Can Elastography Predict Growth of Incidental Thyroid Nodules? A Pilot Two-Year Follow-Up Study.
The objective of this study was to examine the ultrasonography (US) and ultrasound elastography (USE) features of thyroid incidentalomas in a population exposed to iodine deficiency and to investigate whether baseline elasticity scores (ES) predicted changes in thyroid nodule US characteristics. We conducted a two-year follow-up pilot study of thyroid incidentalomas by US and USE. One sonographer performed the US and USE examination on the same apparatus at baseline and at follow-up. We evaluated 83 incidental thyroid nodules detected in a population study. The follow-up period saw no change in median thyroid nodule diameter (p = 0.18) or in the prevalence of thyroid nodule US characteristics (hypoechoic: p = 0.05; solid nodule: p = 1.00; microcalcifications: p = 0.55). Individual changes in thyroid nodule diameter (>20%) were seen in 23% (11% had decreased, and 12% had increased in diameter). Changes in ES were frequently observed; 37% changed from ES A + B to ES C + D, and 27% changed from ES C + D to ES A + B. In a multivariate logistic regression model, we found no association between baseline ES and individual changes in nodule size. In an area with mild iodine deficiency and a high prevalence of thyroid nodules, thyroid USE performed on thyroid incidentalomas did not predict individual changes in thyroid nodule size.
Departments of Clinical Medicine and Endocrinology, Aalborg University and Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark anne.krejbjerg@rn.dk.
Anne
A
Krejbjerg
Departments of Clinical Medicine and Endocrinology, Aalborg University and Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Inge Bülow
IB
Pedersen
Departments of Clinical Medicine and Endocrinology, Aalborg University and Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.
Peter
P
Laurberg
D000368:Aged; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
elastography; follow-up; prospective; thyroid; thyroid nodules; ultrasonography