The value of conventional sonography and ultrasound elastography in decision-making for thyroid nodules in different categories of the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology

Conventional ultrasonography and elastosonography in diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional ultrasound and elastosonography in malignant thyroid nodules by meta-analysis.

Methods

The literature included in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase were searched by using "elastosonography, ultrasonography, thyroid nodules" as the keywords. The clinical studies using elastosonography and conventional ultrasound to diagnose thyroid nodules were selected, and histopathology of thyroid nodules was used as reference standards. The quality evaluation and heterogeneity test were performed on the literature that met the requirements, the combined specificity and sensitivity were pooled, and a comprehensive ROC curve analysis was performed. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool was utilized to evaluate the quality of each included study. Meta-DiSc version 1.4, StataSE 12 and Review Manager 5.4 were used.

Results

A total of nine studies assessed 3066 thyroid nodules (2043 benign and 1023 malignant). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR of conventional ultrasound for the diagnose of malignant thyroid nodules were 0.833 (95% CI 0.809-0.855), 0.818 (95% CI 0.801-0.835), 4.85 (95% CI 4.36-5.39), 0.20 (95% CI 0.17-0.23), and 29.38 (95% CI 23.28-37.08), respectively, with an AUC of 0.9068. Also, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, and DOR of elastosonography were 0.774 (95% CI 0.741-0.804), 0.737 (95% CI 0.715-0.758), 3.14(95% CI 2.85-3.47), 0.29 (95% CI 0.25-0.34), and 9.35 (95% CI 7.63-11.46), respectively, with an AUC of 0.8801. Three studies provided data regarding the conventional ultrasound and elastosonography. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 0.902 (95% CI 0.870-0.928), 0.649 (95% CI 0.616-0.681), 2.72 (95% CI 2.46-3.00), 0.14 (95% CI 0.11-0.19), 25.51 (95%CI 17.11-38.03), and 0.9294.

Conclusion

The existing evidence shows that elastosonography cannot completely replace conventional ultrasound in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules, and the combination of elastosonography and conventional ultrasound gives a better diagnostic precision.

Systematic review registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk, identifier PROSPERO CRD42022375808.

Ultrasound-based computer-aided diagnosis for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules with different radiologists

PURPOSE

To evaluate a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) technique in predicting malignancy for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules (TNs) as compared with different experienced radiologists.

METHOD

436 patients with 436 cytologically indeterminate TNs on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) were included and all were confirmed by surgical pathology. They were retrospectively analyzed with respect to ultrasound (US) characteristics using a commercially available CAD system (AmCAD-UT; AmCad BioMed, Taiwan, China) and reviewed by one junior and one senior radiologists.The CAD system and different experienced radiologists stratified the risk of malignancy using ACR TI-RADS category. The diagnostic performance by different experienced radiologists independently and after consulting the CAD (different experienced radiologists + CAD) and by the CAD alone were compared.

RESULTS

The different experienced radiologists showed significantly higher specificities than the CAD system alone. The combination of radiologist and CAD system showed improved diagnostic performance with an AUC (Area under the curve) of 0.740 in the senior radiologist and 0.677 in the junior radiologist, as compared with CAD (AUC: 0.585) alone (all P < 0.05). The combination of senior radiologist and CAD system had the highest diagnostic performance (AUC: 0.740) and specificity (68.9%) compared to the others (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The CAD system may play the potential role as a decision-making assistant alongside radiologists for differential diagnosis of TNs with indeterminate cytology.

Comparison of diagnostic value of SWE, FNA and BRAF gene detection in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules

OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic value of shear wave elastography (SWE), fine needle aspiration (FNA) and BRAF gene detection (BRAFV600E gene mutation detection) in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules. METHODS: SWE images, FNA cytological results and BRAF detection results of ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to determine the best cutoff value of SWE Emax. In the combined diagnosis of SWE, FNA and BRAF, firstly, the nodules with BRAF gene mutation were included in the positive ones, secondly, the nodules with benign and malignant FNA were included in the FNA + SWE or FNA + SWE + BRAF negative and positive ones respectively, finally, for FNA uncertain nodules: those whose SWE Emax were less than or equal to the cutoff value were included in FNA + SWE or FNA + SWE + BRAF negative ones, and those whose SWE Emax were greater than the cutoff value were included in positive ones. The diagnostic efficacy of SWE, FNA, SWE + FNA, FNA + BRAF and their combination in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules were compared. RESULTS: The ROC curve showed that the best cutoff value of SWE Emax was 40.9 kpa, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.842 (0.800∼0.885). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of SWE were 76.3% (270/354), 75.5% (80/106) and 76.1% (350/460), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNA were 58.2% (206/354), 88.7% (94/106) and 65.2(300/460), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNA + BRAF were 95.5% (338/354), 88.7% (94/106) and 93.9% (432/460), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of SWE + FNA were 85.9% (304/354), 98.1% (104/106) and 88.7% (408/460), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of SWE + FNA + BRAF were 98.3% (348/354), 98.1% (104/106) and 98.3% (452/460), respectively. For the diagnostic accuracy, SWE + FNA + BRAF >  FNA + BRAF >  FNA + SWE >  SWE >  FNA, the difference was statistically significant (all P >  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules, SWE and FNA have high diagnostic efficiency. For the diagnostic accuracy, FNA + BRAF is better than FNA + SWE. FNA combination with BRAF gene detection further improves the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of FNA. The combined application of the three is the best.

Predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules with benign cytology results: The role of Conventional Ultrasound, Shear Wave Elastography and BRAF V600E

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) is the most accurate method for preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but how to deal with false negative results. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to find preoperative diagnosis methods including Conventional Ultrasound (CUS), Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) and BRAF V600E testing to differentiate false negative nodules. METHODS: Forty-nine nodules in 49 patients with benign FNA results and pathological diagnoses were included. CUS and SWE features were evaluated. BRAF V600E analysis was performed after FNA. Diagnostic performances of three methods were analyzed in predicting malignancy in benign FNA results. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of 49 nodules were malignant, and 22 nodules were benign. Hypoechogenicity, taller-than-wider, irregular boundary, microcalcification, SWE max, SWE mean and BRAF V600E mutation were risk factors for malignancy. All 7 malignant nodules with BRAF V600E mutations and 18 of 20 malignant nodules without BRAF V600E mutations have two or more suspicious CUS features. Six of 7 malignant nodules with BRAF V600E mutations and 16 of 20 malignant nodules without BRAF V600E mutations had SWE mean value greater than the cut-off value. CONCLUSIONS: CUS, SWE and BRAF V600E were diagnostic tools for malignancy in FNA benign nodules. Further clinical decisions should be considered for nodules with 2 or more suspicious CUS features and SWE parameters greater than cut-off values whether BRAF V600E is mutational or not.

Impact of Ultrasonographic Features for Thyroid Malignancy in Patients With Bethesda Categories III, IV, and V: A Retrospective Observational Study in a Tertiary Center

Introduction: Although fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) with cytologic interpretation using the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology has been widely used for thyroid nodules, its efficiency in Bethesda categories of III, IV, and V has been questioned due to variable risk of malignancy. We aimed to evaluate the impact of radiological parameters in Bethesda category III, IV, and V for thyroid malignancy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with Bethesda category III, IV, and V, and subsequent thyroidectomy. Demographic, ultrasonographic, and clinical variables were recorded. Independent variables for thyroid malignancy and the predictive power of imaging findings were analyzed.

Results: There were 159 patients with a mean age of 48.1±13.4 years. Hypoechogenicity of the index nodule was the most common finding in 87 patients (54.7%). There were 74 (46.5%), 34 (21.4%), and 51 patients (32.1%) with Bethesda III, IV, and V categories, respectively. There were 91 patients (57.2%) with a diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. Overall malignant pathology was detected in 18 (24.3%), 25 (73.5%), and 48 patients (94.1%) in Bethesda III, IV, and V categories, respectively (p=0.001). The presence of solitary nodule, hypoechogenicity, and solid structure of index nodule and Bethesda category IV and V were significant variables for final malignant pathology (p<0.05 for all).

Conclusion: Hypoechogenicity and solid structure in a solitary index nodule should be regarded as significant ultrasonographic findings for thyroid malignancy. Bethesda category IV and V were also significantly associated with malignancy.

The value of superb microvascular imaging (SMI) scoring assignment method in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules by conventional ultrasound

PURPOSE

To explore the application value of SMI scoring assignment method combined with 2017 American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

METHODS

According to the 2017 ACR TI-RADS classification, the enrolled nodules were divided into 3 points group, 4 points group, 5 points group, 6 points group and≥7 points group. The nodules were assigned scores according to the echocity of the nodules and the microvessels detected by SMI and their distribution patterns based on ACR TI-RADS. Accompany with the scores increased or decreased after assignment, the thyroid nodules were re-grouped.

