Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Elastography in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules: Useful or Not Useful?

The goal of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. One hundred and seventy-four pathologically proven thyroid nodules (139 benign, 35 malignant) in 154 patients (mean age: 49.2 ± 12.1 y; range: 16–72 y) were included in this study. Conventional ultrasound (US) and ARFI elastography using virtual touch tissue imaging (VTI) and virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) were performed to examine the thyroid nodules. Two blinded readers with different amounts of experience independently scored the likelihood of malignancy on the basis of a five-point scale in three different image-reading sets. The diagnostic performances among different image-reading sets and between the two readers were compared. The diagnostic specificity of both readers improved significantly after reading the VTI images or both VTI and VTQ images (all p < 0.05). After review of the results of both VTI and VTQ, the numbers of correctly diagnosed nodules increased in nodules <1.0 cm for both readers and in both nodular goiter and papillary thyroid carcinoma for the junior reader (p < 0.05). The nodules with definite diagnoses (i.e., confidence levels including definite benign and definite malignant cases) increased after review of VTI and VTQ images versus conventional US for the senior reader (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding ARFI elastography improves the specificity in diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules compared with conventional US on its own. ARFI elastography particularly facilitates the specific diagnosis for thyroid nodules smaller than 1.0 cm. ARFI elastography is also able to increase the diagnostic confidence of the readers.     

Effect of a novel segmentation algorithm on radiologists' diagnosis of breast masses using ultrasound imaging

We investigated the effect of using a novel segmentation algorithm on radiologists’ sensitivity and specificity for discriminating malignant masses from benign masses using ultrasound. Five-hundred ten conventional ultrasound images were processed by a novel segmentation algorithm. Five radiologists were invited to analyze the original and computerized images independently. Performances of radiologists with or without computer aid were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The masses became more obvious after being processed by the segmentation algorithm. Without using the algorithm, the areas under the ROC curve (Az) of the five radiologists ranged from 0.70∼0.84. Using the algorithm, the Az increased significantly (range, 0.79∼0.88; p < 0.001). The proposed segmentation algorithm could improve the radiologists’ diagnosis performance by reducing the image speckles and extracting the mass margin characteristics.     

Inter-observer variability of visual analysis of “stress”-only adenosine first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging in relation to clinical experience and reading criteria

To assess the inter-observer agreement of adenosine “stress”-only visual analysis of perfusion MR images in relation to experience and reading criteria. 106 adenosine perfusion MR examinations out of 350, 46 consecutive positive examinations and 60 randomly selected negative examinations were visually analysed by three individual readers (two residents and a technician) with different levels of experience. Readings (blinded for any information) were compared with the reading of an expert radiologist. After a month the examinations were presented again (randomly) without knowledge regarding the first readings. This time readings were performed with the systematical use of reading criteria. Agreement with the expert reading was good for the most experienced resident (k = 0.88). Kappa was 0.48 for the least experienced, and 0.57 for the technician. After the second systematical reading inter-observer agreement increased to 0.9, 0.68 and 0.77 respectively. Overall kappa increased from 0.59 to 0.71. The use of reading criteria significantly improved the performance of the least experienced reader (P = 0.01). Visual analysis of adenosine “stress”-only first-pass perfusion MR images has moderate to very good agreement. Performance is experience related, but the systematic use of reading criteria significantly increased performance for the least experienced observer.     

Comparative Study of Automated Breast 3-D Ultrasound and Handheld B-Mode Ultrasound for Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Breast Masses

The automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) represents a new technology for diagnosing breast masses. In this study, a total of 219 breast masses in 175 patients underwent both conventional handheld B-mode ultrasound (HHUS) and ABVS examinations, and the differences in the diagnostic values of the two modalities for benign and malignant breast masses were compared with the final pathologic findings. In addition, the diagnostic accuracy for breast masses with features including retraction phenomenon and hyperechoic rim in the coronal plane of the ABVS was evaluated. There were no differences between the ABVS and HHUS in terms of sensitivity (92.5% vs. 88.0%), specificity (86.2% vs. 87.5%), accuracy (88.1% vs. 87.2%), false-positive rate (13.8% vs. 12.5%), false-negative rate (11.8% vs. 7.5%), positive predictive value (74.7% vs. 75.6%) and negative predictive value (96.3% vs. 94.3%) (p > 0.05 for all). However, there were significant differences between the malignant and benign masses with respect to retraction phenomenon and hyperechoic rim in the coronal plane of the ABVS. For retraction phenomenon, both the specificity and positive predictive value of a malignant diagnosis reached 100%, and the accuracy and false-positive rate were 96.8% and 0, respectively; for the hyperechoic rim, the specificity, negative predictive value and accuracy of a benign diagnosis were 92.8%, 95.3% and 95.9%, respectively. Overall, ABVS is a promising modality for the clinical diagnosis of breast masses with retraction phenomenon and hyperechoic rim in the coronal plane, although the ABVS and HHUS do not differ in diagnostic accuracy for the differentiation of malignant or benign breast masses.     

自动乳腺超声诊断系统（ABUS）结合计算机辅助诊断系统（CAD）前后对乳腺恶性病灶的诊断价值对比

目的 本研究旨在探讨应用自动乳腺超声诊断系统（ABUS）结合计算机辅助诊断系统（CAD）对于不同经验医师诊断乳腺恶性病灶的价值。 方法 收集行ABUS检查的乳腺病例1452例,结果均经病理或随访1年以上证实。比较6名医师（3名低年资医师和3名高年资医师）使用CAD系统前后的诊断敏感度、特异度、AUC及平均阅读时间。结果 1452例病例中,270例为恶性,共有282个恶性病灶,674例为良性,共有695个良性病灶,508例为阴性。应用CAD系统前,低年资与高年资医师诊断乳腺癌的敏感度分别为87%、93%,使用CAD后提高到94%、94%,低年资医师的诊断敏感度前后差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）,高年资医师差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。6名医师在使用CAD系统前后诊断特异度均略有下降,但差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。低年资医师在使用CAD系统前后的诊断符合率有所提高,ROC曲线下面积由0.85提高到0.89,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。而高年资医师组,虽然ROC曲线下面积由0.91提高到0.92,但差异不具有统计学意义（P＞0.05）。所有医师使用CAD后的平均阅读时间均有不同程度的延长,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 虽然使用CAD后的平均阅读时间有所延长,但在可接受范围内,借助ABUS-CAD的阅读模式能大大提高医生诊断的准确度和敏感度,对于低年资医师帮助更大。     

基于甲状腺成像报告和数据系统分类的计算机辅助诊断系统对甲状腺癌超声诊断的辅助价值

目的探讨基于甲状腺成像报告和数据系统（TI-RADS）分类的计算机辅助诊断（CAD）系统对超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的辅助价值。 方法收集2018年10月至2019年3月在国内5家医院的400例甲状腺结节超声图像进行多中心回顾性研究。采用由北京大学前沿交叉学科研究院研发的基于TI-RADS分类的CAD系统,超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的诊断模式分为无CAD模式和CAD模式,11名具有不同工作经验的超声医师（低年资超声医师4名,中年资超声医师4名,高年资超声医师3名）在上述2种模式下诊断甲状腺癌。比较2种诊断模式的诊断效能及读片时间：绘制CAD系统和超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线,应用DeLong方法比较2种模式下曲线下面积（AUC）的差异;应用配对t检验比较2种模式的读片时间差异。 结果在CAD模式下,所有超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的AUC值较无CAD模式有显著提高［0.848（0.837~0.858） vs 0.800（0.788~0.812）］,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.001）;敏感度从73.8%（95%CI：71.9%~75.6%）提升到82.7%（95%CI：81.0%~84.3%）,差异具有统计学意义（χ²=9.870,P＜0.001）;特异度从86.2%（84.7%~87.6%）提升到86.9%（85.4%~88.3%）,但差异无统计学意义（χ²=0.021,P=0.379）。进行亚组分析时,在CAD模式下,低年资超声医师和中年资超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的AUC值较无CAD模式有显著提高（0.840 vs 0.740;0.848 vs 0.814）,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.001、=0.001）,但高年资超声医师诊断甲状腺癌的AUC值较无CAD模式无明显变化（0.859 vs 0.861,P=0.861）。在CAD模式下,所有超声医师的阅片时间较无CAD模式减少［（20.2±8.2）s vs（22.7±9.6）s］,差异具有统计学意义（t=-23.9,P＜0.001）。 结论CAD模式有助于低年资超声医师和中年资超声医师对甲状腺癌的诊断,同时缩短了诊断时间。     

Automatic Breast Volume Scanner versus Handheld Ultrasound in Differentiation of Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The goal of the study described here was to compare the automatic breast volume scanner (ABVS) and handheld ultrasound (HHUS) with respect to diagnostic performance in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions. A literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases through 30 June 2018 was conducted. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratios of the ABVS and HHUS were calculated, and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were drawn. A total of nine studies, including 1985 lesions (628 malignant and 1357 benign) from 1774 patients, were analyzed. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio for ABVS were 90.8% (95% confidence interval: 88.3%–93.0%), 82.2% (80.0%–84.2%), 5.39 (4.26–6.80), 0.10 (0.06–0.15) and 61.68 (32.31–117.76); those for HHUS were 90.6% (88.1%–92.8%), 81.0% (78.8%–83.0%), 5.22 (3.14–8.67), 0.11 (0.08–0.17) and 52.60 (32.06–86.35), respectively. The areas under the SROC curves in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions were 0.93 and 0.94 for ABVS and HHUS, respectively, which were not significantly different (p = 0.853). In conclusion, based on available evidence in the literature, ABVS the diagnostic performance of the ABVS is similar to that of HHUS in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.     

超声自动乳腺容积扫描在浅表组织中的拓展应用

目的 探讨超声自动乳腺容积扫描(ABVS)在乳腺以外浅表组织的应用价值。方法 对82例98处浅表病变行常规灰阶超声(CGUS)和ABVS检查,以手术病理或其他影像学检查为标准,评价所有病例的ABVS表层冠状面图像特征,并与CGUS图像特征进行比较。结果 本组包括25例34处肢体动脉或静脉病变、32例39处浅表软组织肿块及25例25处腹外疝。ABVS表层冠状面图像对88处(88/98,89.80%)病变内部结构的显示优于CGUS(P=0.002),96处(96/98,97.96%)病变形态、范围与毗邻关系的显示优于CGUS(P<0.001)。结论 ABVS表层冠状面图像在显示病变范围、形态、内部结构及与周围结构关系方面体现出良好价值,可弥补传统超声切面信息的不足,其临床应用范围将由此拓宽。     

Accuracy of an Automated Breast Volume Ultrasound System for Assessment of the Pre-operative Extent of Pure Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Comparison with a Conventional Handheld Ultrasound Examination

The goal of the study described here was to compare the accuracy of an automated breast volume scanner (ABVS) with that of hand-held ultrasound (HHUS) in assessing the pre-operative extent of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This prospective study consisted of 33 patients with histopathologically proven pure DCIS who received conventional HHUS and ABVS examinations. The discrepancy and correlation coefficients were calculated to assess differences in sizes determined by imaging and histopathologic examination. Mean age was 51.8 y. Mean lesion size as assessed with the ABVS did not differ significantly from that determined by histopathology. Lesion size was adequately estimated, under-estimated or over-estimated with the ABVS in 64%, 15% and 21% of patients, and with HHUS in 42%, 15% and 42%, respectively (p < 0.05). The coefficient of correlation between histopathologic and ABVS measurements was higher than that between histopathologic and HHUS measurements. The ABVS appears to assess the extent of the lesion better than HHUS and can provide more accurate information pre-operatively.     

Combination of computer-aided detection algorithms for automatic lung nodule identification

Purpose

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of combining different computer-aided detection (CADe) methods to increase the actual support for radiologists of automated systems in the identification of pulmonary nodules in CT scans.

Methods

The outputs of three different CADe systems developed by researchers of the Italian MAGIC-5 collaboration were combined. The systems are: the CAMCADe (based on a Channeler-Ant-Model which segments vessel tree and nodule candidates and a neural classifier), the RGVPCADe (a Region-Growing- Volume-Plateau algorithm detects nodule candidates and a neural network reduces false positives); the VBNACADe (two dedicated procedures, based respectively on a 3D dot-enhancement algorithm and on intersections of pleura surface normals, identifies internal and juxtapleural nodules, and a Voxel-Based-Neural-Approach reduces false positives. A dedicated OsiriX plugin implemented with the Cocoa environments of MacOSX allows annotating nodules and visualizing singles and combined CADe findings.

