Multiparametric ultrasound-based assessment of overt hyperthyroid diffuse thyroid disease.

Introduction: Hyperthyroidismis a prevalent condition affecting global populations, with an overall prevalence of 1.2%. Our research aimed to establish a systematic diagnostic approach using multiparametric ultrasound (MPUS) to diagnose hyperthyroid diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from June 2021 to June 2023 at a specialized endocrinology center in Timisoara, Romania, enrolling subjects presenting with clinical hyperthyroidism. Using the Mach 30 Aixplorer ultrasound equipment, evaluations were performed initially in B-mode US, followed by Color Doppler and Spectral Doppler measurements, and finally, 2D Shear wave elastography (SWE). Results: From the 218 patients analyzed, the diagnosis of DTD with hyperthyroidism was confirmed through biochemical assessment, subgrouping various pathologies such as subacute thyroiditis, Graves' disease, painless thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, iatrogenic, as well as healthy controls. In the first step, B-mode hypoechogenicity had an AUC of 0.951 for DTD detection. In the second step, the peak systolic velocity differentiated Graves' disease with a median of 42.4 cm/s and an AUC of 1. Lastly, the third step consisted of SWE evaluation, revealing a mean elasticity index in the SAT subgroup significantly higher from other subgroups (p<0.001) with an AUC of 1. Conclusion: Our study offers a step-by-step evaluation algorithm for DTD diagnosis, with a very good overall diagnostic performance (AUC of 0.946).

Preliminary study of sound touch elastography in diffuse thyroid disease in children.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of sound touch elastography (STE) in conjunction with conventional ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD) and normal thyroid in children. Methods: Studies performed on 62 children with DTD and 30 normal volunteers were reviewed. Standard gray scale ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and STE of the examinees, and the serum test results of children with DTD were collected, analyzed and compared. Results: The STE-Mean values in the Graves' disease (GD) group, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) group, and normal control group, respectively, were 19.35 ± 5.00 kPa, 19.43 ± 6.06 kPa, and 11.24 ± 1.99 kPa. With an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.945, STE-Mean values differentiated DTD from normal children. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the superior thyroid artery separated DTD from normal children and AUC from children with GD and HT, respectively, and was 0.992 and 0.864. The PSV of superior thyroid artery revealed a somewhat favorable connection with FT3 and FT4. Conclusion: The STE results revealed that thyroid stiffness was higher in children with DTD than in normal children, but further differentiation into GD and HT subgroups lacked specificity, and the superior thyroid artery flow velocity might be a good supplement to distinguish both.

Validation of Diagnostic Performance and Interobserver Agreement of DTD-TIRADS for Diffuse Thyroid Disease on Ultrasound: A Single-Center Study.

OBJECTIVE. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the capability of the already-proposed thyroid imaging reporting and data system for detecting diffuse thyroid disease (DTD-TIRADS) on ultrasound (US) by assessing interobserver agreement and diagnostic performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 180 patients who underwent thyroid US before thyroid surgery were included. Three radiologists blinded to the pathologic and serologic data independently categorized the US features according to a four-category DTD-TIRADS classification system. On the basis of the pathologic results of thyroid parenchyma, diagnostic performance values were calculated using ROC curve analyses. Interobserver agreements of each US feature and DTD-TIRADS category among the three radiologists were also assessed. RESULTS. Of the 180 patients, 143 (79.4%) had normal thyroid parenchyma and 37 (20.6%) had diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). The areas under the ROC curve for DTD were not significantly different among the three radiologists: 0.876 (95% CI, 0.819-0.920) for radiologist 1, 0.883 (95% CI, 0.827-0.926) for radiologist 2, and 0.861 (95% CI, 0.801-0.908) for radiologist 3 (p > .05). The cutoff for the diagnosis of DTD was category III DTD-TIRADS. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DTD-TIRADS for detecting DTD were 86.5%, 81.1%, and 82.2% for radiologist 1; 86.5%, 83.2%, and 83.9% for radiologist 2; and 83.8%, 82.5%, and 82.8% for radiologist 3, respectively. Interobserver agreement of DTD-TIRADS categorization was almost perfect (κ = 0.81). CONCLUSION. DTD-TIRADS has high diagnostic performance and almost-perfect interobserver agreement. Thus, DTD-TIRADS can be considered to be an effective classification system for diagnosing DTD.

Shear wave elastography in diffuse thyroid disease.

