Objective To evaluate the clinical value of elasticity indicators in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods Gray-scale ultrasound and elasticity imaging were used to examine 116 thyroid nodules. The rate of diameter change and ratio of area in the elasticity and gray-scale imaging were calculated and compared with pathology. Results In nodules of the ultrasonic elasticity grade 4 level and above, the proportion of malignant nodules was significanty higher than that of benign thyroid nodules （P＜0.05）. The malignant nodules was significanty higher than benign thyroid nodules in the rate of diameter change and ratio of area in the elasticity and gray-scale imaging （P＜0.05）. According to ROC analysis, the value of diagnosis and the diagnostic accuracy of the ratio of area was superior to that of the rate of diameter change （P＜0.05）. Conclusion As diagnostic indicators for differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, the rate of diameter change and the ratio of area in elasticity can significantly improve the value of diagnosis and the accuracy of differential diagnosis level of thyroid nodules.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in diagnosis of thyroid nodules. MethodsThe clinical data of 347 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent ultrasoundguided CNB were retrospectively analyzed, and the results of CNB pathology were compared with postoperative wax pathology results. ResultsAll patients completed CNB successfully and satisfaction rate for tissue samples was 100%. After CNB, local hematoma occurred in two cases and relieved by conservative therapy. The CNB pathology results of 347 cases of patients were as follows: 117 cases were malignancy, including papillary thyroid cancer in 115 cases, undifferentiated adenocarcinoma in 1 case, and squamous cell carcinoma in 1 case; 230 cases were benign, including thyroiditis in 53 cases, and nodular goiter in 141 cases, adenoma in 16 cases, and nodular goitre coexisting thyroiditis in 20 cases. In 132 cases of patients underwent surgery including 113 cases of malignancy and 19 cases of benign disease, the CNB pathology results in 127 cases were consistent with postoperative wax pathology results and false negative occurred in 5 cases. The diameter of thyroid nodules were not more than 0.5 cm in 4 cases, 0.5-1.0 cm in 59 cases, 1-2 cm in 46 cases, and more than 2 cm in 23 cases, and the accuracy rate of CNB pathology results was 75.0%（3/4）, 98.3%（58/59）, 97.8%（45/46）, and 91.3%（21/23）, respectively, which was the highest in 0.5-2.0 cm. The accuracy, sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, failure rate, and misdiagnosis rate of ultrasound-guided CNB for differential diagnosis of thyroid malignant nodules from benign nodules were 96.21% (127/132), 95.76% (113/118), 100% (14/14), 1 (113/113), 0.74 (14/19), 4.24%(5/118), and 0 (0/14), respectively. ConclusionUltrasound-guided CNB has important value on differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, and important guiding significance on treatment of thyroid diseases.
ObjectiveTo assess the effect of short-axis and long-axis punctures of thyroid nodules on the diagnostic rate of ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 2 686 thyroid nodule patients who underwent US-FNAB between March 2011 and November 2014. The US-FNAB was performed by 5 beginners (571 each for Dr1-Dr4 and 402 for Dr5). Yields of US-FNAB were divided into two levels according to the classification standard of the Bethesda system:adequacy and inadequacy. Short-axis puncture technique was used by Dr2 and long-axis puncture was performed by the others. According to chronological sequence of thyroid nodules examined, we compared the inadequate diagnostic rate between Dr2 and the others for the first 200 cases and the last 200 cases, respectively. The inadequate diagnostic rate was compared among the 4 doctors who used long-axis punctures for the first 200 cases and the last 200 cases, respectively. ResultsThe inadequacy rate of US-FNAB for Dr2 was higher than that for Dr1, Dr3, Dr4 and Dr5 in the first 200 cases, with statistical significance (P=0.036,<0.001,=0.007 and <0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in inadequate diagnostic rate among the 4 doctors who used long-axis punctures for the first 200 cases (P=0.033, 0.551, 0.011, 0.122, 0.672 and 0.050). The inadequacy rate of US-FNAB for Dr2 was higher than that for Dr5 and lower than that for Dr4 in the last 200 cases with statistical significance (P=0.027 and 0.003, respectively). The inadequacy rate of US-FNAB for Dr5 was lower than that for Dr3 (P=0.005) and Dr4 (P<0.001) among the 4 doctors who used long-axis punctures for the last 200 cases. ConclusionFor beginners, the inadequacy rate of short-axis puncture is higher than long-axis puncture. We suggest beginners learn long-axis puncture method. There is no significant difference in inadequate diagnostic rate among short-axis and long-axis punctures, when the number of operated cases reaches 200. At this point, the operator can choose either way to puncture according to the disease condition or personal interests.