英文誌(2004-)
特別講演
特別講演3
(S146)
Clinical Application of Thyroid US Elastography
PARK Jeong Seon
Jeong Seon PARK
Department of Radiology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Korea
キーワード :
Elastography is an emerging technique aimed at differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. This technique allows in vivo estimation of the tissue mechanical properties using a conventional ultrasonography (US) with modified software. Similarly to palpation, the rationale of elastography is that a cancer is stiffer, with less elastic deformation compared with the surrounding thyroid tissue or a benign thyroid nodule.
According to previous clinical studies of US elatography, the used parameters for elasticity of thyroid nodules are as follows; a numerical scales (1-5 or 1-6), proportional elasticity index, or quantitative elasticity (kPa). The diagnostic performances of thyroid Elastography in the diagnosis of malignancy have been excellent.
Although the previous studies revealed the excellent performances of US elastography, poorreproducibility and inter-observer variability are still major limitations. Recently, semiautomatic or automatic quantitative measurement of elasticity (Elastoscan®) is attempted to obtain more reproducible and reliable information of elasticity. A new parameter Elasticity Contrast Index (ECI) represents how much heterogeneity or homogeneity is inside of the nodule within ROI box.
Ultrasound elastography for the thyroid lesions could be an adjunctive diagnostic tool in the differentiation of benign and malignant nodules.