Correlation between Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Risk of Tumor Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To explore the association between contrast-enhanced ultrasound and risk of tumor recurrence in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods A total of 287 PTCs in 287 patients who underwent surgery,conventional ultrasound,and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)were enrolled in this study.According to 2015 American Thyroid Association(ATA)Modified Initial Risk Stratification System,the patients were categorized into three groups:low risk,intermediate risk,and high risk.The CEUS patterns of PTCs were compared between different risk stratifications. Results Hypo-enhancement was presented in 57.6% of ATA low-risk PTCs,iso-enhancement in 62.3% of ATA intermediate-risk PTCs,and hyper-enhancement in 48.2% of ATA high-risk PTCs(P<0.0001).The risk stratifications and enhanced intensity in PTC showcased a positive correlation(Spearman's rho of 0.442,P<0.0001)and a linear trend(χ 2 value of 55.921,P<0.0001).Higher enhancement intensity corresponded to higher risk stratification.Ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that PTCs with hyper-enhancement and iso-enhancement presented higher risks than those with hypo-enhancement after age and gender were adjusted,and theOR values were 17.5(8.4-36.2)and 3.4(2.0-5.8),respectively. Conclusions CEUS patterns correlate intimately with the recurrence risk in PTC.Hyper-enhancement PTCs tend to present high risks,while hypo-enhancement PTCs tend to present low risks of recurrence.