Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) is a new technology

and virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ) is one of the most commonly used technologies. The acoustic radiation force makes the tissues produce longitudinal compression and lateral vibration

and reflects the tissue elasticity indirectly. It achieves the noninvasive measurement of tissue elasticity in specific anatomical location tissue elasticity with noninvasive

accurate

and objective features. The aim of this review was to illustrate the clinical application of ARFI in normal thyroids and thyroid diseases. VTQ can make quantitative differential diagnosis of the normal thyroid tissues

thyroid diffuse diseases (Hashimotos thyroiditis and Graves disease) and thyroid nodules. The combination of ARFI with real time elastography (RTE)

contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and fine needle aspiration (FNA) can improve the diagnostic accuracy.