title: High diagnostic accuracy and interobserver reliability of real-time elastography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules.
abstract: Elastography is a new diagnostic tool in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of elastography in discriminating thyroid lesions and the interobserver variability. One hundred thirty-two nodules in 115 patients selected for thyroid surgery underwent conventional ultrasound and elastographic evaluation. Elastography score was divided in four categories (totally elastic nodule, mainly elastic, mainly rigid and totally rigid) according to signal distribution. Three independent operators conducted the study. Final histology showed 92 benign nodules and 40 malignant. On elastography, 77/92 benign nodules were classified as score 1 or 2 and 34/40 malignant nodules as score 3 or 4 (sensitivity 85%, specificity 83.7%, positive predictive value [PPV] 69.3%, negative predictive value [NPV] 92.7%). Rate of concordance between operators was good (K test: 0.64, p < 0.0001). Simple to use, with good interobserver agreement, elastography has all the requisites to become an important complement of conventional US examination in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disease Unit, A.O. Ordine Mauriziano di Torino, Torino, Italy. federico.ragazzoni@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ragazzoni
authors.forename: Maurilio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deandrea
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mormile
authors.forename: M Josefina
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramunni
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garino
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliona
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Torchio
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garberoglio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003199:Computer Systems; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*