Soo-Yeon Kim MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Weekyoung Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jeong Seon Park MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To determine the usefulness of combined scoring using CUS and USE in thyroid nodules with inconclusive cytology for differentiating malignant from benign lesions, with pathologic diagnosis as the reference standard.

We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database of preoperative USE for thyroid glands (n=227) and included consecutive data of 37 (19 benign; 18 malignant) nodules of 37 patients (F: M=31: 6; mean age, 52.1 years) who were diagnosed with inconclusive cytology by means of fine-needle aspiration biopsy and underwent subsequent surgery. Inconclusive cytology was defined as the cytologic results without definite diagnosis between malignant and benign cytology. CUS results were divided into three categories; benign (score 1), indeterminate (score 2), and malignancy (score 3). The elasticity (E) score was assigned from 1 to 5. Combined score was calculated by sum of two scores. The scores of malignant vs. benign thyroid nodules were compared by using the Student t-test. ROC curve analysis was performed and the area under the curve (AUC) of each scoring system was compared.

The mean US score, E score and combined scores were significantly higher in the malignant nodules compared to benign nodules (P<.001). The AUC of US score, E score and combined score were 0.773, 0.865 and 0.880, respectively. The AUC of combined score was significantly higher than US score (p=0.049). There was no benign pathology in the cases of combined score >6 (n=8) and no malignancy in the cases of combined score <4 (n=3).

For the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules with inconclusive cytology, combined CUS and USE would be useful.

Combined CUS and USE may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules with inconclusive cytology.

Kim, S, Kim, W, Park, J, Conventional Ultrasonography (CUS) and Ultrasound Elastography (USE): Combined Scoring for the Thyroid Nodules with Inconclusive Cytology.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9006580.html