Bongguk Yim, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Woo Jung Choi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

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

Hye Ryoung Koo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Soo-Yeon Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of gray-scale ultrasound (US) and a new method of thyroid US elastography using carotid artery pulsation in the differential diagnosis of sonographically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

A total of 102 thyroid nodules with indeterminate gray-scale US features from 102 patients (20 men and 82 women; age range, 16-74 years, mean age: 51 years) were included. Gray-scale US images were reviewed and scored from 1 (low) to 5 (high) according to the possibility of malignancy. US elastography was performed using carotid pulsation as a compression source. The elasticity contrast index (ECI), which quantifies local strain contrast within a nodule, was automatically calculated. The radiologist reassessed scores after concurrently reviewing gray-scale US and elastography. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performances of each data set and to compare the Az values of gray-scale scoring, ECI, and combined assessment scoring.

Malignant thyroid nodules were more hypoechoic than benign nodules. The ECI was significantly higher in malignant nodules than in benign thyroid nodules. The Az values of each data set were 0.755 (95% CI, 0.660-0.835) for gray-scale, 0.835 (95% CI, 0.748-0.901) for ECI, and 0.853 (95% CI, 0.769-0.915) for combined assessment. The Az value for the combined assessment of gray-scale and ECI was significantly higher than for gray-scale alone (p = 0.022).

Combined assessment with gray-scale US and elastography using carotid artery pulsation is helpful for differentiating sonographically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Thyroid US elastography using carotid artery pulsation may be a useful adjunctive parameter for the differential diagnosis of sonographically indeterminate thyroid nodules.

Yim, B, Choi, W, Park, J, Koo, H, Kim, S, Ultrasound Elastography Using Carotid Artery Pulsation in Differential Diagnosis of Sonographically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14003623.html