Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: June | Volume: 7 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 31-39
Comparison between Ultrasound Elastography and Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy for Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules
Ibrahim Abbas Awad
Diagnostic Radiology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, KSA.
ABSTRACT
Our study aimed to compare between ultrasound elastography (UE) and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in prediction of malignancy in thyroid nodules based on histopathology results. A total of 60 patients with thyroid nodules, who had an indication of thyroidectomy, were involved in this study after approval was obtained. They were selected for ultrasound elastography (UE) and fine needle aspiration before surgery. Then followed by FNA, and further with histopathology after surgery. 19 cases in elastography examination which diagnosed as benign nodules and confirmed histologically were classified as score 1and 2. The sensitivity of the elastography was 87.5% and specificity 85.7% whereas FNA showed 87.5 %, and % 96.4 for sensitivity, specificity respectively. ROC analysis showed the area under the elastography curve was 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.712 to 1.02) while 0.92 (95% confidence interval, 0.779 to 1.06) for FNA curve. FNA is still more reliable than ultrasound elastography, but UE is an easy, non-invasive and fast imaging technique that can help in thyroid scans to identify cases for FNA, reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies, and thus reducing risks and costs. However, future developments are needed for this promising diagnostic technique.
Key words: Thyroid nodule – Ultrasound Elastography – FNA cytology