Rahul Dharmadhikari MBBS, FRCR, Presenter: Support, Hitachi, Ltd

David Richardson, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sarah Johnson, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Assessing accuracy of Ultrasound Elastography to differentiate benign from malignant thyroid tumours.

The study involved 30 patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound Elastography and biopsy at our institution from May 2005 to June 2006. Real time Elastography was performed using Hitachi EUB-8500 with a 6-13 MHz linear array probe. The Elastography patterns were colour coded depending on appearances using a preset colour code as hard, mixed and soft. Biopsies were taken from one/two sites and sent for cytology and positive specimens for subsequent histology. The results were correlated to determine accuracy of the procedure.

The 30 patients involved in the study had 34 biopsies. 22 biopsies were classified as soft or diffusedly soft nodules. 6 had mixed Elastography appearances and 6 patients had a hard nodule on Elastography. Total 2 cancers were confirmed on histology both of which were in hard nodules. Of the 34 biopsies, 6 (18%) were hard on Elastography, but 100% of the cancers were found in hard nodules

Elastography works on the principle that malignant lesions are harder than benign lesions as 100% malignancies were found in hard nodules, if a nodule is soft on Elastogarphy the the indication for a biopsy is questionable. Also in a multinodular goitre elastography can be used to target a particular nodule for biopsy which is hard on Elastography.

If furthur stidies validate these findings. There will be a significant reduction in the number of thyroid biopsies performed and a massive increase in the yeild from the performed biopsies.

Dharmadhikari, R, Richardson, D, Johnson, S, Ultrasound Elastography in Thyroid Carcinoma: What Is Its Relevance?.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5005251.html