Preoperative risk score for malignancy in Bethesda III thyroid nodules: a multicentre retrospective study
By
Manuel Carpio-Salmerón
Mariano Tébar-Caballero
Pau Benito
Clemente García-Hidalgo
Georgios Kyriakos
Antonio Ríos-Vergara
Ginés Luengo-Gil
Carlos Carazo-Casas
Ana Casas-Miras
Luis Marín-Martínez
Ana Belén Arroyo
July 6, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Development of a Preoperative Malignancy Risk Assessment for Bethesda III Thyroid Nodules: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Bethesda III thyroid nodules Key Mechanisms Moderate-to-high ultrasound risk, nuclear atypia, lymphocytic thyroiditis Target Population Adults with Bethesda III thyroid nodules undergoing thyroidectomy Care Setting Multicenter tertiary hospitals
Key Highlights
Malignancy rate of 23.5% in studied nodules Three independent predictors identified for malignancy risk Score ranges from 0 to 15 points for malignancy prediction Cut-off of 10 points or higher shows best diagnostic performance Need for external validation in larger cohorts emphasized Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for initial assessment Classify FNA results according to the Bethesda System Management
Consider surgical intervention for nodules with high-risk features Monitoring & Follow-up
Regular follow-up for nodules with low-risk features Risks
Overtreatment and complications from unnecessary surgeries Patient & Prescribing Data
Adults with Bethesda III thyroid nodules
Integration of clinical, cytological, and ultrasonographic variables for risk stratification
Clinical Best Practices
Adopt a risk-adapted approach to thyroid nodule management Incorporate patient preferences in decision-making Related Resources & Content
