title: Gray-scale vs. color doppler ultrasound in cold thyroid nodules.
abstract: We intended to compare gray-scale vs. color Doppler ultrasound findings in cold thyroid nodules. Sixty-four patients with cold thyroid nodules for whom the presumptive diagnosis of malignancy (based on isotope scan study) had been made were consecutively included. They underwent gray-scale and color Doppler sonography studies. Based on histopathologic examination of surgically removed nodules, there were respectively 25 (39%) and 39 (61%) malignant and benign nodules. On color Doppler sonography, preference central hypervascularity was the most common finding in malignant nodules (17 nodules, 68%). Among benign nodules, preference perinodular hypervascularity was the most common finding (26 nodules, 66.7%). The most sensitive and specific Doppler sonography findings for malignant nodules were preference central hypervascularity (68%) and only central vascularity (97%), respectively. On gray-scale sonography, absent halo sign was the most common finding in malignant nodules (20 nodules, 80%). Among benign nodules, microcalcification was the most common finding which was reported in 12 nodules (30.7%). Hypoechogenicity was the most specific finding (76.9%) for malignant nodules. Since both gray-scale and color Doppler ultrasonography are inexpensive, non-invasive, and accessible methods to diagnose thyroid malignant cold nodules, it is recommended that these methods be applied by clinicians to assist or even substitute other invasive methods.
authors.forename: Mohammadgharib
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. kumsrescen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nalaini
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Izadi
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Setayeshi
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezaei
authors.forename: Seyyed Nooredin
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Naseri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color