Value of Quantitative Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis
of Thyroid Nodules with Different Enhancement Patterns
LI Nianfena, QI Tingyuea, SUN Hongguanga, Feng Haoa, ZHU Linhaib, DING Yonglingc
a.Department of Ultrasonography; b.Thyroid Breast Surgery; c.Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou
University, Yangzhou Jiangsu 225012, China
Abstract:Objective This study aims to investigate the value of quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in
the diagnosis of thyroid nodules under different enhancement patterns. Methods A total of 69 patients with 77 thyroid nodules
undergoing CEUS were recruited. The quantitative parameters of nodules and the adjacent thyroid tissues such as peak intensity (PI),
time to peak (TP), area under the curve (AUC) and mean transit time (MTT) were obtained. Two groups, hyper-enhancement group
and hypo-enhancement group were established by the PI. Results Compared with hyper-enhancement group, the rate of malignant
nodules was higher in hypo-enhancement group (65.7% in hypo-enhancement group VS. 29.4% in hyper-enhancement group,
P=0.002). In the hypo-enhancement group, the rate of papillary carcinomas with the size less than 2.0 cm was significant higher than
that in the hyper-enhancement group (80.8% in hypo-enhancement group VS. 36.4% in hyper-enhancement group, P=0.018). In the
hypo-enhancement group, the AUC in benign nodules were significant higher than malignant nodules, no significant differences were
noted in other parameters. In the hyper-enhancement group, there were no significant differences in all parameters between benign
nodules and malignant nodules. Conclusion Hypo-enhancement is the common enhancement pattern of malignant thyroid nodules.
The major enhancement mode of thyroid papillary carcinomas with the size more than 2.0 cm presents as hyper-enhancement.
Quantitative analysis of hypo-enhancement thyroid nodules on CEUS is efficient in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
李念芬a,戚庭月a,孙红光a,封淏a,诸林海b,丁永玲c. 定量分析在不同超声造影特征甲状腺结节良恶性鉴别诊断中的价值[J]. 中国医疗设备, 2017, 32(12): 87-90.
LI Nianfena, QI Tingyuea, SUN Hongguanga, Feng Haoa, ZHU Linhaib, DING Yonglingc. Value of Quantitative Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in the Diagnosis
of Thyroid Nodules with Different Enhancement Patterns. China Medical Devices, 2017, 32(12): 87-90.