| ObjectiveTo investigate the imaging characteristics and the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in the differentiation of thyroid nodules.MethodsForty-two thyroid nodules in thirty-two patients were examined by CEUS with SonoVue and CPS,from December 2006 to the March of 2009.Observed the dynamic enhancement pattern of each nodule and compared the differences of the CEUS patterns.Then started ACQ to analysis all images,to draw TIC,to obtain the shapes of curves and contrast parameters:arrival time,time to peak,peak intensity.The statistical data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the SPSS 11.0.Comparisons were performed by ANOVA.P value＜0.05 was considered to be significant.ResultsThe analysis of contrast-enhanced patterns and intensitiesAfter SonoVue administration,20 nodular goiter cases showed certain diversities In the contrast-enhanced patterns and intensities,8 cases(40%) showed early wash in and wash out comparison with the adjacent thyroid parenchyma,and the enhancement intensities were approximate to those of adjacent thyroid parenchyma;10 cases(50%) showed early wash in,the enhancement intensities were higher than or approximate to those of adjacent thyroid parenchyma.In the above 10 nodular goiter cases,5 cases showed early wash out,comparison with the adjacent thyroid parenchyma the other 5 cases' wash out were synchronous.In the 15 follicular adenoma cases,13 cases(87%) showed early wash in and lately wash out comparison with the adjacent thyroid parenchyma,the enhancement intensities were higher than those of adjacent thyroid parenchyma.In the 7 papillary cancer cases,5 cases(71%) showed early wash in and wash out comparison with the adjacent thyroid parenchyma,the enhancement intensities were higher than those of adjacent thyroid parenchyma.The TIC analysisTwo types of TIC were observed:slow up and slow down,quick up and quick down platform type.The nodular goiter and follicular adenoma nodules were showed slow up and slow down type,similar to its nearby hypothyroid parenchyma's TIC.The papillary cancer nodules were showed mostly quick up and quick down platform type (71%).In the contrast of the three parameters,arrival time,time to peak,peak intensity have maintained significant differences:The arrival time,time to peak in the papillary cancer nodules significantly earlier than the nodular goiter and follicular adenoma nodules,but there were no significance in the arrival time,time to peak between the nodular goiter and follicular adenoma nodules.The peak intensity in the papillary cancer and follicular adenoma nodules were significantly higher than the nodular goiter nodules,but there was no significance in the peak intensity between the papillary cancer and follicular adenoma nodule.ConclusionsReal-time CEUS can provide dynamic display of the filling character of thyroid nodules' vessels.By examining the contrast-enhanced patters,analyzing TIC and CEUS,it can provide efficient and supplemental information and quantitative analysis method;it helps advanced the veracity of differential diagnosis of the thyroid nodules.Owing to its high accuracy CEUS is very practical in clinic. |
