title: The predictive value of structured ultrasonographic staging for thyroid nodules.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'R staging' is a new ultrasonographic scoring system developed and used by our specialist head and neck radiologist for reporting sonographic risk of malignancy to those at our thyroid multidisciplinary team meeting. This study aimed to: classify the R staging system, examine its relationship with the eventual histopathological diagnosis and define its clinical utility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pre-operative ultrasound scans of 78 patients were assigned an R status by our specialist head and neck radiologist. The final histopathology report for each thyroid nodule was used as the 'gold standard' for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When thyroid nodules were classified as low risk (R stages 1-3) or high risk (R stages 4-5) for malignancy, the sensitivity of R staging was 74.2 per cent and specificity was 80.9 per cent. An R5 status was 100 per cent predictive of malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results compare favourably with other suggested ultrasonographic staging systems for thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Glasgow Royal Infirmary,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology,Glasgow Royal Infirmary,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Glasgow Royal Infirmary,Scotland,UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McGarry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult