Journal
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
Volume 22, Issue 6, Pages 913-928Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2008.09.016
Keywords
thyroid; thyroid ultrasound; US elastography; thyroid nodules
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Thyroid ultrasound (US) features associated with malignancy in thyroid nodules are microcalcifications, hypoechogenicity, irregular margins or absent halo sign, solid aspect, intranodular vascularization, and shape (caller than wide). These patterns, taken singly, are poorly predictive. When they are simultaneously present the specificity increases at the expense of sensitivity. US elastography (USE) is a powerful new diagnostic tool that assesses hardness as an indicator of malignancy in thyroid nodules. USE has high specificity and sensitivity independent of the nodule size, and this predictive value is maintained in follicular lesions. Available data suggest that USE is the best available non-invasive tool comparable to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for the evaluation of thyroid nodules, provided that the nodule is solid and devoid of coarse calcifications. Thus, conventional US retains its importance for selecting nodules in which USE is predictive. In conclusion, USE has great potential as a new tool for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, especially in nodules with indeterminate cytology.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available