Noncancerous Thyroid Nodules

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS), published in 2017, provides a standard system for risk stratification and management of thyroid nodules detected by ultrasound. Nodules are characterized and graded on the basis of sonographic features — including composition, echogenicity, shape, margin and echogenic foci — and assigned a risk level ranging from TR1 (benign) to TR5 (highly suspicious). For TI-RADS categories 3 to 5, the recommendation to proceed to FNA is based upon nodule diameter.

Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing at a rate faster than that of any other cancer.