Monographic Research · New Ultrasonic Technologies and Application Progress
Real-time shear wave elastography in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules
Yue Song, Mingxing Xie, Jing Wang, Feixiang Xiang, Cheng Yu, Dan Zhang, Juan Chen
Published 2019-03-20
Cite as J Chin Physician, 2019, 21(3): 324-326,330. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1008-1372.2019.03.002
Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aimed to discuss the performance and impact factors of shear wave elastography (SWE) for differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules (TN).
Methods84 TNs were included in the study. The SWE indices of Emax, Emin and Emean for the region-of-interest were calculated and analyzed. All TNs were divided into subgroups (<10.0 mm group and >10.0 mm group) according to the size and whether it has calcification (calcification group and non-calcification group). We compared the elasticity indices between subgroups and analyzed the diagnostic performance of SWE with different impact factors.
ResultsThere were 40 benign TNs and 44 malignant TNs. The Emean and Emax of malignant TNs were significant higher than those of benign TNs (P=0.000). Both the Emean and Emax of were significant higher in TNs with presence of calcification (P=0.036, P=0.031). The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the diagnostic sensitivity was 94.7% in the >10.0 mm group with Emean >19.6 kPa as the cut-off value, and 92.9% in non-calcification group with Emean >21.1 kPa as the cut-off value.
ConclusionsThe elastic modulus of malignant TNs was significant higher than benign TNs. The presence of calcification may increase the stiffness of TNs. The diagnostic performance of SWE was better in TNs with those sizes >10 mm and TNs with absence of calcification.
Key words:
Ultrasonography; Elasticity imaging techniques; Thyroid nodule
Contributor Information
Yue Song
Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
Mingxing Xie
Jing Wang
Feixiang Xiang
Cheng Yu
Dan Zhang
Juan Chen