To investigate the reference value of ultrasonography (US) image features, elastography and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in preoperative diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).

Retrospective analysis was conducted to collect clinical data of patients undergoing thyroid surgery in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from September 2018 to January 2020. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound, elastography examination and serum TSH level measurement before surgery; patients were divided into benign group and DTC group according to the results of pathological results of the operation, and the US image features and elasticity score were analyzed by chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the causes of DTC; a multivariate logistic regression model was established and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn with the regression model, by analyzing the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, the reference value of US image features, elastography and serum TSH levels in the preoperative diagnosis of DTC were judged.

Clinical data of 81 patients were collected, including 17 men and 64 women, aged (48.72 ± 10.58) years. In benign group, there were 37 cases, including 10 men and 27 women, with age of (53.24 ± 9.59) years; there were 44 patients in DTC group, including 7 men and 37 women, with age of (44.91 ± 9.95) years old, the age difference between benign group and DTC group was significant (t = 3.822, P < 0.05), while the gender difference was not statistically significant (χ ² = 1.498, P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the number, size, echo level, microcalcification, aspect ratio and elasticity score between benign group and DTC group (χ ² = 49.000, 4.457, 32.111, 5.444, 4.457, 49.926, P < 0.05); multivariate logistic analysis showed that hypoecho, microcalcification, aspect ratio > 1 and elasticity score were risk factors for DTC ( OR = 8.042, 4.787, 4.160, 2.380, P < 0.05), the ROC curve of the multivariate logistic regression model showed that the AUC was 0.841 (95% CI = 0.743 - 0.939), sensitivity was 90.91%, specificity was 72.97%, and accuracy was 82.72%; the AUC of serum TSH level prediction of DTC showed that the AUC was 0.721 (P < 0.05), sensitivity was 72.70%, specificity was 64.90%, accuracy was 54.30%, and TSH best cut-off value was 2.215 μU/ml.

In the preoperative diagnosis of DTC, US image features, elastography and serum TSH levels are of important clinical reference value for diagnosis of DTC, and the establishment of multivariate logistic regression model is conducive in improving the clinicians prediction of the occurrence of DTC.

Ultrasonography; Elastography; Thyroid stimulating hormone; Differentiated thyroid carcinoma