AIM: Our aim was to examine the contribution of shear wave elastography to ultrasonographic assessment in diffuse thyroid disease, specifically to evaluate the stiffness of the thyroid gland in diffuse thyroid disease and compare it with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with diffuse thyroid disease were examined clinically, by conventional ultrasound, and shear wave elastography. The conventional ultrasound parameters followed were: volume, margin quality, presence of nodules, and vascularisation. We measured the mean, minimum, and maximum stiffnesses by shear wave elastography. Results were correlated with values in 128 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Patients with diffuse thyroid disease had significantly higher mean and maximal stiffnesses of the thyroid gland: 12.5 ± 5 kPa and 35.3 ± 12.8 kPa, respectively, and lower minimal stiffness: 0.5 ± 0.6 kPa than the healthy control group with mean, maximal, and minimal values of 9.5 ± 3.6 kPa, 22.5 ± 7.3 kPa, and 2.2 ± 2.1 kPa (P<0.001). Stiffness values were positively correlated with BMI and volume of the thyroid; they did not correlate with margin quality, presence of nodules nor vascularisation. Compared with healthy volunteers, thyroid glands of patients with diffuse thyroid disease had a blurred margin more frequently and the amount of nodules and vascularisation were higher. Patients with Graves-Basedow disease did not have significantly different mean, maximal, nor minimal stiffnesses than those with thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: Both mean and maximal stiffness of the thyroid gland are significantly higher in diffuse thyroid disease than in the healthy population, while minimal stiffness is lower.

Thyroid Ultrasound: Diffuse and Nodular Disease.

Thyroid ultrasound with gray-scale and color Doppler is the most helpful imaging modality to differentiate normal thyroid parenchyma from diffuse or nodular thyroid disease by evaluating glandular size, echogenicity, echotexture, margins, and vascularity. The various causes of diffuse thyroid disease often have overlapping sonographic imaging features. Thyroid nodules may be hyperplastic or neoplastic, with most due to benign hyperplastic changes in architecture and benign follicular adenomas; only a small percentage are malignant. A systematic approach to nodule morphology that includes evaluation of composition, echogenicity, margin, shape, and any echogenic foci can guide decision to biopsy or follow nodules.

Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for Detecting Diffuse Thyroid Disease on Ultrasonography: A Single-Center Study.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the ultrasonography (US) features of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD) and normal thyroid parenchyma (NTP), and to propose a structured imaging reporting system for detecting DTD. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the findings for 270 consecutive patients who underwent thyroid US before thyroid surgery. The following US data were analyzed: DTD-specific features, parenchymal echotexture and echogenicity, anteroposterior diameter, glandular margin, and parenchymal vascularity. Univariate and multivariate analyses with generalized estimating equations were performed to investigate the relationship between US features and DTD. The fitted probability of DTD was analyzed by using a regression equation. Results: Of the 270 patients, there were NTP (n = 193), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 24), non-Hashimoto lymphocytic thyroiditis (n = 51), Graves' disease (n = 1), and diffuse hyperplasia (n = 1). The following US features were significantly associated with DTD: decreased or increased parenchymal echogenicity, coarse parenchymal echotexture, increased anteroposterior diameter, lobulated glandular margin, and increased parenchymal vascularity. Of these, coarse parenchymal echotexture was the most significant independent predictor of DTD. The numbers of abnormal US features were positively correlated with the fitted probability and risk of DTD. The diagnostic indices were highest when the chosen cut-off criterion was category III with the largest Az value (0.867, 95% confidence interval: 0.820-0.905), yielding a sensitivity of 68.8%, specificity of 92.2%, positive predictive value of 77.9%, negative predictive value of 88.1%, and accuracy of 85.6% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our sonographic reporting and data system may be useful for detecting DTD.

Sonography of the Thyroid.

Nodular thyroid disease is very common, and the vast majority of nodules are benign. Sonography serves as an effective diagnostic tool in identifying nodular features that are concerning for malignancy and those with a benign appearance. The American College of Radiology has developed a risk-stratification system called the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System, which uses the sonographic appearance of nodules combined with nodule size to determine the need for fine-needle aspiration or sonographic surveillance to diagnose malignancy. Familiarity with the sonographic appearance of diffuse thyroid disease allows differentiation of these conditions from nodular thyroid disease.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Normal Thyroid Parenchyma and Incidental Diffuse Thyroid Disease: A Single-Center Study.

