Biomedical Research

Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical value of ultrasonic elastography in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: Eighty thyroid carcinoma patients (100 nodules) admitted to a hospital were enrolled in this research. Routine ultrasonic testing and elastography were administered to all patients. The color and condition (benign or malignant) of the nodules were determined. The results were compared with pathogenic diagnosis of the operation. The specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of the two test methods were computed and statistically compared.

Results: Pathological diagnosis of the operation suggested that among the 100 nodules, 70 were benign and 30 were malignant. The specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of the routine ultrasonic check diagnosis were 50.00%, 53.33%, and 51.00%, respectively, whereas those of the ultrasonic elastography were 92.86%, 96.67% and 94.00%, respectively. The former was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the latter in all parameters.

Conclusion: Ultrasonic elastography showed a significantly higher critical value in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma and could accurately identify nodules as either benign or malignant. Hence, ultrasonic elastography is worth further critical promotion and application.

Author(s): Jie Lin
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