RESULTS

The AUC after the scores assignment is better than before (Z = 3.881, P <  0.001). The specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy after score assigned are better than those of before (Z = 8.323, P <  0.001; Z = 8.619, P <  0.001; Z = 5.345, P <  0.001), there is no statistical difference in sensitivity before and after score assigned (Z = -0.513, P = 0.60), and the negative predictive value before assigned score is better than that of after (Z = -3.826, P <  0.001).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic efficacy after scoring was better than that of before.

Liver stiffness assessed by shear-wave elastography declines in parallel with immunoregulatory proteins in patients with chronic HCV infection during DAA therapy

BACKGROUND

A rapid decline of liver stiffness (LS) was detected by non-invasive methods in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection during treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of inflammation on LS.

METHODS

We prospectively examined LS by sonographic shear-wave elastography in 217 patients during DAA therapy from treatment initiation (BL) to 12 weeks after end of therapy (SVR12). Demographic data, laboratory findings and serum levels of cytokines were determined.

RESULTS

Values of LS decreased from 1.86 m/s to 1.68 m/s (p = 0.01) which was most pronounced in patients who had F4 fibrosis at BL (3.27 m/s to 2.37 m/s; p <  0.001). Initially elevated values of aminotransferases, ferritin, IgG (p <  0.001 each) and international normalized ratio (p <  0.003) declined, thrombocyte count (p = 0.007) increased. Correlations of these laboratory parameters with BL levels of LS measurement (LSM) were most apparent in patients with F1-F3 fibrosis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p = 0.031), interleukin (IL)-10 (p = 0.005) and interferon y inducible protein (IP)-10 (p <  0.001) decreased in parallel with LSM under DAA therapy and corelated with BL values.

CONCLUSION

Decrease of systemic inflammatory parameters correlated with LSM under DAA therapy. We conclude that regression of LSM is attributable to the decline of inflammation rather than reflecting fibrosis.

Improving the diagnosis of AUS/FLUS thyroid nodules using an algorithm with combination of BRAFV600E mutation analysis and ultrasound pattern-based risk stratification

PURPOSE

To propose a diagnostic algorithm for improving the diagnosis of atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS) thyroid nodules.

METHODS

This study retrospectively enrolled 77 consecutive patients with 81 AUS/FLUS nodules who underwent preoperative BRAFV600E mutation analysis. A new diagnostic algorithm was proposed that BRAFV600E mutation analysis for the Fine-needle aspiration cytology specimen was firstly carried out, in which positive BRAFV600E mutation indicated malignancy and classification of the nodules with negative BRAFV600E mutation was further performed based on ultrasound pattern-based risk stratification of American Thyroid Association Guidelines. The diagnostic performance of the new diagnostic algorithm was evaluated.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of new diagnostic algorithm were 94.6%, 84.0%, 91.4%, 86.9%, 90.1%, and 0.893, respectively. The proposed diagnostic algorithm significantly increased the diagnostic performances (AUROC: 0.893 vs. 0.837 and 0.795), sensitivity (94.6% vs. 71.4% and 75.0%), and accuracy (90.1% vs. 79.0% and 77.8%) compared with BRAFV600E mutation analysis alone and ultrasound pattern-based risk stratification alone (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The proposed diagnostic algorithm is helpful for improving the diagnosis of AUS/FLUS nodules, which might be as a routine approach.

Value of image-pro plus for assisting virtual touch tissue imaging in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules

PURPOSE

The value of virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) with support of Image-Pro Plus (IPP) for diagnosing malignant thyroid tumors was assessed in the present study.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 160 patients with 198 thyroid nodules. TI-RADS, VTI grade, and VTI with support of IPP (VTI-IPP) were underwent for each nodule. With the pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic performance of VTI-IPP, VTI, TI-RADS, VTI-IPP combinate with TI-RADS in thyroid carcinoma.

RESULTS

VTI-IPP score >2, VTI score >3, TI-RADS score >1, and VTI-IPP combine with TI-RADS score >4 expressed the highest diagnostic value for malignant thyroid nodules, the areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.939, 0.905, 0.925, and 0.967, respectively. The combination indicated the largest AUC, compared with VTI-IPP and TI-RADS, respectively (P = 0.0054 and 0.0009). The performance of VTI-IPP in diagnosing thyroid carcinomas was better than VTI (P = 0.0321).

CONCLUSION

Compare with VTI, VTI-IPP exhibited more excellent value in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. The value of malignant thyroid nodules diagnosis can be improved when VTI-IPP combines with TI-RADS.