Background: No previous studies have investigated the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis for detecting incidental diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). This study investigated MRI features of normal thyroid parenchyma and incidental DTD. Methods: From January 2008 to December 2017, 387 patients underwent neck MRI in our hospital due to tumor/nodal staging (n = 137), lymphadenopathy (n = 122), inflammatory neck lesion (n = 85), congenital neck lesion (n = 12), and patient request (n = 31). Among them, 375 patients were excluded because of a lack of appropriate histopathological data on the thyroid parenchyma. Results: Among the patients included, 10 had normal thyroid parenchyma, 1 had Hashimoto thyroiditis, and 1 had diffuse hyperplasia. The common MRI features of normal thyroid parenchyma include iso-/slightly high and homogeneous signal intensity on T1/T2-weighted images, normal anteroposterior diameter of the thyroid gland, smooth margin, and homogeneously increased enhancement as compared to adjacent muscle. Hashimoto thyroiditis exhibited high and inhomogeneous signal intensity on T2-weighted images, while diffuse hyperplasia revealed an increased anteroposterior diameter and lobulated margin of the thyroid gland, and inhomogeneous enhancement. Conclusions: MRI may be helpful for detection of incidental DTD.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Real-Time Sonography in Differentiating Diffuse Thyroid Disease From Normal Thyroid Parenchyma: A Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this multicenter study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of real-time sonography (US) for differentiating diffuse thyroid disease (DTD) from normal thyroid parenchyma among radiologists blinded to patients' clinical, serologic, and imaging history and to determine the differences in diagnostic accuracy among radiologists from different institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to March 2017, 214 patients underwent preoperative thyroid US and subsequent thyroid surgery at four participating institutions. Real-time US was performed at each institution by an attending radiologist, who classified US diagnoses into one of the following four categories based on US findings: no DTD, indeterminate, suspicious for DTD, and DTD. The outcomes of US diagnoses were compared with histopathologic results to determine the diagnostic accuracy of real-time US at each institution. RESULTS: Histopathologic results included normal thyroid parenchyma (n = 143), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 29), non-Hashimoto lymphocytic thyroiditis (n = 37), and diffuse hyperplasia (n = 5). Normal thyroid parenchyma and DTD exhibited statistically significant differences in echogenicity, echotexture, size, glandular margin, vascularity of thyroid, and US classification. There was positive correlation between US classification and histopathologic results at all institutions for detecting DTD. The highest diagnostic indexes were obtained when the cutoff criterion was suspicious for DTD. There was favorable diagnostic accuracy, with statistically significant differences, at all institutions for the diagnosis of DTD. CONCLUSION: Real-time US can be helpful for differentiating DTD from normal thyroid parenchyma.

The value of shear wave elastography in diffuse thyroid disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to discuss the value of ultrasound-based shear wave™ elastography (SWE) in diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). METHOD: Thyroid stiffness in 154 patients with DTD and 30 normal subjects was measured by SWE. The serum indicators of all subjects were detected. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve for DTD by SWE was 0.852. The AUROCs of SWE for differentiating chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) from Graves' disease (GD) and subacute thyroiditis (SAT) were 0.549 and 0.989, respectively. The AUROCs for distinguishing GD from SAT by SWE and the fT3/fT4 ratio were 0.975 and 0.713, respectively. CONCLUSION: SWE aids in the diagnosis of DTD, and SWE is superior to the fT3/fT4 ratio for distinguishing GD from SAT. However, SWE was unsuitable for differentiating CAT from GD.

Comparison of ultrasonography and computed tomography for diagnosing diffuse thyroid disease: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing incidentally detected diffuse thyroid disease (DTD) in patients who underwent thyroid surgery using multicenter data. METHODS: Between July and December 2016, a total of 177 patients who underwent preoperative thyroid US and neck CT, and subsequent thyroid surgery at 4 participating institutions, were reviewed. US and CT images in each case were retrospectively reviewed by a radiologist at each institution, and classified into one of the following four categories based on US and CT features: no DTD; indeterminate; suspicious for DTD; and DTD. The diagnostic accuracy of US and CT were calculated at each institution by comparison with histopathological results. RESULTS: Respective US and CT classifications in the 177 patients were no DTD in 75 and 71, indeterminate in 46 and 34, suspicious for DTD in 28 and 31, and DTD in 28 and 41. Among the histopathological results, 113 patients had normal thyroid parenchyma, 23 had Hashimoto thyroiditis, 36 had non-Hashimoto lymphocytic thyroiditis, and 5 had diffuse hyperplasia. The presence of ≥ 2 US and CT features of DTD, which was classified as suspicious for DTD or DTD, had the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.866 and 0.893, respectively), with sensitivity and specificity of 71.9 and 91.2% in US, and 84.4 and 84.1% in CT, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between readers' experience and their diagnostic performance. CONCLUSION: US and CT imaging may be helpful for detecting incidental DTD.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Diffuse Thyroid Disease: a Study Comparing Grayscale US and Texture Analysis of Real-Time Elastography (RTE) and Grayscale US

