Table 4.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and elastosonography (ES) characteristics of malignant and benign thyroid nodules.
| CEUS and ES characteristics | Malignant nodules (n = 29) | Benign nodules (n = 134) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced pattern | <0.001 | ||
| Ring enhancing | 11 (37.9) | 89 (66.4) | |
| Homogenous | 2 (6.9) | 24 (17.9) | |
| Heterogenous | 15 (51.7) | 16 (11.9) | |
| No enhancement | 1 (3.4) | 5 (3.7) | |
| Peak intensity* | 0.289 | ||
| High | 10 (34.5) | 55 (41.0) | |
| Equal | 9 (31.0) | 51 (38.1) | |
| Low | 9 (31.0) | 21 (15.7) | |
| Elastography score† | 0.015 | ||
| 0 | 1 (3.8) | 13 (9.7) | |
| 1 | 0 (–) | 12 (9.0) | |
| 2 | 11 (42.3) | 68 (50.7) | |
| 3 | 9 (34.6) | 36 (26.9) | |
| 4 | 5 (19.2) | 5 (3.7) |
*
The peak intensity of two nodules was not determined because the nodules were too large and the surrounding thyroid parenchyma could not be displayed in the same plane for reference.
†
The ES of the three nodules was not determined because the nodules were too close to the carotid artery and the results were unreliable.