Results

The combined CADe has been tested on thin slice (lower than 2?mm) CTs of the LIDC public research database and the results have been compared with those obtained by the single systems. The FROC (Free Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves show better results than the best of the single approaches.

Conclusions

Has been demonstrated that the combination of different approaches offers better results than each single CADe system. A clinical validation of the combined CADe as second reader is being addressed by means of the dedicated OsiriX plugin.     

CAD Algorithms for Solid Breast Masses Discrimination: Evaluation of the Accuracy and Interobserver Variability

For a successful computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) approach, investigating the benefit of the output for radiologist diagnosis is as important as developing the computer algorithm itself. To evaluate the accuracy and the interobserver variability of two newly developed CAD algorithms for breast mass discrimination, eight radiologists with varied experience in breast ultrasonography (US) independently reviewed the lesions according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS)-US. They interpreted the original ultrasound images, provided a final assessment category to indicate the probability of malignancy and then made a further diagnosis using the images processed by the proposed CAD algorithms. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Cohen's κ statistics were employed to evaluate the effect of the CAD algorithms on radiologist diagnoses. By using the proposed CAD approach, the quality of the images was improved and more information was provided to the observers. With the processed images, the areas under the ROC (Az) of each reader (0.86∼0.89) were greater than those with the original ultrasound images (0.81∼0.86) and all the radiologists improved their performance significantly (p < 0.05) except two senior radiologists (p > 0.05). The Az values of the junior radiologists with CAD were comparable to those of the senior radiologists. Cohen's κ statistics showed that better interobserver agreement was obtained by using the processed images. We conclude that the proposed CAD method is more helpful for the junior radiologists than for the senior ones and it also showed the advantage of decreasing interobserver variability. (E-mail: jwtian2004@yahoo.com.cn)     

乳腺增生症自动全容积超声结合中医辨证与病理对照研究

目的:初步探讨自动乳腺全容积成像(automated breast volume scanner,ABVS)结合中医辨证对高危乳腺增生症的量化诊断价值.方法:本研究分析2018年7月—2019年5月暨南大学附属广州红十字会医院收治的34例乳腺增生症患者,通过ABVS检查及中医辨证,与病灶病理结果进行分组比较.结果:病理...     

自动乳腺全容积扫查技术在肌肉骨骼超声诊断中的初步应用

目的 初步探讨自动乳腺全容积扫查(ABVS)技术在肌肉骨骼超声诊断中的应用价值.方法 对49例肌肉骨骼软组织患者常规二维超声扫查之后,应用Acuson S2000 ABVS系统对病变进行扫查,获得横断位基本数据,系统自动进行三维重建,获得病变冠状面及矢状面图像.对不同类型病变“环征”出现率进行比较.结果 获得了所有49例病变的常规二维超声图像和ABVS扫描的冠状位图像,良性病变和恶性病变的“环征”出现率差异具有统计学意义(x2=5.559,P=0.021),血管瘤和恶性病变“环征”出现率差异无明显统计学意义(x2=2.098,P=0.156),冠状面扫描同时可以发现多发病变中的二维超声漏诊病变.结论 ABVS技术可以较好地显示骨骼肌肉软组织病变的冠状位图像,是对传统二维超声的重要补充.     

T2WI-DWI融合诊断前列腺良恶性疾病

目的评价T2WI-DWI融合技术鉴别诊断前列腺良恶性疾病的价值。方法对经病理证实的13例前列腺癌及43例前列腺良性病变患者行MR检查,由2名医师独立分析图像,先审阅常规MR图像,诊断有无前列腺癌,随后在MR后处理工作站将T2WI与DWI图像融合,根据融合图像提供的信息再次做出诊断。结果 2名医师采用常规MRI及T2WI-DWI融合图像诊断的准确率、敏感度、特异度分别为71.43%(40/56)、76.92%(10/13)、69.77%(30/43)和87.50%(49/56)、84.62%(11/13)、88.37%(38/43),以及60.71%(34/56)、61.54%(8/13)、60.47%(26/43)和80.36%(45/56)、76.92%(10/13)、81.40%(35/43)。融合图像的准确率、特异度明显提高(P均<0.05)。结论 T2WI-DWI融合可提高前列腺癌诊断的准确率和特异度,有助于鉴别诊断前列腺良恶性疾病。     

Dual-energy CT of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: reproducibility of primary tumor measurements and assessment of tumor conspicuity and margin sharpness

Purpose

To determine the inter- and intra-reader agreement of size, conspicuity, and margin sharpness of pancreatic adenocarcinoma on monochromatic, polychromatic, and iodine map dual-energy CT (DECT) images.

