Shear Wave Elastography in Multiparametric Ultrasound of Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Results of the thyroid ultrasound in 108 patients were analyzed. 28 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (32 nodules) formed the first group, 80 patients with benign lesions (84 nodules) (41 patient with colloid nodules (45 nodules) and 39 patients with follicular adenomas (39 nodules)) - second group. Multiparametric ultrasound was done using Aixplorer scanner (Supersonic Imagine, France). Young’s modulus values in malignant lesions was as follows: Emean median - 63.6 kPa, 2,5-97,5<sup>th</sup> percentiles - 16.6-142.2 kPa, and minimal and maximal values - 14.5-149.8 kPa; Emax - 79.2 kPa, 22.9-187.1 kPa, and 22.0-192.1 kPa; stiffness ratio (SWE-ratio) - 3.8, 1.3-9.4, and 0.8-10.2 respectively. There was a significant difference between value of Emean, Emax, and stiffness ratio in malignant and benign lesions (P < 0.000). Sensitivity of the test “Emean >48.3 kPa - thyroid cancer" - 71.9%, specificity - 95.2%, positive predictive value - 85.2%, negative predictive value - 89.9%, and AUC - 0. 886. Sensitivity of the test “Emax >59.6 kPa - thyroid cancer" - 75.0%, specificity - 92.9%, positive predictive value - 80.0%, negative predictive value - 90.7%, and AUC - 0.890. Sensitivity of the test “stiffness ratio >2.74 - thyroid cancer" - 78.1%, specificity - 90.5%, positive predictive value - 75.8%, negative predictive value - 91.9%, and AUC - 0.886. This data can be used as additional criteria of malignancy in patients with thyroid nodules.