Combined Value of Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification and Conventional Sonographic Features for Differentiating Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules Smaller Than 10 mm

Abstract

The shape, margin, echogenicity, and VTQ value are useful sonographic criteria for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules smaller than 10 mm. When VTQ was combined with B-mode sonographic features, the sensitivity was improved significantly.

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) for differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid nodules—A meta-analysis

“…In some studies [12,13,[15][16][17]19,22,25,26] the value of "X.XX m/s" is allocated to be 0 m/s or 9 m/s with 0 m/s corresponding cystic portion and 9 m/s corresponding solid portion.…”

“…Finally, there were 16 studies meeting inclusion criteria in our meta-analysis [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Table 1 presents the main characteristics of the studies.…”

“…The overall quality of the studies was excellent, with most studies having an "yes" rating for nearly all items. Item 2, concerning the selection criteria of thyroid nodules, was rated with a "no" for one study [25] whose exclusion criteria were not referred the size of thyroid nodule which should not be smaller than the ARFI measuring box (6 × 5 mm). Item 13, concerning results that could not be interpreted, was rated with a "no" for one study [20].…”

Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules Using Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification Value and Anteroposterior/Transverse Diameter Ratio

“…A/T ratios $1 are strongly associated with malignancy in non-palpable thyroid nodules (Kim et al 2002). Moreover, in the evaluation of the combined value of VTQ and conventional sonographic features in differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid nodules ,10 mm, the combination of VTQ value with taller-than-wider shape (A/T ratio $1) had the highest sensitivity and specificity, and sensitivity was improved significantly (Zhang et al 2014). This implied that combining the VTQ value with the A/T ratio $1 might lessen the limitation of an overlap.…”

Ultrasonographic United Stiffness Score System: Resolving the Discrepancy between Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse and Real-time Elastography in Evaluating the Thyroid Nodules Stiffness

“…The presence of calcification, hypoechogenicity, irregular margins, absence of a halo, a deeper than wide shape and intranodular vascularity in the sonographic image are the key features associated with an increased risk of malignancy [6]. However, no sonographic feature has both high sensitivity and a high positive predictive value (PPV) for thyroid cancer [7].…”