Diagnostic Performance of a Combination of Shear Wave Elastography and B-Mode Ultrasonography in Differentiating Benign From Malignant Thyroid Nodules
- Author:
Eung Koo YEON
1
;
Yu-Mee SOHN
;
Mirinae SEO
;
Eui-Jong KIM
;
Young-Gyu EUN
;
Won Seo PARK
;
Seong Jong YUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology 2020;13(2):186-193
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:0
-
Abstract:
Objectives:. This study was conducted to compare clinicopathologic and radiologic factors between benign and malignant thyroid nodules and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography (SWE) combined with B-mode ultrasonography (US) in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules.
Methods:. This retrospective study included 92 consecutive patients with 95 thyroid nodules examined on B-mode US and SWE before US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy or surgical excision. B-mode US findings (composition, echogenicity, margin, shape, and calcification) and SWE elasticity parameters (maximum [Emax], mean, minimum, and nodule-to-normal parenchymal ratio of elasticity) were reviewed and compared between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The diagnostic performance of B-mode US and SWE for predicting malignant thyroid nodules was analyzed. The optimal cutoff values of elasticity parameters for identifying malignancy were determined. Diagnostic performance was compared between B-mode US only, SWE only, and the combination of B-mode US with SWE.
Results:. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; P=0.028), a taller-than-wide shape (OR, 11.3; P=0.040), the presence of calcifications (OR, 15.0; P=0.021), and Emax (OR, 1.22; P=0.021) were independent predictors of malignancy in thyroid nodules. The combined use of B-mode US findings and SWE yielded improvements in sensitivity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value, and accuracy compared with the use of B-mode US findings only, but with no statistical significance.
Conclusion:. When SWE was combined with B-mode US, the diagnostic performance was better than when only B-mode US was used, although the difference was not statistically significant.
