the obtained scores and histopathology results. Methods: A total of 842 thyroid lesions (613 benign, 229 malignant) were identified in 428 patients (mean age 62.7 years) and scored according to EU-TIRADS, using ultrasound examination. In all tumors, histopathological verification was performed. Results: In EU-TIRADS 2 (154 nodules) all nodules were benign; in EU-TIRADS 3, only 3/93 malignancies were identified. In EU-TIRADS 4, 12/103 were malignant, and in EU-TIRADS 5 (278 benign vs. 214 malignant). The malignant nodules that would not have qualified for biopsy were: EU-TIRADS 3, 2/3 (67%) malignancies were <20 mm, in EU-TIRADS 4, 7/12 (58%) were <15 mm. In EU-TIRADS 5, 72/214 (34%) were <10 mm; in total, 81/229 (36%) malignant lesions would have been missed. The cutoff between EU-TIRADS 3/4 had sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 25.1%. Using cutoff for EU-TIRADS 5, 93.4%, 54.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The application of EU-TIRADS guidelines allowed us to achieve moderate specificity. The vast majority of malignancies in EU-TIRADS 3, 4, and 5 would not have been recommended for biopsy because having a smaller size than that proposed classification.

Multiple System Atrophy—Parkinsonism Predominant (MSA-P) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy—Parkinsonism Predominant (PSP-P) are the clinical manifestations of atypical parkinsonism. Currently, there are no efficient in vivo methods available relating to neuroimaging or biochemical analysis in the examination of these entities. Among the advanced methods available, using positron emission tomography is constrained by high cost and low accessibility. In this study the authors examined patients with two types of atypical parkinsonism—MSA-P and PSP-P, which are difficult to differentiate, especially in the early years of their development. The aim of this study was to assess whether the examination of patients in the period following the early years (3–6-year duration of symptoms) could be enhanced by perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or evaluation of cognitive abilities. Extended examination using MRI and perfusion SPECT showed that the evaluation of the mesencephalon/pons ratio, mesencephalic volume decrease, the Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index (MRPI) and frontal perfusion should be considered more feasible than screening cognitive evaluation in MSA-P and PSP-P with a 3–6-year duration of symptoms.