Objective:

To investigate the value of the difference between the size of thyroid nodules measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and gray-scale ultrasound in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

Methods:

Retrospectively analyzed 346 patients with thyroid nodules (414 thyroid nodules

maximum diameter 10 mm) confirmed by pathological examination after surgery

including 313 PTMC (PTMC group)

benign lesions 101 (benign group). All nodule

s were conducted by the two-dimensional gray-scale ultrasound and CEUS examination

and measured the size of the nodule. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine whether there was any difference in the size of nodules measured by gray-scale ultrasound and CEUS between the PTMC group and the benign group.

Results:

Comparison of the size of nodules measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and gray-scale ultrasound

there was no statistical difference in the benign group (

P

＞0.05)

and there was statistical difference in the PTMC group (

P

＜0.05); the nodule size measured by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in PTMC group was significantly smaller than that measured by gray-scale ultrasound.

Conclusion:

For the thyroid nodule with the maximum diameter 10 mm

it is a characteristic of micropapillary carcinoma that the measured value of the nodule size by contrast-enhanced ultrasound is less than the measured value by gray-scale ultrasound. The difference between the measured value of the nodule size by gray-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used to identify the benign and malignant nodules. The clinical diagnostic value of thisindex is worth further study.