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Value of strain-ratio on thyroid real-time sonoelastography

La radiologia medica volume 119, pages 149–155 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of elastosonography in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules using a qualitative [evaluation of the stiffness score (SS)] and quantitative assessment [evaluation of the strain ratio (SR)].

Materials and methods

In our single-centre retrospective study, 368 patients were enroled between December 2010 and March 2012 (134 men, 234 women, mean age 56.1 ± 14.2) with a diagnosis of thyroid nodules, who underwent conventional ultrasonographic and elastosonographic evaluation. The SS and SR were assessed and the results were expressed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). The nodules were subjected to needle aspiration.

Results

Forty-four nodules were malignant (TIR ≥ 3) and 324 benign on cytological analysis. Considering a cut-off of SS > 2, we had 91 % sensitivity, 68 % specificity, 27 % PPV and 98 % NPV. Considering a cut-off of SR ≥ 3.28, we had 81.8 % sensitivity, 82.7 % specificity, 39.1 % PPV and 97.1 % NPV.

Conclusions

The SR calculation did not provide additional data to the SS, which remains the elastosonography benchmark. It will be necessary to validate these preliminary data by larger prospective randomised trials.

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Conflict of interest

Manlio Guazzaroni, Alessio Spinelli, Irene Coco, Costantino Del Giudice, Valentina Girardi, Giovanni Simonetti declare no conflict of interest.

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Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Imaging Molecolare, Radiologia Interventistica e Radioterapia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Tor Vergata”, Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Manlio Guazzaroni, Alessio Spinelli, Irene Coco, Costantino Del Giudice, Valentina Girardi & Giovanni Simonetti

Authors
  1. Manlio Guazzaroni
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  2. Alessio Spinelli
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  3. Irene Coco
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  4. Costantino Del Giudice
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  5. Valentina Girardi
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  6. Giovanni Simonetti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene Coco.

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Guazzaroni, M., Spinelli, A., Coco, I. et al. Value of strain-ratio on thyroid real-time sonoelastography. Radiol med 119, 149–155 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-013-0320-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-013-0320-9

Keywords

  • Thyroid nodules
  • Elastography
  • Strain ratio
  • Stiffness score
  • FNAC