Elastography as predictor for thyroid nodule malignancy

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound elastography is a promising noninvasive technique that is still in its infancy. It uses tissue elasticity measurements to distinguish between benign (soft tissues) and malignant (hard tissues) nodules. Objectives: to see if elastography has diagnostic significance and if it may be used as a predictor of thyroid nodule malignancy Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was done and data collected using Philips Epiq 7 linear transducer 8-12MHZ, strain type of elastography. A sample of 27 patients from Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia were included. Data about patients’ demographics, AP, TR, Echogenicity, Margin, Composition, Echogenic foci, FNA result, Elastography findings and TIRADs classification were collected. Results: According to FINA findings, the majority of patients (96.3 percent) had a benign tumour, and 81.5 percent had soft elastography. T2 was the most common TIRADs classification (55.6 percent). The percentage of patients with T2 (TIRADs) was significantly greater in patients with a younger mean age, and there was a non-significant association between TIRADs categorization and FINA findings. Females had a much higher percentage of benign diagnoses based on FINA results, with no significant link detected between FINA results and the demographic or clinical characteristics of the patients. Both TIRADs categorization and FINA results were shown to have no significant link with the elastography data. Conclusion: The elastography findings were found to have a non-significant link with both TIRADs categorization and FINA results. Future studies with larger samples should be conducted to clarify the study outcomes. Keywords: Elastography, predictor, thyroid, nodule, malignancy