Abstract： Objective To evaluate the clinical value of ultrasongraphy and elastography in diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods Fifty two patients with 93 thyroid nodules were examined by both conventional ultrassonography and elastography. Using the pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of conventional ultrasound imaging and elastography were evaluated in thyroid cancer. Results The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of conventional ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma were 75.86%, 84.38%, and 81.72% respectively,those of elastography imaging were 89.66%, 85.94%, and 87.10% respectively, and those of ultrasonography combined with elastography imaging in diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma were 93.10%, 90.62%, and 91.40%, respectively. There was significant difference between the two methods in diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma (P<0.01). Conclusions Conventional ultrasound imaging combined with elastography imaging raises the accuracy in diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.
2012, Vol. 23 
