Role of Elastography in Ultrasound Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules

Background: Ultrasound is the modality of choice for evaluation of thyroid nodules. Elastography plays a complimentary role in characterizing the thyroid nodules. Objectives: This study is undertaken to evaluate the role of Elastography in evaluation and characterization of the thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: Fifty cases of thyroid nodules who underwent ultrasound evaluation during March 2016 to march 2017 were included in the study. Elastography was performed during the same sitting. Ultrasound guided FNAC was performed for cytological correlation. Results: Out of the 50 patients 80% were females and 20% were males. Forty two cases were benign on FNAC and 35 of these were seen in females. Eight cases were malignant nodules. Out of the eight cases which were diagnosed as malignant, marked hypo-echogenicity, micro-calcification, intrinsic vascularity and elastography features were found to be useful in differentiating benign from malignant lesions. The sensitivity and specificity of elastography (strain ratio) was 62% and 93% respectively. The p value was highly significant (p<0.010). Conclusions: Ultrasound and elastography are very useful tools in evaluation and characterization of thyroid nodules. Ultrasonography guides the suspicious nodule to be biopsied and thus helps in avoiding unnecessary biopsies.