Carotid artery stenosis: grayscale and Doppler ultrasound diagnosis--Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound consensus conference

The Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts in the field of vascular ultrasonography (US) to come to a consensus regarding Doppler US for assistance in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis. The panel's consensus statement is believed to represent a reasonable position on the basis of analysis of available literature and panelists' experience. Key elements of the statement include the following: First, all internal carotid artery (ICA) examinations should be performed with grayscale, color Doppler, and spectral Doppler US. Second, the degree of stenosis determined at grayscale and Doppler US should be stratified into the categories of normal (no stenosis), less than 50% stenosis, 50 to 69% stenosis, > or =70% stenosis to near occlusion, near occlusion, and total occlusion. Third, ICA peak systolic velocity (PSV) and the presence of plaque on grayscale and/or color Doppler images are primarily used in the diagnosis and grading of ICA stenosis. Two additional parameters (the ICA-to-common carotid artery PSV ratio and ICA end diastolic velocity) may also be used when clinical or technical factors raise concern that ICA PSV may not be representative of the extent of disease. Fourth, ICA should be diagnosed as normal when ICA PSV is less than 125 cm/second and no plaque or intimal thickening is visible, less than 50% stenosis when ICA PSV is less than 125 cm/second and plaque or intimal thickening is visible, 50 to 69% stenosis when ICA PSV is 125 to 230 cm/second and plaque is visible, > or =70% stenosis to near occlusion when ICA PSV is more than 230 cm/second and visible plaque and lumen narrowing are seen, near occlusion when there is a markedly narrowed lumen on color Doppler US, and total occlusion when there is no detectable patent lumen on grayscale US and no flow on spectral, power, and color Doppler US. Fifth, the final report should discuss velocity measurements and grayscale and color Doppler findings. Study limitations should be noted when they exist. The conclusion should state an estimated degree of ICA stenosis as reflected in these categories. The panel also considered various technical aspects of carotid US and methods for quality assessment, and identified several important unanswered questions meriting future research.     

Evaluation of the woman with postmenopausal bleeding: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound-Sponsored Consensus Conference statement.

A panel of 14 physicians practicing medicine in the United States with expertise in radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, gynecologic oncology, hysteroscopy, epidemiology, and pathology was convened by the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound to discuss the role of sonography in women with postmenopausal bleeding. Broad objectives of this conference were (1) to advance understanding of the utility of different diagnostic techniques for evaluating the endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding; (2) to formulate useful and practical guidelines for evaluation of women with postmenopausal bleeding, specifically as it relates to the use of sonography; and (3) to offer suggestions for future research projects. October 24 and 25, 2000, Washington, DC, preceding the annual Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Advances in Sonography conference. Specific questions to the panel included the following: (1) What are the relative effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of using transvaginal sonography versus office (nondirected) endometrial biopsy as the initial examination for a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (2) What are the sonographic standards for evaluating a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (3) What are the abnormal sonographic findings in a woman with postmenopausal bleeding? (4) When should saline infusion sonohysterography or hysteroscopy be used in the evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding? (5) Should the diagnostic approach be modified for patients taking hormone replacement medications, tamoxifen, or other selective estrogen receptor modulators? Consensus recommendations were used to create an algorithm for evaluating women with postmenopausal bleeding. All panelists agreed that because postmenopausal bleeding is the most common presenting symptom of endometrial cancer, when postmenopausal bleeding occurs, clinical evaluation is indicated. The panelists also agreed that either transvaginal sonography or endometrial biopsy could be used safely and effectively as the first diagnostic step. Whether sonography or endometrial biopsy is used initially depends on the physician's assessment of patient risk, the nature of the physician's practice, the availability of high‐quality sonography, and patient preference. Similar sensitivities for detecting endometrial carcinoma are reported for transvaginal sonography when an endometrial thickness of greater than 5 mm is considered abnormal and for endometrial biopsy when "sufficient" tissue is obtained. Currently, with respect to mortality, morbidity, and quality‐of‐life end points, there are insufficient data to comment as to which approach is more effective. The conference concluded by identifying several important unanswered questions and suggestions that could be addressed by future research projects.     

Relative risk of cancer in sonographically detected thyroid nodules with calcifications

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the significance of sonographically detected thyroid calcifications in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. METHODS: One hundred eighty-eight patients with thyroid disease, including 37 with thyroid cancer, were included in the study. Each patient underwent preoperative, high-resolution sonography to evaluate the thyroid gland for the presence of calcifications. RESULTS: The highest incidence of calcification was found in thyroid cancer (54%), followed by multinodular goiter (40%), solitary nodular goiter (14%), and follicular adenomas (12%). The incidence of cancer was significantly higher in calcified nodules (29%) than in noncalcified nodules in the entire group (14%) (p = 0.019), with a relative risk of 2.5. In the group of solitary thyroid nodules, the incidence of cancer in the calcified nodules (55%) was higher than in the nodules without calcification (23%) (p = 0.016). Multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules harbored cancer in only 5% of cases. Compared with multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules, the solitary calcified nodules demonstrated a relative risk of 22.8. In both the solitary and multiple nodules, the relative risk in the presence of calcification was about the same, around 4. Patients younger than 40 years with calcified nodules constituted a high-risk group, with a relative risk of 3.8 versus 2.5 in patients older than 40 years with calcified nodules. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of thyroid calcifications by sonography is diagnostically valuable, especially in cases involving a solitary nodule or a young person. The presence of calcifications in these cases should raise the suspicion of malignancy. The low incidence of cancer in patients with multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules suggests that a more conservative approach may be appropriate in such cases.     

超声诊断儿童甲状腺良恶性结节

目的 探讨超声鉴别诊断儿童甲状腺结节良恶性的价值。方法 回顾性分析经病理证实的120例甲状腺结节患儿的超声表现,比较良恶性甲状腺结节间超声特征的差异。结果 120例中,甲状腺恶性结节71例（71/120,59.17%）,良性结节49例（49/120,40.83%）。良恶性甲状腺结节的超声形态、边界、边缘、内部结构、回声、钙化类型差异均有统计学意义（P均<0.05）;上述超声特征诊断恶性甲状腺结节的准确率分别为80.00%（112/140）、78.57%（110/140）、78.57%（110/140）、81.43%（114/140）、82.86%（116/140）、87.86%（123/140）,敏感度为68.29%（56/82）、70.73%（58/82）、73.17%（60/82）、97.56%（80/82）、90.24%（74/82）、79.27%（65/82）,特异度为96.55%（56/58）、89.66%（52/58）、86.21%（50/58）、58.62%（34/58）、72.41%（42/58）、100%（58/58）。71例恶性甲状腺结节中,60例（60/71,84.51%）伴颈部淋巴结转移,14例（14/71,19.72%）伴中央区淋巴结转移,46例（46/71,64.79%）伴中央区+侧颈淋巴结转移。结论 根据超声特征可有效鉴别儿童良恶性甲状腺结节。     

Management of thyroid disease: with particular reference to thyroid nodules.

A host of expensive thyroid tests and operations could be avoided if aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules were more widely accepted by American physicians. The procedure is both an accurate diagnostic tool and an effective treatment of many thyroid nodules.     

甲状腺囊性皱缩结节的超声表现及造影特点

目的 探讨甲状腺囊性结节皱缩后极低回声结节高频超声及超声造影的特点。方法 回顾性分析35例经细针穿刺细胞学证实为甲状腺机化囊肿,并6个月随访无增大的甲状腺结节,及40例经细针穿刺或手术证实的极低回声甲状腺微小乳头状癌(最大径小于1cm)的超声表现和超声造影检查特点,比较分析二者边界、钙化、纵横比等超声特点及超声造影表现。结果 在两组极低回声结节中,结节纵横比、是否存在环状或半环状钙化以及超声造影内部增强特点方面存在显著差异(P &lt; 0.05)。其中纵横比小于1、环状或半环状钙化和造影表现为整体无增强是囊性皱缩结节的特征表现,而纵横比大于1和造影表现为低增强则是甲状腺乳头状癌的特征。结论 甲状腺囊性结节吸收皱缩机化后声像图呈极低回声表现,易被误诊为恶性结节,但通过结节的纵横比、是否伴有环状或半环状钙化及超声造影的特征性表现可以加以区分,因此超声及超声造影在鉴别诊断甲状腺囊性皱缩机化结节及甲状腺乳头状癌方面具有重要的意义。     

Ultrasound imaging of carotid artery stenosis: application of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Criteria to a Single Institution Clinical Practice

