title: Characterization of single thyroid nodules by contrast-enhanced 3-D ultrasound.
abstract: High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) has potentialities in differential diagnosis between malignant and benign thyroid lesions, but interpretative pitfalls remain and accuracy is still poor. We developed an image processing technique for characterizing the intra-nodular vascularization of thyroid lesions. Twenty nodules (10 malignant) were analyzed by three-dimensional (3-D) contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. The 3-D volumes were preprocessed and skeletonized. Seven vascular parameters were computed on the skeletons: number of vascular trees (NT); vascular density (VD); number of branching nodes (or branching points) (NB); mean vessel radius (MR); 2-D (DM) and 3-D (SOAM) tortuosity; and inflection count metric (ICM). Results showed that the malignant nodules had higher values of NT (83.1 vs. 18.1), VD (00.4 vs. 0.01), NB (1453 vs. 552), DM (51 vs. 18), ICM (19.9 vs. 8.7) and SOAM (26 vs. 11). Quantification of nodular vascularization based on 3-D contrast-enhanced ultrasound and skeletonization could help differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronics, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy. filippo.molinari@polito.it
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Maurilio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deandrea
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limone
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garberoglio
authors.forename: Jasjit S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D010743:Phospholipids; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride