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Gray-scale three-dimensional sonography of thyroid nodules: feasibility of the method and preliminary studies

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Abstract

The aim of the study was differential evaluation of new and classical sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer with three-dimensional gray-scale sonography and evaluation of the effectiveness of the thin-slice surface rendered images in comparison with multiplanar reformation (MPR) presentation. Fifty-four thyroid nodules were interactively evaluated with thin-slice smooth surface rendering: shape in the c-plane (parallel to the probe) and evaluation of echogenicity, margins and calcification/microcalcification-like echogenic foci in the a-plane (plane of the probe). Evaluation of the level of agreement in readers’ interpretation and between sonographic techniques was performed using the κ statistic. Surface rendering permitted visualization of the shape of the nodule in the c-plane in all cases, in contrast to only up to 48% of cases in MPR evaluation. Lobulated nodule shape in the c-plane was 82–100% sensitive and 47–53% specific in diagnosis of carcinoma. Surface rendered images showed more calcification/microcalcification-like echogenic foci than MPR ones. The level of agreement between the observers in the evaluation of features of thyroid nodules and the agreement between features of thyroid nodules on MPR and surface-rendered images showed at least moderate reproducibility (κ≥0.41). Three-dimensional thin-slice surface rendering sonography appears to be a feasible and effective method for thyroid nodule evaluation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the State Committee for Scientific Research (Komitet Badan Naukowych) grant 3 P05B 100 23 in years 2002–2005. We thank the following people for their contributions in patient referral and verification: Malgorzata Gietka-Czernel MD, Helena Jastrzebska MD, Ireneusz Kozicki MD, Elzbieta Stachlewska-Nasfeter MD. We thank Mr Michael Haizinger (GE Healthcare Ultrasound) for information on the technical aspects of surface rendering. We thank John Gittins PhD (Great Britain) for editing and proofreading the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Faculty II, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Kondratowicza 8, 03-242, Warsaw, Poland

    Rafal Z. Slapa, Kazimierz T. Szopinski & Wiesław Jakubowski

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education, ul. Cegłowska 80, 01-809, Warsaw, Poland

    Jadwiga Slowinska-Srzednicka

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  1. Rafal Z. Slapa
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  2. Jadwiga Slowinska-Srzednicka
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Correspondence to Rafal Z. Slapa.

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Slapa, R.Z., Slowinska-Srzednicka, J., Szopinski, K.T. et al. Gray-scale three-dimensional sonography of thyroid nodules: feasibility of the method and preliminary studies. Eur Radiol 16, 428–436 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2903-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-005-2903-x

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