ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the values of total ultrasonic scores of conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of thyroid nodular lesions. METHODS: A total of 347 thyroid nodules proved by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and surgery underwent preoperative conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography. The features on gray scale, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and elastograms were documented and total ultrasonic scores recorded. RESULTS: Among 347 nodules, 184 nodules were benign and 163 malignant. Significant differences of total ultrasonic scores were found between thyroid carcinoma and benign nodular lesions including the parameters of nodular shape, edge, echoes, sound attenuation, psammous calcifications, internal blood flow and ultrasound elastography score. The higher the total ultrasonic scores, the more possibility of thyroid carcinoma was. By the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of distinguishing thyroid carcinoma from benign nodular lesions was 84.0%, 89.6% and 84.9% if the cut-off value of total ultrasonic scores was over 4. CONCLUSION: For the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions, the total ultrasonic scores of conventional ultrasound and ultrasound elastography can offer greater values.
