TY - JOUR
T1 - Prospective comparative evaluation of quantitative-elastosonography (Q-elastography) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the evaluation of thyroid nodules
T2 - Preliminary experience
AU - Cantisani, V.
AU - Consorti, F.
AU - Guerrisi, A.
AU - Guerrisi, I.
AU - Ricci, P.
AU - Di Segni, M.
AU - Mancuso, E.
AU - Scardella, L.
AU - Milazzo, F.
AU - D'Ambrosio, F.
AU - Antonaci, A.
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Purpose To assess the effectiveness of semiquantitative elastosonography (Q-elastography) compared with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating the nature of thyroid nodules. Methods and materials Forty-eight consecutive patients (35 males, 13 females, range: 34-69 years, mean: 49.4 years), candidate to surgery, previously detected at color-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), were prospectively examined with elastosonography with dedicated semiquantitative software (Q-Elastography, Toshiba XG) and CEUS (Technos Mylab 70 Gold X, and Toshiba XG) before surgery. CEUS and elastosonography were evaluated by two investigators in consensus. Comparison between the CEUS pattern and elastonographic strain ratio observed and expected frequencies for the diagnoses was evaluated with χ2 test or with Fisher exact test. Results Fifty-three nodules (19 papillary carcinoma, 32 hyperplasia, and 2 follicular adenoma) in 48 patients were available for analysis. Regarding echogenicity score, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of conventional US were 81%, 50%, 56%, 77%; according to Q-elastography, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 95%, 88%, 97% and 91% respectively; whereas concerning CEUS, sensitivity specificity PPV and NPV were 79%, 91%, 83% and 89% respectively. Both CEUS and Q-elastography were more specific than US (p <0.01), with not statistical significant difference with regard to sensitivity. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that Q-elastography is a valuable tool in the characterization of thyroid nodules and it seems to be more sensitive than CEUS.
AB - Purpose To assess the effectiveness of semiquantitative elastosonography (Q-elastography) compared with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in differentiating the nature of thyroid nodules. Methods and materials Forty-eight consecutive patients (35 males, 13 females, range: 34-69 years, mean: 49.4 years), candidate to surgery, previously detected at color-Doppler ultrasound (CDUS), were prospectively examined with elastosonography with dedicated semiquantitative software (Q-Elastography, Toshiba XG) and CEUS (Technos Mylab 70 Gold X, and Toshiba XG) before surgery. CEUS and elastosonography were evaluated by two investigators in consensus. Comparison between the CEUS pattern and elastonographic strain ratio observed and expected frequencies for the diagnoses was evaluated with χ2 test or with Fisher exact test. Results Fifty-three nodules (19 papillary carcinoma, 32 hyperplasia, and 2 follicular adenoma) in 48 patients were available for analysis. Regarding echogenicity score, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of conventional US were 81%, 50%, 56%, 77%; according to Q-elastography, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 95%, 88%, 97% and 91% respectively; whereas concerning CEUS, sensitivity specificity PPV and NPV were 79%, 91%, 83% and 89% respectively. Both CEUS and Q-elastography were more specific than US (p <0.01), with not statistical significant difference with regard to sensitivity. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that Q-elastography is a valuable tool in the characterization of thyroid nodules and it seems to be more sensitive than CEUS.
KW - CEUS
KW - Characterization
KW - Elastosonography
KW - Thyroid nodules
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2013.07.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2013.07.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 23928231
AN - SCOPUS:84885187286
VL - 82
SP - 1892
EP - 1898
JO - European Journal of Radiology
JF - European Journal of Radiology
SN - 0720-048X
IS - 11
ER -