Differential diagnosis of small single solid thyroid nodules using real-time ultrasound elastography.
In this prospective study, the diagnostic value of real-time ultrasound elastography (USE) was evaluated in 51 consecutive patients referred for surgical treatment with single solid thyroid nodules < 10 mm in maximum diameter with an indeterminate result on B-mode and colour Doppler ultrasonography. Ultrasonographic results were compared with histopathological data. Nineteen follicular adenomas and 32 papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs) were observed. A real-time USE score of 4 - 5 diagnosed PTMCs with a sensitivity of 90.63%, a specificity of 89.47% and an accuracy of 90.20%. The positive and negative predictive values were 93.55% and 85.00%, respectively. It is concluded that real-time USE is a promising imaging technique that could assist in the differential diagnosis of single solid thyroid nodules < 10 mm in maximum diameter that give indeterminate results on conventional ultrasound.
Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. msyanwang2008@163.com
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Wang
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Dan
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Dan
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Li
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Hu
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D055815:Young Adult