To investigate the diagnostic value of superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) in differentiating benign from malignant Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) 4 thyroid
micronodules.
Methods:
A total of 98 TI-RADS 4 thyroid nodules patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University from April 2019 to February 2020 were selected
and there were 99 thyroid nodules. Preoperative SMI examination was performed to observe and analyze the characteristics of blood flow in the nodules and classify them according to the Alder blood flow classification and the characteristics of blood flow in the nodules. All thyroid nodules were confirmed by surgery and pathology. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the value of the two blood flow typing results in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules
and the sensitivity
specificity
positive prediction rate and negative prediction rate of thyroid nodules were calculated.
Results:
There were 99 thyroid nodules
including 52 benign nodules and 47 malignant nodules. SMI evaluation of malignant thyroid nodules by Alder blood flow classification and nodules blood flow characteristics of parting obviously higher than that of benign thyroid nodules
the difference was statistically significant (
2
=8.69
2
=37.5;
P
<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) for diagnosis of thyroid cancer based on Alder blood flow classification and nodular blood flow characteristics were 0.596
0.778 and the difference is statistically significant (
Z
=2.135
P
<0.05). The sensitivity
specificity
positive prediction rate and negative prediction rate of thyroid cancer were 68.09%
61.54%
61.54%
68.09% and 76.60%
84.91%
81.82%
80.36%.
Conclusion:
SMI is of certain value in thedifferential diagnosis of benign and malignant micro-thyroid nodules in TI-RADS 4
and there is a ifference in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer between the nodule blood flow dominated (type Ⅲ) and Alder blood flow grading under the condition of SMI.