Carotid duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDU) is increasingly used for the evaluation of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. In CDDU, velocity measurements are used to estimate the degree of ICA stenosis. Traditionally, radiologists have relied on institutional experience and published research when interpreting CDDU. In 2003, a consensus committee of experts convened as the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Committee and proposed standard criteria for grading ICA stenosis including the use of peak systolic velocity (PSV) of greater than 230 cm/s for assigning ICA stenosis of greater than 70%. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Criteria in classifying carotid stenoses. This study shows the following: (1) that the criterion of PSV of greater than 230 cm/s for angiographic stenosis of greater than 70% performs as predicted by the consensus committee, with sensitivity of 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.99) and specificity of 84.4% (95% CI, 0.80-0.88); (2) using Pearson correlations, there is no statistical difference found between the correlation of PSV with angiography (0.825 [95% CI, 0.792-0.853]), end diastolic velocity with angiography (0.762 [95% CI, 0.718-0.799]), and the ICA/common carotid artery (CCA) systolic ratio with angiography (0.766 [95% CI, 0.723-0.802]). The correlation of the ICA/CCA diastolic ratio with angiography (0.643 [95% CI, 0.584-0.696]) is less predictive at a 95% confidence interval than the other 3 velocity-based variables, and (3) when the 4 velocity-based variables are taken in pairs (eg, PSV and end diastolic velocity), there is no pair that shows statistically significant improvement in performance. Peak systolic velocity in combination with other variables does show a slight trend toward superior performance.     

超声弹性成像鉴别诊断甲状腺实性小结节

目的 探讨超声弹性成像对甲状腺实性小结节的鉴别诊断价值.方法 对468例患者共562个甲状腺实性结节行超声弹性成像检查,根据结节长径将其分为两组(组I:长径≤1 cm,组Ⅱ:长径＞1 cm).采用4分法(1～4分)评价甲状腺结节的弹性,≤2分判断为良性结节,≥3分判断为恶性结节.以病理结果为诊断金标准,分别计算两组的诊断敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性预测值及阴性预测值.结果 弹性成像对于2组甲状腺实性结节的诊断敏感度、准确率、阳性预测值差异均有统计学意义,特异度、阴性预测值之间差异无统计学意义.结论 超声弹性成像对甲状腺小结节(长径≤1 cm)的鉴别诊断价值更高.     

超声引导下细针穿刺在甲状腺结节诊断及鉴别价值分析

目的:超声引导下细针穿刺在甲状腺结节诊断及鉴别价值分析.方法:回顾性分析58例甲状腺结节患者均于2017年7月—2020年2月在我院接受诊断,先后行常规超声诊断与超声引导下细针穿刺诊断,以手术病理诊断为该病诊断的金标准,先后行常规超声诊断与超声引导下细针穿刺诊断,对比两种诊断法的鉴别价值.结果:病理诊断:良性23例,恶...     

超声弹性分级与应变率比值鉴别诊断甲状腺微小结节

目的 评价超声弹性成像分级与弹性应变率比值法对直径≤1 cm甲状腺微小结节的诊断价值。方法 对手术病理证实的55例患者的72个直径≤1 cm甲状腺结节的超声弹性图像进行分析,弹性分级分为4级,计算甲状腺组织与结节的弹性应变率比值。分别绘制弹性分级法及弹性应变率比值法的ROC曲线,评价其诊断价值。结果 甲状腺良、恶性结节的超声弹性分级及弹性应变率比值差异均有统计学意义(P<0.001)。超声弹性分级及弹性应变率比值判断甲状腺占位性病灶的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.851、0.890(P=0.124)。甲状腺良、恶性小结节弹性应变率比值诊断界值为2.85。结论 超声弹性分级法同弹性应变率比值法均能够有效地鉴别诊断甲状腺微小结节的性质。     

超声弹性比值法鉴别诊断甲状腺实性结节及诊断一致性

目的 探讨实时超声弹性成像比值法鉴别诊断甲状腺实性结节良恶性的价值及不同医师之间的一致性。方法 由2名有经验的医生对72例共89个甲状腺实性结节进行超声弹性成像检查,测定结节与周围腺体的弹性指数比值,绘制ROC曲线并确定鉴别甲状腺实性结节良恶性的最佳诊断临界点,以病理结果为金标准,计算敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性及阴性预测值。分析2名医师诊断的一致性。结果 2名医师应用ROC曲线获得最佳诊断临界点均为3.40。将弹性指数比值≥3.40诊断为恶性,医师1鉴别诊断甲状腺实性结节良恶性的敏感度、特异度、准确率、阳性及阴性预测值分别为90.24%(37/41)、85.42%(41/48)、87.64%(78/89)、84.09%(37/44)、91.11%(41/45);医师2分别为90.24%(37/41)、83.33%(40/48)、86.52%(77/89)、82.22%(37/45)、90.91%(40/44)。两名医师弹性诊断一致率为96.63%(86/89),ICC值为0.98。结论 超声弹性成像比值法为甲状腺实性结节良恶性的鉴别诊断提供了定量诊断指标,具有较好的应用价值,不同医师独立完成弹性成像的定量指数比值具有良好的一致性。     

超声联合甲状腺影像报告和数据系统评估甲状腺结节恶性风险

目的对比观察超声联合我国国家卫生健康委员会(NHC)甲状腺影像报告和数据系统(TI-RADS)与美国放射学会(ACR)TI-RADS判断甲状腺良恶性结节的价值。方法回顾性分析132例甲状腺结节患者共173个结节,评价结节超声特征及其NHC TI-RADS、ACR TI-RADS分类;以病理结果为金标准,采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线比较2种方法的诊断效能。根据结节最大径将其分为≤1 cm组、>1 cm且≤2 cm组和>2 cm组,以多元Logistic回归分析甲状腺良恶性结节的预测因素。结果 NHC与ACR TI-RADS分类ROC曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.91、0.92,最佳截断值分别为≥4c类、≥5类,敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值(PPV)、阴性预测值(NPV)及准确率分别为87.36%、88.37%、88.37%、87.36%、 87.86%和83.91%、89.53%、89.02%、84.62%、86.71%(P均>0.05),一致性较好(Kappa=0.86)。≤1 cm组纵横比>1时恶性风险高,OR为12.07[95%CI(2.49,58.63)];>1 cm且≤2 cm组纵横比>1、存在微钙化和不规则或分叶时恶性风险高,OR分别为21.00[95%CI(2.31,191.17)]、14.88[95%CI(3.14,70.50)]及48.75[95%CI(5.99,396.50)];>2 cm组存在微钙化、不规则或分叶和甲状腺外侵犯时恶性风险高,OR分别为51.33[95%CI(7.24,364.03)]、18.50[95%CI(1.36,252.27)]及27.75[95%CI(2.31,333.76)]。结论 NHC与ACR TI-RADS分类诊断甲状腺结节均有较高效能;不同超声征象对不同大小甲状腺结节的诊断效能不同。     

Ultrasound examination using contrast agent and elastosonography in the evaluation of single thyroid nodules: Preliminary results

Aim

To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound (US) using contrast agent and elastosonography in the characterization of thyroid nodules.

Materials and methods

From November 2006 to July 2007, 23 patients with single thyroid nodules underwent B-mode US and power Doppler, US examination using contrast agent, elastosonography and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Sixteen patients underwent thyroidectomy.

Results

The 23 nodules included 14 benign and 9 malignant lesions. Analysis of time/intensity curves showed that wash-in (8.8 ± 1.3 vs 12.1 ± 2.6 s; p = 0.002, t-test) and peak enhancement (15.3 ± 4.6 vs 22.2 ± 3.9 s; p = 0.001, t-test) occurred significantly earlier in the malignant nodules than in the benign nodules. Wash-out was monophasic in 70% of benign nodules, but in none of the malignant nodules; polyphasic in 30% of benign nodules and in 100% of malignant nodules. Polyphasic wash-out showed a statistically significant association with malignancy (p = 0.0007, χ²). Polyphasic wash-out yielded a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 71%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 69%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 83%. In 78% of the benign nodules (11/14) elastosonographic patterns was 1–2 (elevated elasticity); in 88% of the malignant nodules (8/9) elastosonographic patterns was 3–4 (reduced elasticity). Elastosonography yielded a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 78%, PPV of 72%, NPV of 91% and diagnostic accuracy of 82%. Elastosonographic patterns 3–4 is associated with malignancy (p = 0.001, χ²).

Conclusion

US using contrast agent and elastosonography can be a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of single thyroid nodules, particularly when FNAC result is non-diagnostic or suggests a follicular lesion, and in nodules <1 cm.