Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound Elastography for Detection of Thyroid Cancer

Validation of Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound Elastography for Detection of Thyroid Cancer

For patients with thyroid gland nodule, fine-needle aspiration biopsy has been proved to be an efficient tool for thyroid cancer diagnosis. However, it is somewhat an invasive procedure and is subject to sampling and analysis uncertainties. Thus, improved, more reliable criteria for determining which nodule should be be aspirated are needed. Ultrasound elastography has been shown to be useful in the differential diagnosis of breast and prostate cancers. Ultrasound elastography also may discriminate malignant from benign nodule.

To prospectively evaluate the elastographic appearance of thyroid cancer and explore the potential sensitivity and specificity of elastography for differentiating benign and malignant tumors, with histopathologic analysis as the reference standard.

Inclusion Criteria:

- The patients with thyroid nodule who are supposed to take fine needle aspiration biopsy

Exclusion Criteria:

- The patients who do not want to participate in the study