Methods

Retrospective review of DECT images from 61 patients with untreated pancreatic adenocarcinoma was performed by three radiologists independently. Pancreatic parenchymal phase images were generated as 50 and 70 keV, 140 kVp quality control (QC), and iodine map images. These were analyzed in a blinded randomized order during four reading sessions separated by 5–7 days. For each image set, readers recorded the longest axial and perpendicular primary tumor dimensions, and qualitatively scored tumor conspicuity and edge sharpness on 5-point scales. Linear mixed model was used to estimate and compare tumor measurements, tumor conspicuity, and tumor edge sharpness scores between readers and image sets. Kappa statistics were used to determine inter-observer agreement for tumor conspicuity and edge sharpness.

Results

The range of tumor measures (mean of longest dimension ± standard deviation) was 3.18 ± 1.41 to 3.83 ± 1.57 cm. Reproducibility of tumor measurements was very high with mild variability (s ² = 0.01–0.10) between readers for the different image sets. Inter-observer agreement values for tumor conspicuity (κ = 0.01–0.17) and edge sharpness (κ = 0.12–0.25) were low for all image sets, although two of three readers scored tumor conspicuity and edge sharpness higher on monochromatic and iodine map DECT images than on 140 kVp QC images (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma measurements were highly reproducible on DECT images, and subjective reader preference trended toward monochromatic and iodine images rather than polychromatic images.

     

自动乳腺全容积成像技术对乳腺肿块大小的评估

目的评价自动乳腺全容积成像技术（ABVS）测量乳腺肿块大小的准确性。 方法选取2012年2月至2014年12月在温州医科大学附属东阳市人民医院行常规超声及ABVS检查,并经乳腺外科手术获得最终病理诊断的59例患者62个乳腺肿块,比较分析常规超声,ABVS检查及病理检查结果。 结果62个乳腺肿块中恶性肿块21个,良性肿块41个。ABVS测量良性与恶性肿块大小,测量值与病理测量值比较,差异均无统计学意义（Z=1.761、0.262,P =0.078、0.794）。常规超声测量良性肿块大小,测量值与病理测量值比较,差异无统计学意义（Z=1.935,P =0.053）;但常规超声对恶性肿块的测量值明显小于病理测量值,差异具有统计学意义（Z=3.743,P=0.000）。常规超声及ABVS对良性与恶性肿块的测量值均与术后病理测量值呈正相关（r=0.935、0.964,r=0.870、0.964）,但ABVS的相关系数均高于常规超声的相关系数。 结论ABVS较常规超声可准确评估乳腺肿块的大小,尤其对乳腺恶性肿块的测量值更接近病理测量值。     

A practical guide to reading CT coronary angiograms—How to avoid mistakes when assessing for coronary stenoses

There are now many physicians, both radiologists and cardiologists who are reporting CT coronary angiography (CTCA) scans who may not be aware that there are many pitfalls present. For the inexperienced reader a significant stenosis in a coronary artery can be easily missed or a moderate stenosis overcalled as significant. Artifacts can also be misinterpreted as representing a significant lesion. It is important that the studies are correctly interpreted, especially as the reported high negative predictive value of CTCA scans is a major strength of this imaging technique. The learning curve of reading these scans is steep and access to conventional coronary catheterisation results is essential for feedback and to improve the readers results. We have developed some rules to aid beginners avoid some of the pitfalls that can occur as these studies are not as easy to read as they may appear initially.     

