The value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma of TI-RADS grade 3-4 / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To provide a reference for differential diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma classified as TI-RADS 3-4 grade using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Methods SonoLiver software was used to analyze the process of contrast-enhanced ultrasound of 112 thyroid small nodules classified as TI-RADS 3-4 grade.The dynamic vascular pattern curve(DVPC)and the time-intensity curve(TIC)were automatically acquired for summarization of the types and characteristics of the two curves.The relevant parameters such as the rise time(RT),time to peak(TTP),maximum intensity(IMAX%),mean transit time(mTT),area under curve(AUC)and perfusion index(PI)were acquired and calculated using the software.Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to achieve the cut-off value of these parameters for differential diagnosis.Results For thyroid microcarcinoma which TI-RADS assessment of grade 3-4,TIC showed as slow rise and slow drop wave or slow rise and fast drop wave,DVPC showed negative waveform or negative-positive bi-directional waveform.ROC analysis demonstrated that IMAX of 96.5%,AUC of 443.08 and PI of 47.64 were the best cut-off values for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant nodules.When IMAX<96.5%,AUC<443.08,PI<47.64,the nodules were highly likely to be thyroid microcarcinoma.Conclusions The contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters can provide effective reference for the differential diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma with grade 3-4 in TI-RADS classification.