Role Of Strain Elastography In The Characterization Of Benign And Malignant Nature Of The Thyroid Nodules.

ABSTRACT

Elastography is an imaging technique to measure the stiffness of tissues. Images are acquired before and after soft compression of tissues and the deformation is evaluated. Strain ratio -calculated as the ratio of stiffness between nodular tissue and surrounding normal thyroid tissue. With prior verbal and written consent patients were examined on gray-scale ultrasound on transverse images and then using elastographic ultrasonography technique. patients were followed up by fnac findings & postoperative histopathology report in cases of inconclusive FNAC reports. This is prospective study conducted on 200 subjects at Government Medical College, Department of RADIO-DIAGNOSIS, Nagpur from November 2016 to 2018. Regarding sonoelastograph, relation between elastograph scores and thyroid malignancies showing sensitivity, specificity and p value is calculated. The most accurate strain ratio cutoff value among studies calculated. RESULTS: Ultrasound Strain elastography is a promising imaging technique that is useful in the differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Further improvements in the technique and the diagnostic criteria are necessary for this examination to provide a useful contribution to diagnosis. The use of Real Time ultrasound strain elastography would lead to low thyroid FNAC’s because of the high elasticity of being strongly associated with a benign cytology.