计算机辅助诊断系统在甲状腺结节超声诊断中的应用

[摘 要] 目的 评估计算机辅助诊断（Computer-aided Diagnosis ,CAD）系统在甲状腺超声检查中的诊断效能及临床应用价值。方法 选取2018年8月至2019年1月在中南大学湘雅三医院进行甲状腺超声检查并行手术切除的171例患者，共205个甲状腺结节。分别采用CAD及4名不同经验水平的超声医师对205例甲状腺结节的超声图像进行分析并根据美国放射学会（ACR）的TI-RADS指南进行分类，然后对4名不同经验水平的超声医师结合CAD也进行了研究。以手术病理结果为金标准,评估CAD系统在鉴别甲状腺良恶性结节中的诊断效能，以及CAD对不同经验水平的超声医师的影响。结果 CAD系统的使用提高了4名超声医师对甲状腺结节鉴别诊断的敏感性及AUC值(结合CAD系统vs未结合CAD系统:灵敏度：超声医师A, 93.10% vs 87.93%;超声医师B, 90.52% vs 84.48%;超声医师C, 85.34% vs 78.45%;超声医师D, 75.00% vs 66.38%，AUC值：超声医师A, 0.95 vs 0.94;超声医师B, 0.93 vs 0.92;超声医师C, 0.86vs 0.81;超声医师D, 0.86 vs 0.70)，差异均有统计学意义（P均＜0.05）。然而CAD系统的低特异性(73.03%)仅对超声医师C、D有显著性改善(P均＜0.05)。CAD系统对甲状腺恶性肿瘤的诊断敏感性与具有5年经验的超声医师相似，差异无统计学意义（P=1.00），但CAD系统的特异性较低。结论 CAD鉴别诊断甲状腺结节的敏感性较高，但特异性较低。结合CAD可有效提高初级医师甲状腺结节的超声诊断水平，也能提高高年资医师对甲状腺结节鉴别诊断的敏感性。     

基于自动乳腺容积扫描、乳腺X线摄影及MRI的BI-RADS分类鉴别乳腺良恶性肿块

目的比较基于自动乳腺容积扫描(ABVS)、乳腺X线摄影(MMG)及MRI的BI-RADS分类鉴别乳腺良恶性肿块的价值。方法回顾性分析94例乳腺肿块患者(104个病灶)的ABVS、MMG及MRI资料,根据第五版BI-RADS标准评估肿块并进行分类。以病理结果为标准,绘制ABVS、MMG、MRI的BI-RADS分类鉴别乳腺良恶性肿块的ROC曲线,比较3种方法的AUC、敏感度和特异度差异。结果104个乳腺肿块中,良性59个(56.73%),恶性45个(43.27%)。基于ABVS与基于MRI的BI-RADS分类鉴别乳腺良恶性肿块的AUC均为0.93,差异无统计学意义(Z=0.05,P=0.96),均高于MMG(0.82)(Z=2.74、3.32,P均<0.01)。3种方法诊断的最佳截断值均为BI-RADS 4a,ABVS的敏感度(91.11%)与MRI(88.89%)差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.12,P=0.73),且均高于MMG(71.11%)(χ²=5.87、4.44,P均<0.05);ABVS、MRI及MMG的特异度分别为86.44%、89.83%及83.05%,差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。结论基于ABVS、MRI的BI-RADS分类鉴别乳腺良恶性肿块的效能相当,且均高于MMG。     

Sonographic features of benign thyroid nodules: interobserver reliability and overlap with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively determine the sonographic findings of nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid, to compare these with reported findings associated with malignancy, and to assess interobserver reliability. METHODS: Seventy thyroid nodules were scanned, and then biopsies of the nodules were performed under sonographic guidance with fine-needle cytologic analysis; in all cases images were reviewed by 2 experienced radiologists without knowledge of clinical outcome. Findings reported associated with malignancy were specifically assessed. Interobserver agreement between the expert and secondary readers for each finding was calculated by the kappa or weighted kappa statistic and the Fisher exact test of independence. RESULTS: There were 68 benign and 2 malignant nodules in a population of 63 female and 7 male patients. The mean benign nodule size was 2.9 cm; 60% were solid; 54% were hypoechoic; 59% were microlobulated or macrolobulated; 47% had central vascularity; 24% contained calcifications; and 82% were elliptical in shape. There was very good interobserver reliability for the presence of calcium (kappa = 0.91) and good agreement for the presence and location of vascularity (kappa = 0.75) and the amount of cystic components (kappa = 0.62; all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Sixty-nine percent of benign nodules had at least 1 finding reported previously as associated with malignancy. The interobserver reliability of the sonographic findings was good to very good for 3 of the 5 findings assessed.