Background: The meta-analysis was performed to review the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound reporting and data system in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Methods: We identified the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound reporting and data system in 5 databases. Meta-analyses were used in selected studies to obtain pooled sensitivity, specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Fixed or random-effects models were performed to analyze our data.
Results: Twelve eligible studies were identified, including 10,437 thyroid nodules. A pooled sensitivity of 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77-0.81) and a pooled specificity of 0.71 (95% CI = 0.70-0.72) of ultrasound reporting system in differentiated diagnosis of thyroid nodules were shown in meta-analyses. Subgroup analyses showed that the most important factor of heterogeneity in studies was the final diagnostic references (histological and cytological standards or only histological results).
Conclusion: The thyroid imaging reporting and data system has a good sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of patients with thyroid nodules.
Keywords: diagnostic accuracy; thyroid nodules; thyroid reporting and data system.
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.