The Role of Elastography in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

Overview

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the role of elastography (along with echographic and cytological data) as a diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer

Ultrasound is considered the first line examination in the exploration of the thyroid nodule. Echotexture analysis often identifies nodules at risk of malignancy, but does not replace or exclude an additional cytological exploration. Cytology, although effective, also has limitations, particularly when samples are vesicular and it is difficult discern between a benign or malignant state. The creation of a noninvasive method in this context could help to avoid invasive tests or "useless" surgical procedures. Ultrasound elastography, which assesses tissue deformability, may provide valuable information concerning benign soft tissue characteristics, whereas malignant lesions are harder in consistency. Interest in this method, already proposed for other organs, has recently increased due to the emergence of specifically created software that enables objective evaluation of the hardness of the nodule during a conventional ultrasound analysis. The main hypothesis of this study is that elastography should allow better selection of candidates for thyroid surgery.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes