The value of CT perfusion in differential diagnosis between thyroid benign and malignant nodules

Objective:To assess the value of CT perfusion in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules.Methods:All 40 patients with thyroid nodule,including benign cases(n=32),and malignant cases(n=8),underwent routine and dynamic contrast enhanced CT scanning.We calculated the perfusion parameters,including the blood flow(BF),blood volume(BV),permeability surface area product(PS),mean transit time(MTT) and time to peak(TTP),and compared difference of the two groups' perfusion parameters.Results:The mean values of BF,BV,PS,MTT and TTP in of the benign group were(126.9±11.58)ml/(100g·min),(35.19±2.73)ml/100g,(35.70±2.35)ml/(100g·min),(8.41±0.92)s and(16.47±1.66)s,respectively.The mean values of BF,BV,PS,MTT and TTP of the malignant group were(66.32±4.68)ml/(100g·min),(23.23±3.88)ml/100g,(38.12±2.08)ml/(100g·min),(15.22±0.26)s and(10.89±0.87)s,respectively.There was significant difference of BF and MTT between the two groups(P0.05),but there was no significant difference of the other parameters between the two groups(P0.05).There was also not significant difference of the parameters in the benign group(P0.05).Conclusion:CT perfusion imaging of thyroid could show microvascular hemodynamic and perfusion parameters which may differentiate thyroid benign and malignant lesions.