Age-related variation in malignant cytology rates of thyroid nodules: insights from a retrospective observational study assessing the ACR TI-RADS
Authors' conclusion
Our study demonstrated that as patient age increased, the rate of malignant cytology in thyroid nodules decreased. Moreover, age significantly influences the malignancy rates of thyroid nodules classified according to the ACR TI-RADS.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥20 years with thyroid nodules who underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy, 2012–2019; 88.2% female; median age 58.5 (IQR 41.1–66.6) years; median nodule size 2.4 (IQR 1.7–3.6) cm1,023 nodules
- Participants
- 921 patients
- Exposure
- Age groups 20-39 vs 40-59 vs ≥60 years
- Outcome
- Malignant cytology rate (Bethesda V or VI cytology or malignancy in cell block analysis) by age
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prevalence of malignant cytology by age subgroup
P = 0.002
- Reduction in OR for malignant cytology per year of age (adjusted for sex, multinodularity, nodule size, ACR TI-RADS category)
- 3.0% (95% CI: 0.7%-5.3%; P = .011)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | 20-39 years | ≥60 years |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant cytology rate in TI-RADS 4Decreased by half | 21.4% | 10.4% |
| Malignant cytology rate in TI-RADS 5Decreased by two-thirds | 64.7% | 22.6% |
Original publication
Age-related variation in malignant cytology rates of thyroid nodules: insights from a retrospective observational study assessing the ACR TI-RADS. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 30 November 2023. doi:10.
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