Objective To compare differences of characteristics of ultrasonic elasticity imaging for benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with or without Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Methods The thyroid nodules with ≤1 cm size and the category 4A, 4B, 4C, and 5 of Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) were included into this study, and a further examination of real-time elastography was performed. The final diagnosis was relied on the pathological diagnosis. The elasticity score and strain ratio (SR) were recorded and compared between these two groups, respectively. Results Of the 424 nodules, 103 nodules were accompanied with HT (thyroid nodule with HT group), 321 nodules were not accompanied with HT (thyroid nodule without HT group). In the thyroid nodule with HT group, the area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCs) of the elasticity score and the SR was 0.685 and 0.676, respectively; the optimal cut offs of the elasticity score and the SR was 3 points and 2.45 respectively, their corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 75.7%, 57.6%, 68.0% and 75.7%, 60.6%, 67.6%, respectively. In the thyroid nodule without HT group, the AUCs of the elasticity score and the SR was 0.692 and 0.692, respectively; the optimal cut offs of the elasticity score and the SR was 4 points and 2.84, respectively; their corresponding sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 57.5%, 74.2%, 69.2% and 76.1%, 59.7%, 67.7%, respectively. Conclusions Elastography is helpful in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant small thyroid nodules. While, standards of elasticity score and SR value in differential diagnosis are different between benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with HT and without HT, elasticity score and SR ratio decrease in benign and malignant small thyroid nodules with HT.
Objective To report our experience in using The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology(TBSRTC), and to investigate the diagnostic value of the system based on the cytologic-histologic result. Methods Pathological data of 2 257 thyroid nodules classified by TBSRTC which were obtained from the Department of Pathology of West China Hospital between Jan.2010 to Dec.2012 were collected and analyzed, to investigate the diagnostic evaluation indicators, such as the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the system based on the cytologic-histologic result. Results Of the 2 257 thyroid nodules, 442 (19.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅠ, 1 184(52.4%) were diagnosed as categoryⅡ, 216(9.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅢ, 38(1.7%) were diagnosed as categoryⅣ, 172(7.6%) were diagnosed as categoryⅤ, 205(9.1%) were diagnosed as categoryⅥ. Using TBSRTC categoryⅡas the boundary point of diagnosing benign and malignant diseases, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 93.7%(236/252), 86.6%(323/373), and 89.4%(559/625)respectively, while categoryⅢwas excluded from analysis. When including categoryⅢinto analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 94.3%(267/283), 74.9%(323/431), and 82.6%(590/714)respectively. Conclusion The validity of TBSRTC was high at our institution. TBSRTC has proven to be an accurate and reliable approach for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS)classification and elastography in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules according to size. Methods A total of 222 thyroid nodules (209 cases) with solid or predominantly solid internal contentdiagnosed at pathological findings were enrolled in this study, all the 209 cases underwent surgery in our hospital from Jan.2014 to Jun.2014. The diagnostic performance of TI-RADS classification and elastography in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules according to size nodules were evaluated (for≤1 cm and > 1 cm respectively). Results By using TI-RADS category and elastography, 178 thyroid nodules were diagnosed as malignant nodules, and 44 thyroid nodules were diagnosed as benign nodules. The high predictive factors for malignant thyroid nodules of > 1 cm were irregular shape(OR=6.376), microcalcification(OR=21.525), and capsule invasion(OR=3.852), P < 0.05. The factors for thyroid nodules of≤1 cm were anteroposterior to transverse diameter ratio≥1(OR=3.406), capsule invasion (OR=3.922), and high elastography score(OR=1.606), that suggested the possibility of malignant (P < 0.05). For nodules of > 1 cm, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Youden index of TI-RADS combining with elastography were 98.3%(59/60), 68.6%(24/35), 87.4%(83/95), 84.3%(59/70), 96.0% (24/25), and 66.9% respectively; for nodules of≤1 cm, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Youden index were 98.5%(67/68), 30.5%(18/59), 66.9%(85/127), 62.0%(67/108), 94.7%(18/19), and 29.0% respectively. Conclusion TI-RADS category combined with elastography for diagnosis of thyroid nodules in different size has just a bit differently diagnostic indicators, but that play a high diagnostic performance on the thyroid nodules with maximum diameter > 1 cm.
Objective To summary the change of surgical approaches, indications, contraindications, and complications of endoscopic thyroidectomy. Methods Endoscopic thyroidectomy related literatures at home and abroad were collected to summary the change of surgical approaches, indications, contraindications, and complications of it. Results The approaches of endoscopic thyroidectomy had their own advantages, wherein breast and complete areola approaches were mainstream surgical procedures; the indications were closely correlated with surgeons and devices, and there were no uniform indications yet. With the advance in endoscopic techniques, the contraindications would be gradually resolved, and the assistance of new devices and the accumulation of experience reduced the incidence of surgical complications, but there were still probability of occurrence of such complications. Conclusion Endoscopic thyroidectomy is the main means of treating thyroid nodules, which will be more widely used with the advance in techniques, the innovation of devices, the expansion of indications as well as the overcoming of contraindications.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of BRAFV600E mutation test in high-risk thyroid nodules with easily underdiagnosed fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) results.MethodsRetrospectively collected 122 cases of thyroid nodule who treated in the Hebei Petrochina Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2018, all the cases admitted preoperative ultrasound and FNAB detection. All of the patients had the non-positive cytological results of FNAB and the high-risk features of ultrasound. Contrasted the postoperative pathological coincidence rate of combination of FNAB and BRAFV600E test with FNAB alone.ResultsThe BRAFV600E mutation rate was 27.0% (33/122). The positive rate of BRAFV600E mutation increased with the increase of ultrasound thyroid imaging reporting and data system(TI-RADS) grade (P<0.05), which was independent of patients’ age, gender, number of nodules, diameter of nodules, and FNAB results (P>0.05). The coincidence rate of FNAB combined with BRAFV600E mutation detection was higher than that of FNAB alone ［86.9% (106/122) vs. 69.7% (85/122), P<0.05).ConclusionsThe BRAFV600E mutation test can detect papillary thyroid carcinoma that might be missed by FNAB. We recommend that FNAB should be routinely accompanied by the BRAFV600E mutation test in the high-risk thyroid nodules.
Objective To explore the value of virtual touch tissue quantification(VTQ) of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods The ultrasound (US), elastography imaging(EI), and VTQ of ARFI were performed to determine the characteristics and features of 63 thyroid nodules. The pathological diagnosis was the gold standard. According to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of US, EI, and VTQ, the critical points and diagnostic values of US, EI, and VTQ in diag-nosis of malignant thyroid nodules were achieved. Results Of the 63 nodules, 45 were benign and 18 were malignant. The area under curves of US, EI, and shear wave velocity(SWV) were 0.837(95% CI:0.712-0.962), 0.863(95% CI:0.751-0.974), and 0.900 (95% CI:0.810-0.990) respectively, and all the 3 kinds of technique had diagnostic value(P=0.001), but there were no significant difference among the 3 kinds of technique on the area under curve(P > 0.05). According to the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve, the critical point of US in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was 3 conventional ultrasonography, which displayed a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 86.7%, and a accuracy of 85.7%. The critical point of EI grades in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was gradeⅣ, which displayed a sensitivity of 94.1%, a specificity of 82.6%, and a accuracy of 87.3%. The critical value of SWV in distinguishing benign nodules with malignant nodules was 3.39 m/s, which displayed a sensiti-vity of 88.9%, a specificity of 91.1%, and a accuracy of 90.5%. Conclusion US, EI, and VTQ techniques all have diagnostic values in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and we should make combination with all of the 3 kinds of technique when performing differential diagnosis.