YANG Meiqin,LIU Guilin,FANG Ming, et al. Value of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of Graves disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis[J]. JOURNAL OF WEZHOU MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, 2015, 45(10 ): 744-.
Abstract:Objective: To investigate the value of ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of Graves disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with Graves disease and 108 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) were included in this study between May 2011 and November 2013 in our hospital. Thyroid size, shape, echo characteristics, blood condition were observed and recorded by color Doppler ultrasound. In addition, elastic score, the average value of the relative strain (MEAN) and the blue area ratio (AREA) were gained by ultrasound elastography. The diagnostic accuracy of color Doppler ultrasound and ultrasound elastography were compared. Results: No significant difference was detected in thyroid size, echo characteristics and blood flow classification (P>0.05). Graves group was mainly charactered by scattered hypoechoic echo-based distribution, and HT group was mainly charactered by diffuse hypoechoic echo-based distribution. PSV, EDV in Graves group were significantly higher than those in HT group (P<0.05). Elastic score and %AREA in HT group were significantly higher, but MEAN in HT group was significantly lower. The diagnostic accuracy of color Doppler ultrasound combined elastography was significantly higher than that of color Doppler ultrasound (P<0.05). Conclusion: Color Doppler ultrasound combined with ultrasound elastography may play a role in the diagnosis of Graves disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.