Table 3 Summary of indicators of diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound characteristics in the identification of thyroid malignancy
From: Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound characteristics in the identification of malignant thyroid nodules
Ultrasound characteristic | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Specificity (95% CI) | PPV (95% CI) | NPV (95% CI) | LR+ (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hypoechogenicity | 66.7% (48.2–82.0%) | 74.8% (68.6–80.3) | 27.5% (18.1–38.6%) | 94.0% (89.5–97.0%) | 2.6 (1.9–3.7) |
Microcalcification | 36.4% (20.4–54.9%) | 96.5% (93.3–98.5%) | 60.0% (36.0–80.9%) | 91.4% (87.1–94.6%) | 10.4 (4.6–23.7) |
Internal vascularity | 48.5% (30.8–66.5%) | 79.1% (73.3–84.2%) | 25.0% (15.0–37.4%) | 91.5% (86.7–94.9%) | 2.3 (1.5–3.6) |
At least one positive characteristic | 87.9% (71.8–96.6%) | 58.7% (52.0–65.1%) | 23.4% (20.0–27.1%) | 97.1% (93.1–98.8%) | 2.1 (1.7–2.6) |
At least two positive characteristics | 54.5% (36.4–71.9%) | 92.2% (87.9–95.3%) | 50.0% (36.8–63.2%) | 93.4% (90.7–95.4%) | 7.0 (4.1–12.0) |
All three positive characteristics | 9.1% (1.9–24.3%) | 99.6% (97.6–99.9%) | 75.0% (24.3–96.6%) | 88.4% (87.3–89.5%) | 20.9 (2.2–195.2) |