Value of superb micro-vascular imaging in TI-RADS 4 thyroid nodules

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of superb micro-vascular imaging(SMI) in the detection of TI-RADS 4 thyroid nodules. Methods A retrospective analysis of 61 patients(68 thyroid nodules) with grade 4 TI-RADS diagnosed by routine ultrasound and undergone SMI were performed, and the differences between CDFI and SMI were compared. The TI-RADS level were corrected by CDFI and SMI technology, combined with the pathological results to compare the diagnostic efficacy before and after the correction. At the same time, the related factors had been collected to evaluate the risk factors and to compare the value of SMI in benign and malignant nodules. Results SMI was more likely to detect the type Ⅲ blood flow (P=0.001) of malignant nodules. The area under the ROC curve before TI-RADS correction, after CDFI correction and SMI correction were 0.66, 0.69 and 0.78, respectively. Compared with before TI-RADS correction and after CDFI correction, the area under the curve of SMI correction was significant different (P=0.002, 0.009). There was no significant difference in the area under the curve between after CDFI correction and before correction (P=0.4196). The sensitivity of SMI was higher, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). After single factor analysis and multivariate analysis, central blood flow and perforating blood flow found by SMI were not independent risk factors for thyroid cancer. Conclusions SMI is more effective than CDFI in detecting TI-RADS 4 thyroid nodules, and it is expected to be an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Key words: Superb micro-vascular imaging; Thyroid nodule; TI-RADS 4