Initial research for the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parametric imaging in predicting extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract

Objective To study the enhanced performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasouond(CEUS) parametric imaging, and to explore the diagnostic value of CEUS parametric imaging in predicting extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer( PTC). Methods One hundred and fifty-eight PTCs in 136 patients pathologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma between January 2016 and January 2017 were enrolled in this study. According to the pathological results of extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis respectively, the PTCs were grouped into the negative group and the positive group. The parametric imaging features of the two groups were summarized to explore the risk factors of extracapsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis of PTCs respectively. Results The parametric imaging suggested that centripetal enhancement had a significant effect on extracapsular invasion (P=0.001). While there was no difference in the perfusion start time of extracapsular invasion between the negative and positive group (P>0.05). Besides, there was no statistical significance in the perfusion start time and perfusion pattern of cervical lymph node metastasis between the negative and positive group (all P>0.05). Conclusions The parametric imaging features help predicting extracapsular invasion in PTCs. And the ones with centripetal enhancement patterns are more often with extracapsular invasion. Key words: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Thyroid neoplasms; Lymph nodes; Extracapsular invasion