ABSTRACT

Elastography is a new diagnostic tool in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the reliability of elastography in discriminating thyroid lesions.

60 patients, who applied to our clinic between September 2010 and August 2011 with the diagnosis of thyroid nodule and had indication for operation, have been scanned by thyroid nodule elastography in preoperative period. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of elastography, have been determined by comparing elastography results with postoperative histopathology results.

For thyroid nodules of which 48 were benign (80 %) and 12 malignant (20 %) according to histopathology results, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of ultrasoundelastography in identification of carcinoma are found as; sensitivity 58.3 %, specificity 85.4 %, positive prediction 50 % and negative prediction 89.1 %.

Even though sensitivity and specificity values of ultrasoundelastography in preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules were found to be lower in comparison with literature, elastography is a new supplementary diagnostic method in preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules.