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Močnik M, Marčun Varda N. Ultrasound Elastography in Children. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1296. [PMID: 37628295 PMCID: PMC10453784 DOI: 10.3390/children10081296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound elastography is a novel ultrasound technique, being extensively researched in children in the last decade. It measures tissue elasticity with the observation of tissue response after an external stimulus. From research to clinical practice, ultrasound elastography has evolved significantly in liver fibrosis evaluation in children; however, several other applications of the technique are available in both clinical practice and research environments. Practically, in children any organ can be assessed, including the brain in early ages, along with muscle and connective tissue elasticity evaluation, spleen, kidney, skin, lymphatic tissue, etc. The elastography method, age, body mass index and technical points should be considered when performing ultrasound elastography. This review highlights its vast potential as a diagnostic tool in the pediatric population, where ultrasound is a dominant imaging tool; however, the indications and exam protocol for its clinical use in several fields in pediatrics have yet to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Močnik
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
| | - Nataša Marčun Varda
- Department of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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2
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Borysewicz-Sańczyk H, Sawicka B, Karny A, Bossowski F, Marcinkiewicz K, Rusak A, Dzięcioł J, Bossowski A. Suspected Malignant Thyroid Nodules in Children and Adolescents According to Ultrasound Elastography and Ultrasound-Based Risk Stratification Systems-Experience from One Center. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11071768. [PMID: 35407376 PMCID: PMC8999896 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11071768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules correlates with the presence of ultrasonographic features. In adults, ultrasound risk-classification systems have been proposed to indicate the need for further invasive diagnosis. Furthermore, elastography has been shown to support differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The purpose of our study was to assess the application of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), British Thyroid Association (BTA) ultrasound risk-classification systems and strain elastography in the management of thyroid nodules in children and adolescents from one center. Seventeen nodules with Bethesda III, IV, V and VI were selected from 165 focal lesions in children. All patients underwent ultrasonography and elastography followed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ultrasonographic features according to the ATA and BTA stratification systems were assessed retrospectively. The strain ratio in the group of thyroid nodules diagnosed as malignant was significantly higher than in benign nodules (6.07 vs. 3.09, p = 0.036). According to the ATA guidelines, 100% of malignant nodules were classified as high suspicion and 73% of benign nodules were assessed as low suspicion. Using the BTA U-score classification, 80% of malignant nodules were classified as cancerous (U5) and 20% as suspicious for malignancy (U4). Among benign nodules, 82% were classified as indeterminate or equivocal (U3) and 9% as benign (U2). Our results suggest that application of the ATA or BTA stratification system and elastography may be a suitable method for assessing the level of suspected malignancy in thyroid nodules in children and help make a clinical decision about the need for further invasive diagnosis of thyroid nodules in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Borysewicz-Sańczyk
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-85-7450724
| | - Beata Sawicka
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Agata Karny
- Student Research Group by the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (A.K.); (F.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Filip Bossowski
- Student Research Group by the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (A.K.); (F.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Katarzyna Marcinkiewicz
- Student Research Group by the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (A.K.); (F.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Aleksandra Rusak
- Student Research Group by the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (A.K.); (F.B.); (K.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Janusz Dzięcioł
- Department of Human Anatomy, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Artur Bossowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology, Diabetology with Cardiology Unit, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland; (B.S.); (A.B.)
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Moschos E, Mentzel HJ. Ultrasound findings of the thyroid gland in children and adolescents. J Ultrasound 2022; 26:211-221. [PMID: 35138597 PMCID: PMC10063727 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-022-00660-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasonography (US) is an important diagnostic tool in evaluating thyroid diseases in pediatric patients. This pictorial essay reviews the application of various ultrasound techniques such as B-Mode ultrasound and color Doppler, elastography and contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in children and adolescents in various thyroid pathologies including congenital thyroid abnormalities, diffuse thyroid diseases (DTD), focal thyroid lesions and thyroid malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Moschos
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
| | - Hans-Joachim Mentzel
- Section of Paediatric Radiology, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
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Gonçalves LM, Forte GC, Holz TG, Libermann LL, Figueiredo CEPD, Hochhegger B. Shear wave elastography and Doppler ultrasound in kidney transplant recipients. Radiol Bras 2022; 55:19-23. [PMID: 35210660 PMCID: PMC8864684 DOI: 10.1590/0100-3984.2020.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the association between shear wave elastography parameters and arterial
resistance in kidney transplant recipients. Materials and Methods This was a prospective cross-sectional study involving consecutive adult kidney transplant
recipients. All patients underwent color Doppler to evaluate the resistive index (RI) and
ultrasound shear wave elastography for the quantification of renal allograft stiffness. Results We evaluated 55 patients, of whom 9 (16.4%) had an RI defined as abnormal (≥ 0.79)
and 46 (83.6%) had an RI defined as normal (< 0.79). The mean age was higher in the
abnormal RI group than in the normal RI group (68.0 ± 8.6 years vs. 42.6 ± 14.1
years; p < 0.001), as was the mean shear wave velocity (2.6 ± 0.4
m/s vs. 2.2 ± 0.4 m/s; p = 0.013). Multivariate analysis identified
two independent predictors of arterial resistance: age (OR = 1.169; 95% CI: 1.056 to 1.294;
p = 0.003) and shear wave velocity (OR = 17.1; 95% CI: 1.137 to 257.83;
p = 0.040). Conclusion We observed an association between rigidity in the cortex of the transplanted kidney, as
evaluated by shear wave elastography, and arterial resistance, as evaluated by color Doppler,
in kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tiago Garcia Holz
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Hochhegger
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil
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Ben-Skowronek I, Sieniawska J, Pach E, Wrobel W, Skowronek A, Tomczyk Z, Mlodawska A, Makuch M, Malka M, Cielecki C, Nachulewicz P. Thyroid Cancer Risk Factors in Children with Thyroid Nodules: A One-Center Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10194455. [PMID: 34640473 PMCID: PMC8509812 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10194455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid nodules are common in the adult population (13%), but in childhood, they are relatively rarely diagnosed (0.2–5%). The risk factors and diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms are well-known and effectively used in adults, but no clear procedures supported by scientific research are available in the pediatric population. Our aim in this study was to identify predictive factors for thyroid cancer in a pediatric population. We retrospectively analyzed 112 children (80 girls and 32 boys, aged 0.6–18 years, with an average group age of 13.4 ± 4.5 years) with thyroid nodules who presented or were referred between 2010 and 2021. A total of 37 children qualified for partial or total thyroidectomy. After histopathological nodule examination, the most common cases were benign lesions in 23 patients (57.5%) and malignant lesions in 14 children (32.5%). Solitary benign thyroid nodules were found in 16 children (40%). Malignancy risk was higher in children with increased nodule diameter (greater than 7 mm; p = 0.018) or hypoechogenic lesions in ultrasound (p = 0.010), with no correlation between increased blood flow in the vessels and tumor diagnosis. The relative risk of developing thyroid cancer for class III was found to be higher in comparison to adults and 11.1 times higher than for classes I and II combined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Ben-Skowronek
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-817185440
| | - Joanna Sieniawska
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Emilia Pach
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Wiktoria Wrobel
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Anna Skowronek
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Zaklina Tomczyk
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Anna Mlodawska
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Magdalena Makuch
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Magdalena Malka
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology with the Endocrinology and Metabolic Laboratory, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.S.); (E.P.); (W.W.); (A.S.); (Z.T.); (A.M.); (M.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Czeslaw Cielecki
- Department of Paediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (C.C.); (P.N.)
| | - Pawel Nachulewicz
- Department of Paediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (C.C.); (P.N.)
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Hazem M, Zakaria OM, Daoud MYI, Al Jabr IK, AlYahya AA, Hassanein AG, Alabdulsalam AA, AlAlwan MQ, Hasan NMA. Accuracy of shear wave elastography in characterization of thyroid nodules in children and adolescents. Insights Imaging 2021; 12:128. [PMID: 34499281 PMCID: PMC8429530 DOI: 10.1186/s13244-021-01074-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid nodules are an important health problem in children and adolescents. They possess a higher risk of malignancy in comparison to adults. This fact forms a great dilemma for clinicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of shear wave elastography (SWE) as a non-invasive technique in the characterization of thyroid nodules in children and adolescents. METHODS This prospective study included 56 patients with thyroid nodules. All the patients underwent clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, ultrasound, and Doppler examination, followed by an SWE assessment. Statistical analysis was performed and the best cut-off value to differentiate benign from malignant nodules was determined using the ROC curve and AUC. RESULTS Seventy-two nodules were detected in the examined patients (ages ranged from 11 to 19 years, with mean age of 14.89 ± 2.3 years). Fifty-eight nodules (80.6%) were benign, and fourteen nodules (19.4%) were malignant (histopathologically proved). Highly suspicious criteria for prediction of malignancy by ultrasound and Doppler were hypoechoic echopattern, internal or internal and peripheral vascularity, microcalcifications, taller-than-wide dimensions, irregular outlines, and absence of halo (p < 0.05). The diagnostic performance for their summation was 70.69% sensitivity, 82.8% specificity, 80.45% accuracy, a 63.79% positive predictive value (PPV), and 87.9% negative predictive values (NPV). Regarding SWE, our results showed that 42.2 kPa was the best cut-off value, with AUC = 0.921 to differentiate malignant from benign nodules; the diagnostic performance was 85.71% sensitivity, 94.83% specificity, 93.06% accuracy, 76.9% PPV, and 93.2% NPV. CONCLUSION Shear wave elastography is a non-invasive technique that can assist in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules among children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Hazem
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Radiology, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Ossama M Zakaria
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Yasser Ibrahim Daoud
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Khalid Al Jabr
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulwahab A AlYahya
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Radiology Department, Polyclinic Center, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Gaber Hassanein
- Albaha University Medical Center, Albaha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Surgery Department, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Abdulrahim A Alabdulsalam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Qasem AlAlwan
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box: 400, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Radiology, King Fahd Hospital Hofuf, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Mohamed Ali Hasan
- Department of Radiology, Sohag Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.,Sohag University Hospital, Sohag, Egypt
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Imaging and Imaging-Based Management of Pediatric Thyroid Nodules. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9020384. [PMID: 32024056 PMCID: PMC7074552 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9020384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid nodules are less frequent in children than adults. Childhood thyroid nodules carry specific features, including a higher risk of malignancy than nodules in adults, rendering them unique in terms of management. Subsequently, they should be considered a distinct clinical entity with specific imaging recommendations. Initial evaluation requires a thorough workup, including clinical examination, and a detailed personal and familial history to determine the presence of possible risk factors. Laboratory and radiologic evaluation play an integral part in the diagnostic algorithm, with ultrasonography (US) being the first diagnostic test in all patients. US elastography has been recently introduced as an incremental method, reducing the subjectivity of the clinical diagnosis of nodule firmness associated with increased malignancy risk. However, fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) remains the mainstay in the diagnostic work-up of thyroid nodules and is documented to be best method for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. In addition, thyroid scintigraphy provides functional imaging information, which has a role both in the diagnostic management of thyroid nodules and during follow up in malignancies. Finally, despite providing additional information in certain clinical scenarios, 18F-fludeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (18F-FDG-PET), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging are not routinely recommended for the evaluation of patients with newly detected thyroid nodules or in all cases of thyroid cancer. The objective of this review is to summarize the concepts in imaging and imaging-based management of nodular thyroid disease in the pediatric population, acknowledging the unique features that this patient group carries and the specific approach it requires.
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da Rocha SMS. Elastography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in children - expanding the field of ultrasound to reduce the need for invasive procedures. Radiol Bras 2019; 52:V. [PMID: 31210705 PMCID: PMC6561358 DOI: 10.1590/0100-3984.2019.52.3e1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Maria Sucena da Rocha
- Attending Radiologist in the Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support at the Instituto da Criança do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICr/HC-FMUSP), Radiologist at the Laboratório Fleury Medicina e Saúde, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. E-mail:
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