Role of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules in Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse "Gray Zone"

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2017 Jun;43(6):1179-1186. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2017.02.006. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules in the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) "gray zone" (the shear wave velocity is in the range 2.5-3 m/s). ARFI was performed before thyroidectomy in 70 patients with 200 thyroid nodules, and then CEUS was performed in 40 thyroid nodules in the "gray zone." The accuracy of ARFI for the 200 thyroid nodules was 82% (164/200). The accuracy of ARFI for the 40 "gray zone" thyroid nodules was 70% (28/40), whereas the accuracy of CEUS for the "gray zone" thyroid nodules was 90% (36/40). There was a significant difference in accuracy (p < 0.05). CEUS has better accuracy for thyroid nodules in the ARFI "gray zone." CEUS supplemented ARFI in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Keywords: Acoustic radiation force impulse; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Shear wave elastography imaging; Thyroid nodules.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms*
  • Contrast Media
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Elasticity Imaging Techniques
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Shear Strength
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Thyroid Nodule / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology
  • Thyroid Nodule / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Contrast Media