Complementary Thyroid Elastography on Conventional Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Malignant Thyroid Nodules

Authors

  • Adi Syazni Muhammed Department of Surgery, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Cheras, Malaysia.
  • Shahrun Niza Abdullah Suhaimi Department of Surgery, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Cheras, Malaysia.
  • Nor Faezan Abdul Rashid Department of Surgery, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia
  • Nurismah Md Isa Department of Pathology, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz
  • Shamsul Azhar Shah Department of Community Health, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Cheras, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31436/imjm.v21i3.1974

Keywords:

Thyroid nodule, elastography, ultrasound, scoring

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound has been widely used to assess thyroid nodules. Although ultrasound elastography has been developed to improve detection of thyroid malignancy, it has received mixed responses. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of ultrasound elastography in detecting malignant thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with thyroid nodules were assessed using conventional ultrasound and elastography followed by fine-needle aspiration and or hemithyroidectomy. The ultrasound findings were compared with the cytology or histopathology for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of 156 nodules from 92 patients included in the study, 12 (7.7%) were malignant and 144 (88.8%) were benign. The elastography was found to be an independent predictor of malignancy (OR 10.35, 95% CI [1.31, 81.6], p = 0.03). Other independent predictors were taller shape and central Doppler pattern obtained using conventional ultrasound. A combination of the three independent predictors was shown to improve the sensitivity of detecting malignant thyroid nodules up to 100%, 95% CI [73.5,100] with NPV of 100%. A new scoring system incorporating the three variables was developed and an algorithm using the scoring system was proposed. CONCLUSION: Thyroid elastography is an independent predictor of thyroid malignancy. Its performance is comparable to conventional ultrasound when used alone and improved when used in combination with conventional ultrasound. It is valuable as screening and risk-stratification tools for patients with thyroid nodules.

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

01.07.2022

How to Cite

Muhammed, A. S., Abdullah Suhaimi, S. N., Abdul Rashid, N. F., Md Isa, N., & Shah, S. A. (2022). Complementary Thyroid Elastography on Conventional Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Malignant Thyroid Nodules . IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.31436/imjm.v21i3.1974

Most read articles by the same author(s)