Real‐time Ultrasound Elastography for Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

These results confirmed those obtained in the previous meta-analysis. Ultrasound elastography has high sensitivity and specificity for identification of thyroid nodules. It is a promising tool for reducing unnecessary fine-needle-aspiration biopsy.

Shear Wave Elastography Combining with Conventional Grey Scale Ultrasound Improves the Diagnostic Accuracy in Differentiating Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules

“…SWE is a novel ultrasound technique that measures tissue elasticity by tracking shear wave propagation through body tissues and provides quantitative measurements. The technique is less operatordependent and highly reproducible [10]. SWE evaluation of thyroid nodules has been documented.…”

“…Although certain GSU features have been reported to be associated with thyroid malignancy (microcalcification, hypoechogenicity, irregular shape, tall to width ratio >1, absent halo sign, and irregular margins) [3][4][5], these features may also be found in benign nodules [6,7]. To date, none of the GSU features are known to exhibit a high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules [8][9][10].…”

“…By evaluating the speed of shear waves in the tissue, the tissue stiffness can be determined. In comparison to the normal thyroid parenchyma, most malignant thyroid nodules have firm stroma due to the presence of excessive collagen, excessive myofibroblast, and desmoplastic transformation, hence resisting tissue strain upon stress [10,27,28]. Therefore, most of the malignant thyroid nodules tend to be stiffer.…”

“…Only about 65-75% of thyroid nodules can be correctly diagnosed by FNAC [14], whilst the remaining 25-35% of nodules yield indeterminate pathology or non-diagnostic results [15]. Both GSU and FNAC have wide ranges of sensitivity (52-97% and 54-90%, respectively), and specificity (26-83% and 60-98%, respectively) in distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules [10,16].…”

Thyroid Ultrasound: State of the Art. Part 2 – Focal Thyroid Lesions

“…The second meta-analysis, published by Sun et al [37], assessed the diagnostic power of elastography in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules for elasticity score and strain ratio assessment. A total of 5481 nodules in 4468 patients for elasticity score studies and 1063 nodules in 983 patients for strain ratio studies published until January 2013 were analyzed.…”