Shear wave elastography as a quantitative method for thyroid gland elasticity assessment in pediatrics patients with autoimmune-related thyroid disease, diagnostic utility and laboratory correlation

Abstract Background Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is the most common thyroid pathology in pediatric patients among which Hashimoto’s has highest prevalence. Along with size, measuring mechano-acoustic tissue elasticity evolving as an important parameter evaluation of diffuse . This study aims to investigate role shear wave elastography (SWE) diagnosis autoimmune disease (AITD) population and also compare between them healthy individuals. Results case–control analytical was carried out on 64 subjects ranging age from 7 17 years. All cases were diagnosed AIT by anti-thyroid antibodies, their function evaluated hormones. We performed Ultrasonography Shear elastography. Patients had significantly higher values (35.6 kPa, IQR 8.43–103.7 kPa) than control group (9.35 5.73–13.21 kPa). There no correlation gland autoantibodies test, respectively. The cutoff value for 12.317 kPa sensitivity specificity 96.9% 100%, Conclusions SWE a highly sensitive imaging method integrating routine ultrasonography AITD estimates extent fibrosis numerical value.