Role of Elastography in Differentiating Malignant and Benign Thyroid Nodules using FNAC as a Reference Standard

Authors

  • Maham Munir Awan Associate Professor of Radiology Dept. Nishtar Medical University, Multan.
  • Malik Mudasir Hassan Associate Professor of Radiology Dept. Quaid e Azam Medical College Bahawalpur
  • Hina Hanif Mughal Associate Professor Radiology Dept. Rawalpindi Medical University. HOD Radiology Benazir Bhutto Hospital
  • Faisal Mehmood Assistant Professor Radiology, Rawalpindi Medical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48036/apims.v20iSUPPL-1.1097

Keywords:

Elastography, Thyroid nodules, Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), benign

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of elastography in differentiating between malignant and benign thyroid nodules, using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as the reference standard.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from January 2023 to December 2023. A total of 180 patients with one or more solid thyroid nodules diagnosed on conventional ultrasound were enrolled in the study. After obtaining consent, all patients underwent strain elastography under standard protocol, and the findings were compared with cytological results. Sensitivity was calculated using the formula: True Positives / (True Positives + False Negatives). Specificity was calculated as: True Negatives / (True Negatives + False Positives). Positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated as: True Positives / (True Positives + False Positives). Negative predictive value (NPV) was calculated as: True Negatives / (True Negatives + False Negatives). Diagnostic accuracy was determined using the formula: (True Positives + True Negatives) / (True Positives + True Negatives + False Positives + False Negatives). All these values were calculated using a 2x2 contingency table.

Results: The study included a total of 180 patients with an average age of 46.38±12.21 years, 76.1% of whom were male and 23.9% female. Among the patients, 9.4% had malignant thyroid nodules, while 90.6% had benign nodules as determined by elastography and confirmed by FNAC. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, 13 patients were true positives (both positive on cytology FNAC and ultrasound elastography), whereas 7 patients were false positives (negative on cytology FNAC but positive on ultrasound elastography).

Conclusion: Elastography has high efficacy in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules and can potentially replace fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).

Downloads

Published

2024-07-19

Issue

Section

Original Articles