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Use of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) in clinical practice: an Italian survey

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Abstract

Purpose

To perform an online survey about the use of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) classification in Italy.

Methods

An online questionnaire was administered to all members of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (Società Italiana di Radiologia Medica ed Interventistica, SIRM) and Italian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia, SIUMB). The survey consisted of 14 questions about demographics, knowledge, and the use of TIRADS classification, current job, expertize in thyroid ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy, and work environment. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics were used, with P < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results

A total of 1544 answers (9.8% out of 15,836) were received. The participants were 45 (36–59) years old [median (25th–75th percentiles)] and mostly (53.6%) familiar with TIRADS classification. Structured reporting (P < 0.001), expertize in thyroid ultrasound (P = 0.005) and fine needle aspiration biopsy (P < 0.001), and work in a multidisciplinary team (P < 0.001) were associated with the use of TIRADS classification. Physicians working in other fields than radiology were more prone to using TIRADS classification than radiologists and radiologists-in-training (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Most physicians adopt TIRADS classification when performing thyroid ultrasound. TIRADS classification provides recommendations for the management of thyroid nodules and its use has to be encouraged.

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Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank the work of the secretary offices of SIRM and SIUMB who helped in the management of emails sent out for the present survey.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divisione di Radiologia Interventistica, IRCCS Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milano, Italy

    Giovanni Mauri

  2. Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Giovanni Mauri

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy

    Salvatore Gitto & Luca Maria Sconfienza

  4. Unità operativa di Innovazioni Diagnostiche e Ultrasonografiche, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Umberto I, Roma, Italy

    Vito Cantisani

  5. Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomo-patologiche, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy

    Vito Cantisani

  6. Departimento Vita e Salute “V. Tiberio”, Università degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy

    Gianfranco Vallone

  7. Unità operativa di Ecografia Internistica, Policlinico SS. Annunziata, Chieti, Italy

    Cosima Schiavone

  8. Dipartimento di Medicina e Scienze dell’Invecchiamento, Università degli Studi di Chieti e Pescara “G. D’Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy

    Cosima Schiavone

  9. Dipartimento di Endocrinologia, Ospedale Regina Apostolorum, Albano Laziale, Italy

    Enrico Papini

  10. IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy

    Luca Maria Sconfienza

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  1. Giovanni Mauri
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  2. Salvatore Gitto
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  3. Vito Cantisani
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Correspondence to Salvatore Gitto.

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Mauri, G., Gitto, S., Cantisani, V. et al. Use of the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) in clinical practice: an Italian survey. Endocrine 68, 329–335 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02199-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02199-3

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