ACURÁCIA DO DIAGNÓSTICO DA NEOPLASIA MALIGNA DE TIREOIDE NO MUNICÍPIO DE MOSSORÓ/RN: UM ESTUDO RETROSPECTIVO

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignant neoplasm in the world. The diagnostic methods used to characterize these tumors generally involve imaging tests, with a focus on ultrasound, which uses ACR TI-RADS to assess the risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules, and cytological examination collected by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) guided by the Bethesda System. Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration in diagnosing thyroid malignant neoplasms at a hospital in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte. Methodology: In this context, through a longitudinal, observational, and retrospective study of 123 medical records, the accuracy of thyroid carcinoma diagnoses at Wilson Rosado Hospital, located in Mossoró, will be analyzed. Results: Cytological examination proved to be highly sensitive (96.29%) and specific (85.71%), with an accuracy of 94.11%. The malignancy rates varied between Bethesda categories, with 14.3%; 51.3%; 66.6%; 95.2%, and 100% (II-VI). On the other hand, ultrasound demonstrated a sensitivity of 81.2% and a specificity of 46.6%, resulting in an accuracy of 64.5%. Malignancy rates differed between ACR-TIRADS grades, with 50%; 27.7%; 37.5%, and 94.4% (II-V).Conclusions: Our research highlights the need to improve diagnostic methods for thyroid carcinoma, noting high malignancy rates in Bethesda category III, the most frequent in the study. This may increase the number of surgeries, including for benign nodules. Ultrasound proved effective, but the lack of information in reports raises questions about the quality of local ultrasounds, emphasizing the importance of experience and familiarity with local malignancy rates for the proper management of patients.

Keywords: thyroid cancer; diagnostic tests; ultrasound; fine-needle aspiration.