title: Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to explore the value and characteristics of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). By analyzing CEUS information of 130 nodules obtained from 106 patients with PTMC, who had been diagnosed by surgery and pathological analysis, CEUS characteristics of PTMC nodules were concluded. Based on the results, the PTMC nodules were divided into three groups as follows: 32 nodules (24.62%) were found to be enhanced earlier than the surrounding normal thyroid tissue, 95 nodules (73.08%) were enhanced at the same time as the normal thyroid tissue and 3 nodules (2.30%) were enhanced later than the normal thyroid tissue. The results also demonstrated that the peak enhancement intensity of the 130 nodules was lower compared with the irregular intensity of the normal parenchyma in corresponding thyroids, and that PTMC enhancement washed out faster than in normal thyroid parenchyma. In conclusion, the PTMC characteristics that CEUS can detect may improve the diagnostic accuracy and provide valuable information for the treatment of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hong Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dao Wen
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Dong Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Minhang Central Hospital, Shanghai 201199, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gaofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pan
keywords: contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; diagnosis; thyroid papillary microcarcinoma