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[Summary] Elastographic and contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic features were reviewed in 160 thyroid nodules co-existed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Significant differences in the elastography scores and enhancement pattern were found between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. For the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules co-existed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the combined scores of elastography scores and contrast-enhanced ultrasound features may offer greater values.
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Objective To investigate the influencing factors of strain ratio(SR) value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules by using real-time tissue elastosonography (RTE).Methods One hundred and seventy-one patients with a total of 171 thyroid nodules were analyzed retrospectively.Their images,including 2D ultrasound,color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and RTE were reviewed and conventional ultrasonic features (including the maximum diameter,composition,shape,magin,calcification,intranodular blood flow,depth) and SR value were recorded.Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of SR value in differentiating malignant nodules from benign ones.Firstly,the correlation between the aforementioned factors and SR value was assessed by using malignant lesions as the research subjects.And then,the multiple linear regressions (MLR) was employed to evaluate the influence of particular features which turned out to be an important disturbing factor affecting SR value of the lesion in the first step of analysis and pathological type in all nodules (benign and malignant) on SR value.Results With a cut-off point of SR value 3.67,the sensitivity and specificity of SR value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules was 85.6％ and 81.1 ％,respectively,and the area under ROC curve was 0.891.Correlation between the maximum diameter and calcification and SR value was significant(r =0.345 and 0.261 respectively,P ＜0.05).However,there was no significant correlation between other features(5 factors) and SR value(P ≥0.05).MLR indicated that the maximum diameter,calcification and the type of pathology of the nodule were associated with SR value (P ＜ 0.05).Among them,pathological nature was the most significant impact factor with a standardized coefficient 0.494).Conclusions SR value can be used to evaluate the hardness of thyroid nodules semi-quantitatively.Its value mainly depends on the pathological nature of the nodules.The maximum diameter and calcification are also the influencing factors of SR value.However,the composition,shape,margin,intranodular blood flow and depth have no obvious effect on SR value.
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Objective To investigate the ultrasonographic characteristics of angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (AFH). Methods The ultrasonographic and pathological characteristics in nine patients with pathologically confirmed AFH were retrospectively analyzed. Results All the 9 patients were hyaline vascular type of AFH. Ultrasonic manifestations included complete capsule, regular shape and clear boundary, internal solide low echo, mild posterior echo enhancement and without cystic degeneration, which was relative to the less incidence of necrosis and hemorrhage on pathologic findings. Calcification in the lesions were found in two patients. Color Doppler flow signals were observed in the periphery of lesions in 9 patients, and rich flow signals were observed in the center of lesions in 2 of them. Conclusion The ultrasonic manifestations of AFH has its own characteristics. The ultrasonic manifestations combined with clinical features are helpful to the differential diagnosis. The final diagnosis depends on pathologic examination.
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Objective To evaluate the significance of homocysteine(HCY)and color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI)in the diagnosis and treatment of the renal damage in hypertension.Methods Seventy-two patients were divided into 3 groups according to the indicators of renal damage of hypertension.HCY in blood and the parameters of three grades renal artery with CDFI were measured and compared with 20 controls.Besides these，the relationship between HCY and resistant index(RI)of interlobar renal artery (IRA)was also analysed.Results①The level of HCY in hypertension was much more higher than the level in controls.HCY increased with the damage of renal function，and there were significant differences between different groups(P＜0.05).②The Vmax and Vmin were slower gradually，but PI and RI were higher with the severity of the renal damage(P＜0.01).③HCY were positive correlation with IRNs RI(r=0，35，P＜0.0 1).Conclusions The changes of CDFI can reflect the conditions of renal blood flow，it is possible to know renal blood flow by measuring RI of IRA.The level of HCY will increase gradually with the degression of renal function，it iS useful to evaluate the renal damage.The measurement of CDFI for hypertensive patients is valuable not only for the evaluations of their renal function but also for the severity of hyperhomocysteinemal and their therapy condition.
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The patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) had higher plasma level of soluble E-selectin than those without DR, and the level of soluble E-selectin showed a positive relationship with the extent of DR, suggesting that E-selectin might play a role in the development of DR.