Artificial Intelligence-assisted Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

A Multicenter Study of Artificial Intelligence-assisted Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

The goal of this intervention study is to learn about the diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence to assist the contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Can we develop an artificial intelligence model to assist the contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules?
2. Can artificial intelligent reduce the unnecessary biopsy of thyroid nodules?

Participants will be asked to undergo contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules. Researchers will calculate the diagnostic performance of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules with and without artificial intelligent assistance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with thyroid nodules with a solid component ≥5 mm confirmed by conventional ultrasound;
• Patients who underwent conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy;
• Patients with a final benign or malignant pathological results.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with cytopathology of Bethesda I, III, or IV and without final benign or malignant pathology；
• Patients with a history of thyroid ablation or surgery;
• Patients with low-quality ultrasound images.