Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the description and management recommendations for thyroid nodules before and after implementing a structured reporting template based on the ACR Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Methods: Thyroid ultrasound reports for seven private practice radiologists were analyzed in three phases. In phase 1, radiologists dictated in a free-text format. In phase 2, they used a structured reporting template based on the ACR TI-RADS lexicon, but without the ACR TI-RADS recommendations for nodule management. In phase 3, ACR TI-RADS management recommendations were added. The most suspicious thyroid nodule in each report was analyzed for size, features, and management recommendations in all three phases. Results: Seventy-one thyroid ultrasound reports were reviewed for each phase, for a total of 213 reports. In phase 1, reports did not describe the features of the majority of nodules. In particular, shape and margin were not reported for 100% and 92% of nodules, respectively. Ninety-six percent to 100% of nodules had descriptions of all five features in phases 2 and 3. The number of nodules without management recommendations was 34% in phase 1 and 31% in phase 2. It decreased to 6% in phase 3 (P <.0005). Conclusions: Implementing an ACR TI-RADS structured reporting template improved the quality of thyroid ultrasound reports in two key ways. A structured reporting template led to better description of features that are predictive of malignancy. The use of ACR TI-RADS management guidelines substantially improved the number of reports with definitive management recommendations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 743-748 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of the American College of Radiology |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Cite this
Improved Quality of Thyroid Ultrasound Reports After Implementation of the ACR Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System Nodule Lexicon and Risk Stratification System. / Griffin, Andrew S.; Mitsky, Jason; Rawal, Upma; Bronner, Abraham J.; Tessler, Franklin N.; Hoang, Jenny K.
In: Journal of the American College of Radiology, Vol. 15, No. 5, 05.2018, p. 743-748.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Improved Quality of Thyroid Ultrasound Reports After Implementation of the ACR Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System Nodule Lexicon and Risk Stratification System
AU - Griffin, Andrew S.
AU - Mitsky, Jason
AU - Rawal, Upma
AU - Bronner, Abraham J.
AU - Tessler, Franklin N.
AU - Hoang, Jenny K.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the description and management recommendations for thyroid nodules before and after implementing a structured reporting template based on the ACR Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Methods: Thyroid ultrasound reports for seven private practice radiologists were analyzed in three phases. In phase 1, radiologists dictated in a free-text format. In phase 2, they used a structured reporting template based on the ACR TI-RADS lexicon, but without the ACR TI-RADS recommendations for nodule management. In phase 3, ACR TI-RADS management recommendations were added. The most suspicious thyroid nodule in each report was analyzed for size, features, and management recommendations in all three phases. Results: Seventy-one thyroid ultrasound reports were reviewed for each phase, for a total of 213 reports. In phase 1, reports did not describe the features of the majority of nodules. In particular, shape and margin were not reported for 100% and 92% of nodules, respectively. Ninety-six percent to 100% of nodules had descriptions of all five features in phases 2 and 3. The number of nodules without management recommendations was 34% in phase 1 and 31% in phase 2. It decreased to 6% in phase 3 (P <.0005). Conclusions: Implementing an ACR TI-RADS structured reporting template improved the quality of thyroid ultrasound reports in two key ways. A structured reporting template led to better description of features that are predictive of malignancy. The use of ACR TI-RADS management guidelines substantially improved the number of reports with definitive management recommendations.
AB - Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the description and management recommendations for thyroid nodules before and after implementing a structured reporting template based on the ACR Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS). Methods: Thyroid ultrasound reports for seven private practice radiologists were analyzed in three phases. In phase 1, radiologists dictated in a free-text format. In phase 2, they used a structured reporting template based on the ACR TI-RADS lexicon, but without the ACR TI-RADS recommendations for nodule management. In phase 3, ACR TI-RADS management recommendations were added. The most suspicious thyroid nodule in each report was analyzed for size, features, and management recommendations in all three phases. Results: Seventy-one thyroid ultrasound reports were reviewed for each phase, for a total of 213 reports. In phase 1, reports did not describe the features of the majority of nodules. In particular, shape and margin were not reported for 100% and 92% of nodules, respectively. Ninety-six percent to 100% of nodules had descriptions of all five features in phases 2 and 3. The number of nodules without management recommendations was 34% in phase 1 and 31% in phase 2. It decreased to 6% in phase 3 (P <.0005). Conclusions: Implementing an ACR TI-RADS structured reporting template improved the quality of thyroid ultrasound reports in two key ways. A structured reporting template led to better description of features that are predictive of malignancy. The use of ACR TI-RADS management guidelines substantially improved the number of reports with definitive management recommendations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042585236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042585236&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.01.024
DO - 10.1016/j.jacr.2018.01.024
M3 - Article
C2 - 29503150
AN - SCOPUS:85042585236
VL - 15
SP - 743
EP - 748
JO - Journal of the American College of Radiology
JF - Journal of the American College of Radiology
SN - 1558-349X
IS - 5
ER -