Introduction:

Thyroid nodules are a localized growth in the thyroid tissue, approximately 8% are malignant, and an ultrasound is the ideal method to detect them.

Objective:

Determine which are the ultrasound findings that may suggest an increased probability of thyroid nodule malignancy.

Methodology:

Descriptive cross-sectional study amongst patients with thyroid nodule in a healthcare institution in Neiva.

Results:

A total of 63 patients were evaluated with an average age of 52 years, 95% were female and 5% male. Seventy-one percent had benign thyroid nodules, and 10% malignant nodules. In 100% of malignant thyroid nodules, increased vascularity, microcalcifications, associated adenopathies, irregular borders and solid component were found, and the findings regarding hypoechogenicity and anteroposterior diameter greater than the transverse (higher than wide), were found in 83%, being statistically significant. The sensitivity of ultrasound findings exceeds 80%, except for the variable nodule size greater than 1 centimetre.

Conclusions:

Ultrasound findings such as adenopathies and anteroposterior diameters greater than the transverse one are potential indicators of malignant thyroid nodules, the size greater than one centimetre is not always a predictor of malignancy; however, due to the size of the sample in our study it is not possible to generalize it as a determining factor for biopsy. Therefore, we recommend monitoring the nodules considering the ultrasound criteria for malignancy and the TIRADS classification to make decisions regarding thyroid biopsies.