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic performances of grayscale ultrasound (US) and quantitative parameters obtained from texture analysis of grayscale US and elastography images in evaluating patients with diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September to December 2012, 113 patients (mean age, 43.4±10.7 years) who had undergone preoperative staging US and elastography were included in this study. Assessment of the thyroid parenchyma for the diagnosis of DTD was made if US features suggestive of DTD were present. Nine histogram parameters were obtained from the grayscale US and elastography images, from which ‘grayscale index’ and ‘elastography index’ were calculated. Diagnostic performances of grayscale US, texture analysis using grayscale US and elastography were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Of the 113 patients, 85 (75.2%) patients were negative for DTD and 28 (24.8%) were positive for DTD on pathology. The presence of US features suggestive of DTD showed significantly higher rates of DTD on pathology, 60.7% to 8.2% (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic performances were the highest for grayscale US features in diagnosis of DTD. Grayscale index may be used as a complementary tool to US features for improving sensitivity and NPV.

Sonography of diffuse thyroid disease.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: This article aims to review of the common diffuse thyroid disease. METHODS: Thorough literature search and review was performed for each diffuse thyroid disease. The most recent and updated ultrasound images were obtained. RESULTS: Diffuse thyroid diseases discussed include multinodular goitre, Graves' disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, de Quervain thyroiditis, acute suppurative thyroiditis, anaplastic carcinoma, thyroid metastases, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis, tuberculosis, plasmacytoma, IgG4-related disease and thyrolipoma. DISCUSSION: The major clinical features and the sonographic features of each diffuse thyroid disease are reviewed. CONCLUSION: This article serves as a synopsis of diffuse thyroid disease.

Assessment of Diffuse Thyroid Disease by Strain Ratio in Ultrasound Elastography.

The goal of this study was to explore the value of strain ratio from real-time elastography in the semi-quantitative assessment of diffuse thyroid disease. Fifty-one patients with primary hyperthyroidism, 70 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 8 with subacute thyroiditis and 43 with normal healthy thyroids were recruited to measure the strain ratio (SR) of thyroid tissue and sternocleidomastoid muscle (on the same side of the thyroid). SR values of all groups were subjected to statistical analysis. The SRs (mean ± standard deviation) of patients with hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis were 2.30 ± 1.08, 7.04 ± 7.74 and 24.09 ± 13.56, respectively. The SR of the control group was 1.76 ± 0.54. SR values ranked in ascending order were control group < hyperthyroidism group < Hashimoto's thyroiditis group < subacute thyroiditis group. There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in thyroid hardness between groups with different diffuse thyroid diseases. SR values of the hyperthyroidism and control groups did not statistically differ (p > 0.05). It is feasible to assess diffuse thyroid disease with strain ratios obtained with ultrasound elastography.

Ultrasonography of various thyroid diseases in children and adolescents: a pictorial essay.

Thyroid imaging is indicated to evaluate congenital hypothyroidism during newborn screening or in cases of a palpable thyroid mass in children and adolescents. This pictorial essay reviews the ultrasonography (US) of thyroid diseases in children and adolescents, including normal thyroid gland development, imaging features of congenital thyroid disorders (dysgenesis, [aplasia, ectopy, hypoplasia], dyshormonogenesis, transient hypothyroidism, thyroglossal duct cyst), diffuse thyroid disease (Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and suppurative thyroiditis), and thyroid nodules. The primary imaging modalities for evaluating thyroid diseases are US and radionuclide scintigraphy. Additionally, US can be used to guide aspiration of detected nodules.

Ultrasonography of Various Thyroid Diseases in Children and Adolescents: A Pictorial Essay

Thyroid imaging is indicated to evaluate congenital hypothyroidism during newborn screening or in cases of a palpable thyroid mass in children and adolescents. This pictorial essay reviews the ultrasonography (US) of thyroid diseases in children and adolescents, including normal thyroid gland development, imaging features of congenital thyroid disorders (dysgenesis, [aplasia, ectopy, hypoplasia], dyshormonogenesis, transient hypothyroidism, thyroglossal duct cyst), diffuse thyroid disease (Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and suppurative thyroiditis), and thyroid nodules. The primary imaging modalities for evaluating thyroid diseases are US and radionuclide scintigraphy. Additionally, US can be used to guide aspiration of detected nodules.

