To assess thepotentiallyfactors including size,depth,location and calcification affecting the elasticity of thyroid nudules in category 3 and 4 and find an optimal elastographic index for diagnosing these nodules

Patients with confirmed TI-RADS Category 3/4 thyroid nodules by an experienced operater were evaluated by other 2 experienced operaters with shear wave elastography. The potentially influencing factors of size,depth,localization and calcification were grouped and studied. The SWE parameters(MEAN, MIN, MAX and SD) of nodules were measured through the first Q-Box covering the whole nodule and simultaneously, the second Q-Box putting in the relatively normal thyroid parenchyma with the diameter of 3mm.Both of them were measured 3 times respectively and the EIs(elastographic indices) for average(MEANavg, MINavg,...

122 patients (mean age was 43.18±13.07 years)with 126 category 3(37 benign, 14 malignant) and category 4(26 benign, 49 malignant)nodules were included. In both benign and malignant nodules, correlation between MAXavg/SDavg and size was positive and statistically significant and correlation between MEANavg/MAXavg and the depth were negative and statistically significant(Table 1). MAXavg/SDavg located in the isthmus were statistically different from those located in other positions in the benign nodules but not in the malignant nodules. MEANavg/MAXavg/SDavg with microcalcifications were statistically significantly higher than those without them....

Although the nodules size, depth, localization and calcification can differentially influence the elasticity of TI-RADS 3 and 4 nodules, the MAXr can be an optimal EI in diagnosing.

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