The efficiency of US elastography in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules

• Main Authors: N. Çetin, C. Yücel, P. Uyar Göçün, S. Aladag Kurt, F. Taneri, S. Oktar, H. Özdemir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ubiquity Press 2015-02-01
• Series: Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology
• Subjects: Thyroid, US
• Online Access: https://www.jbsr.be/articles/747

Aim: To evaluate the efficiency of ultrasound elastography (USE) in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods: One hundred thyroid nodules in 100 patients (79 females, 21 males, age range 18-78; mean age = 45.6 years) were evaluated with real-time freehand USE, using Hitachi EUB 7500 equipment and elasticity scores were obtained. The elasticity was scored as follows: Score 1, elasticity in the entire nodule; Score 2, mainly elastic nodule with the presence of inelastic areas not constant during real time examination; Score 3, constant inelastic areas prevalently arranged at the periphery of the nodule; Score 4, constant inelastic areas prevalently arranged at the center of the nodule; Score 5, no elasticity in the nodule. Also mean strain ratio values were calculated for all nodules. Results: Eighty-four (86%) of cases were benign and sixteen (16%) were malignant. Elasticity score 3 and higher and strain ratio higher than 2.485 had statistically significant relation with malignancy (p < 0.05). Conclusions: USE including strain ratio calculations besides subjective evaluation of elasticity scores is an efficient imaging method which may contribute to the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.