Real-time elastography in the evaluation of diffuse thyroid disease: a study based on elastography histogram parameters.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative histogram parameters using real-time tissue elastography (RTE) in the diagnosis of patients with diffuse thyroid disease. One hundred and sixteen patients (mean age, 43.7 ± 10.97 y) who had undergone pre-operative staging ultrasonography and RTE were included. For each patient, 11 parameters were obtained from RTE images, from which the "elastic index" was calculated. Diagnostic performance of the elastic index and that of the 11 parameters on RTE were calculated and compared. Of the 116 patients, 31 had diffuse thyroid disease and 85 had normal thyroid parenchyma. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A(z)) of MEAN (average relative value) elasticity was high (0.737), without significant differences from other elasticity values. Diagnostic performance of the elastic index was higher than the MEAN, A(z) = 0.753, without significance (p = 0.802). In conclusion, RTE using the elastic index was found to have good diagnostic performance and may be useful in the diagnosis and management of patients with diffuse thyroid disease.

Comparative study of ultrasound and computed tomography for incidentally detecting diffuse thyroid disease.

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic values of thyroid ultrasound (US) and neck computed tomography (CT) in incidentally detecting diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). A single radiologist made US and CT diagnoses of incidentally detected DTD in 130 consecutive patients before thyroidectomy for various malignancies. Histopathologic examinations confirmed normal thyroid (n = 80), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 20), non-Hashimoto lymphocytic thyroiditis (n = 28) and diffuse hyperplasia (n = 2). Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the best diagnostic indices of both imaging methods were achieved on the basis of two or more abnormal imaging findings. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of US and CT in incidentally detecting DTD by this classification were 72% and 72%, 87.5% and 91.3% and 81.5% and 83.8%, respectively. Thyroid US and neck CT have similar diagnostic values for differentiating incidental DTD from normal thyroid.

Diagnostic role of conventional ultrasonography and shearwave elastography in asymptomatic patients with diffuse thyroid disease: initial experience with 57 patients.

PURPOSE: Thyroid ultrasonography (US) is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD), whereas shearwave elastography is a dynamic technique that can provide information about tissue hardness by using acoustic shearwaves remotely induced by a focused ultrasonic beam. This study aims at investigating the role of conventional US and shearwave elastography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic patients with DTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients who underwent both conventional US and shearwave elastography were included in this study. Interobserver variability of the three radiologists in assessment of underlying thyroid echogenicity on conventional US was analyzed. Diagnostic performances for diagnosing DTD on conventional US and shearwave elastography were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Fair agreement was observed in the identification of DTD with conventional US (kappa value= 0.27). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) were 0.52-0.585 on conventional US by three radiologists. The Az values when using the mean and maximum elasticity values as a diagnostic criteria for DTD were 0.619 and 0.59 on shearwave elastography. Patients with DTD showed higher mean [24.1±10 kilo-Pascals (kPa)] and maximum (36.4±13.3 kPa) elasticity values on shearwave elastography when compared to the normal group (23.4±10.8 kPa and 33.7±12.4 kPa, respectively), although without statistical significance (p=0.802 and p=0.452, respectively). CONCLUSION: Conventional US did not show reliable interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of DTD. Although not statistically significant, shearwave elastography may provide additional information in the diagnosis of DTD. Therefore, larger prospective studies are needed to define the values of shearwave elastography for diagnosing DTD.

Diagnostic Role of Conventional Ultrasonography and Shearwave Elastography in Asymptomatic Patients with Diffuse Thyroid Disease: Initial Experience with 57 Patients

PURPOSE: Thyroid ultrasonography (US) is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD), whereas shearwave elastography is a dynamic technique that can provide information about tissue hardness by using acoustic shearwaves remotely induced by a focused ultrasonic beam. This study aims at investigating the role of conventional US and shearwave elastography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic patients with DTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients who underwent both conventional US and shearwave elastography were included in this study. Interobserver variability of the three radiologists in assessment of underlying thyroid echogenicity on conventional US was analyzed. Diagnostic performances for diagnosing DTD on conventional US and shearwave elastography were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Fair agreement was observed in the identification of DTD with conventional US (kappa value=0.27). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) were 0.52-0.585 on conventional US by three radiologists. The Az values when using the mean and maximum elasticity values as a diagnostic criteria for DTD were 0.619 and 0.59 on shearwave elastography. Patients with DTD showed higher mean [24.1+/-10 kilo-Pascals (kPa)] and maximum (36.4+/-13.3 kPa) elasticity values on shearwave elastography when compared to the normal group (23.4+/-10.8 kPa and 33.7+/-12.4 kPa, respectively), although without statistical significance (p=0.802 and p=0.452, respectively). CONCLUSION: Conventional US did not show reliable interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of DTD. Although not statistically significant, shearwave elastography may provide additional information in the diagnosis of DTD. Therefore, larger prospective studies are needed to define the values of shearwave elastography for diagnosing DTD.