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| Quantitative analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the thyroid nodules of different sizes |
| TAN Yan-juan, BAO Ling-yun, HUANG An-qian, LEI Zhi-kai, ZHU Luo-xi, XU Liang |
| Department of Ultrasound, the First People’s Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou 310006, China |
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Abstract Objective: To explore the perfusion and enhancement features of the thyroid nodules in different characteres and different sizes using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS). Methods: According to the length and postoperative pathology of the thyroid nodules, 118 thyroid nodules from 99 patients given CEUS were divided into four groups: group Ⅰ: thyroid malignant nodules length of lesion ≥10 mm(n=49), group Ⅱ: thyroid malignant nodules length of lesion ＜10 mm(n=52), group Ⅲ: thyroid benign nodules length of lesion ≥10 mm(n=9), group Ⅳ: thyroid benign nodules length of lesion ＜10 mm(n=8). The parameters from time-intensity curve of thyroid nodules and the adjacent thyroid parenchyma were acquired through Qontrast software, including peak intensity(PEAK), Time-To-Peak(TTP), regional blood volume(RBV), regional blood flow(RBF) and mean transit time(MTT). The quantitative analysis findings of CEUS of each group and their adjacent thyroid parenchyma were compared adopting analysis of variance. Results: There were significant difference in PEAK, TTP and RBF among group Ⅰ, group Ⅱ and their adjacent thyroid parenchyma. There were significant difference in PEAK, TTP and RBF between group Ⅰ and group Ⅲ. While there were no significant difference in PEAK, TTP and RBF among group Ⅱ, group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ. And there were no significant difference in RBV and MTT among each groups. Conclusions: The data of this study suggested that up to now overlapping and lacking specificity findings had seen in the characteristics of each group of thyroid nodules. CEUS combined time-intensity curve can provide efficient and supplementary information but can not differentiate the specific type of thyroid nodules.
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Received: 13 June 2013
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Corresponding Authors:
BAO Ling-yun
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2013, Vol. 24 
