Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging and Quantification (VTIQ) combined with the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) for malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Li, Xiang^{; 1} | Hou, Xiu-Juan^{; 1} | Du, Lin-Yao | Wu, Jia-Qi | Wang, Luo | Wang, Hong | Zhou, Xian-Li^{; *}

Affiliations: In-Patient Ultrasound Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Nangang, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Xian-Li Zhou, In-Patient Ultrasound Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Surgeon’s Hall, No. 246, Xuefu Road, Nangang District, Harbin City, Heilongjiang, China. Tel.: +86 0451 86297285; E-mail: zhouxianli@ems.hrbmu.edu.cn.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:This study was conducted to investigate the diagnostic performance of Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging and Quantification (VTIQ), combined with the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS) in differentiating malignant and benign thyroid nodules. METHODS:A total of 130 thyroid nodules in 128 patients were included. The diagnostic performance of conventional ultrasound (US), VTIQ, and the combination of these two techniques was calculated and compared according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. RESULTS:The sensitivity and specificity for the ACR TI-RADS were 98.6% (72/73) and 24.6% (14/57), respectively. There was a strong agreement with ACR TI-RADS categories of thyroid nodules (all ICCs > 0.60). With an optimal cutoff value of 2.46 m/s, the sensitivity and specificity of the minimal shear wave velocity (SWVmin) were 87.7% (64/73) and 70.2% (40/57). By applying this value to downgrade or upgrade ACR TI-RADS, the specificity significantly increased from 24.6% (14/57) to 47.4% (27/57; P < 0.05) and the sensitivity remained at 98.6% (72/73). CONCLUSIONS:VTIQ combined with ACR TI-RADS could improve the specificity of the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules without a loss of sensitivity.

Keywords: Ultrasound, elastography, thyroid nodule, thyroid imaging reporting and data system, virtual touch tissue imaging and quantification

DOI: 10.3233/CH-180477

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 279-291, 2019