ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of multi-phase contrast enhanced MR in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods From September 2015 to January 2018,176 patients with 257 thyroid nodules(109 malignant and 148 benign)preoperatively evaluated by multi-phase contrast enhanced MR were included in the present study.The final diagnoses for all cases were proved by the final pathological reports in our hospital.The diagnostic value of multi-phase contrast enhanced MR in thyroid nodules was analyzed retrospectively. Results The outflow ring sign can be regarded as a specific sign of papillary thyroid carcinoma (χ2＝125.03,P＝0.000)and the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 66.06%,98.65%,97.30%and 79.78%,respectively.The obvious enhancement was more common in benign thyroid nodules (χ2＝33.45,P＝0.000)and it can be regarded as a specific sign of adenoma and adenomatoid nodule(χ2＝74.7 5 ,P＝0.000 ).Conclusion The multi-phase contrast enhanced MR has important clinical application value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.The outflow ring sign can be regarded as a specific sign of papillary thyroid carcinoma,and the obvious enhancement was an important feature of benign nodules,especially of adenoma and adenomatoid nodules.