Value of maximum modulus of Young's modulus in evaluating the risk of benign and malignant thyroid nodules in real-time shear wave elastography
XUE Haiyan
YE Xinhua
DENG Hongyan
HANG Jing
XU Di
ZHANG Zengdi
LI Cuiying
PENG Xiaojing
LI Ao
Abstract：Objective To explore the range of values and application value of the maximum value of Young's modulus Emax) in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid lesions in real-time shear wave elastography (SWE).Methods Conventional ultrasound was applied to 297 thyroid nodules (from 252 patients) to observe their two-dimensional ultrasonographic characteristics,such as margins,shape,echoes,presence of calcification,aspect ratio and interior and ambitus blood flow,then SWE was performed on these thyroid nodules and the maxim value of Young's modulus (Emax) was recorded.The log normal distribution model was used to fit the Emax of benign and malignant thyroid nodules,according to pathological results to obtain the range of Emax in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Results As Emax ＜ 45 kPa,the possibility of malignant thyroid nodules is very small,approximately 50％ of thyroid nodules are benign;As 45 kPa ≤ Emax ＜ 70 kPa,thyroid nodules are suspicious lesions;when 70 kPa≤Emax ＜ 120 kPa,more than 50％ of thyroid nodules are suspicious malignant;when Emax≥120 kPa,more than 95％ of thyroid nodules are highly suspicious malignant.Conclusion The maximum value of Young's modulus (Emax) has significant correlation with the pathology of thyroid nodule in real-time shear wave elastography.Emax has high clinical value in thyroid nodules benign and malignant risk assessment.
Keywords：Thyroid nodulesRisk assessmentShear wave elastographyMaximum value of Young's modulus
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 2069-2072 )