Advantages and disadvantages of 3D ultrasound of thyroid nodules including thin slice volume rendering

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of 3D gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasound, including thin slice volume rendering (TSVR), applied for evaluation of thyroid nodules.MethodsThe retrospective evaluation by two observers of volumes of 71 thyroid nodules (55 benign, 16 cancers) was performed using a new TSVR technique. Dedicated 4D ultrasound scanner with an automatic 6-12 MHz 4D probe was used. Statistical analysis was performed with Stata v. 8.2.ResultsMultiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that independent risk factors of thyroid cancers identified by 3D ultrasound include: (a) ill-defined borders of the nodule on MPR presentation, (b) a lobulated shape of the nodule in the c-plane and (c) a density of central vessels in the nodule within the minimal or maximal ranges. Combination of features provided sensitivity 100% and specificity 60-69% for thyroid cancer.Calcification/microcalcification-like echogenic foci on 3D ultrasound proved not to be a risk factor of thyroid cancer.Storage of the 3D data of the whole nodules enabled subsequent evaluation of new parameters and with new rendering algorithms.ConclusionsOur results indicate that 3D ultrasound is a practical and reproducible method for the evaluation of thyroid nodules. 3D ultrasound stores volumes comprising the whole lesion or organ. Future detailed evaluations of the data are possible, looking for features that were not fully appreciated at the time of collection or applying new algorithms for volume rendering in order to gain important information. Three-dimensional ultrasound data could be included in thyroid cancer databases. Further multicenter large scale studies are warranted.

Thyroid Sonography in 3D with Emphasis on Perfusion

“…The authors present exhaustive data on correlation analyses. The second publication on 3D ultrasound of the thyroid by Slapa et al is centered on nodular thyroid disease [41]. This publication has no comparable data to our results.…”

“…Only 2 publications have addressed this issue [30,41]. The paper by Chiou et al is the first one in the literature to deal with the same technology as us [30].…”

Genetic alterations of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in iodine‐rich and iodine‐deficient countries

“…According to WHO data, Vietnam is an iodine‐deficient country with endemic goiter in up to 45% of the population in some regions 36. In contrast, Japan is an iodine‐rich country with high iodine intake, mostly from sea food consumption, especially seaweed 7.…”

“…In contrast, Japan is regarded as a nongoitrous country due to regular consumption of iodine‐rich food. Zava and Zava 7 estimated that Japanese iodine intake, which comes largely from seaweed consumption, ranges from 1 to 3 mg/day. The mean or median UIC of Japanese residents ranges from 281 to 3300 μg/L in many regions of Japan 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.…”

Różnicowanie zmian ogniskowych w wolu guzkowym tarczycy z zastosowaniem nowych technik ultrasonograficznych — doniesienia wstępne

“…These include techniques that improve quality of B-mode images, like harmonic imaging [8] and compound spatial imaging [9], or altered the presentation of ultrasound data, like panoramic or trapezoid field of view ultrasound , 3D ultrasound [10], or MicroPure imaging [11]. The vascularisation of the nodules was assessed with Colour or Power Doppler [12] or by using contrast agents [13].…”