Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in diagnosis of thyroid solitary nodules

Objective To assess the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for characterizing thyroid solitary nod ules.Methods Real time CEUS and conventional ultrasound were used to examine 68 thyroid solitary nodules,all of which were confirmed by operation and pathology.Results In 68 nodules,52 nodules were benign and 16 nodules were malignant.For 40 hyperplasia nodules,34 demonstrated diffused is-enhancement,4 low hetero-enhancement,2 non-enhancement.For 12 follicular adenomas,10 demonstrated diffused hyper-enhancement,2 diffused is-enhance ment.16 thyroid cancers showed low hetero-enhancement.Conclusion The enhancement characteristics of thyroid malignant and benign nodules are different on CEUS.CEUS is valuable in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules clinically.