Shimei Li1, Jiyi Yao1, Shaoyun Hao1, Xinchuan Zhou1, Ningyi Jiang2, Xinbao Zhao1, Hui Zhi1,3. 1. 1 Department of Ultrasound, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 107 Yanjiangxi Rd, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China. 2. 2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. 3. 3 Department of Ultrasound, Zengcheng People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in Graves disease (GD) and to identify the potential factors influencing thyroid stiffness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 207 subjects were enrolled and underwent SWE examination in the study, including 162 patients with GD and 45 healthy volunteers with normal thyroids, matched for age and sex. For all subjects, five measurements of elastic modulus values (SWE mean, SWE minimum, and SWE maximum of a 9-mm ROI) were performed on each thyroid lobe, and a mean value was calculated. The indicators including free three-triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid size, isthmus thickness, anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies (Abs), and antithyroglobulin (TG) Abs were detected in the 162 patients with GD, among whom 88 patients underwent initial TSH receptor (TR) Ab examination. RESULTS: The elastic modulus values for patient with GD were significantly higher than those for healthy control subjects. The ROC AUC values for GD by SWE mean was 0.656, and the cutoff value was 15.45 kPa. The sensitivity and specificity were 56.8% and 71.1%, respectively. The duration of disease, thyroid size, isthmus thickness, and levels of TPO Ab, TG Ab, and TR Ab were positively correlated with SWE mean in GD. However, there was no correlation between age, FT3, FT4, TSH, and SWE mean. CONCLUSION: Quantitative SWE helps in the diagnosis of GD. The duration of disease, thyroid size, isthmus thickness, and levels of thyroid autoantibodies (TPO Ab, TG Ab, and TR Ab) could influence thyroid stiffness of GD.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in Graves disease (GD) and to identify the potential factors influencing thyroid stiffness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 207 subjects were enrolled and underwent SWE examination in the study, including 162 patients with GD and 45 healthy volunteers with normal thyroids, matched for age and sex. For all subjects, five measurements of elastic modulus values (SWE mean, SWE minimum, and SWE maximum of a 9-mm ROI) were performed on each thyroid lobe, and a mean value was calculated. The indicators including free three-triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid size, isthmus thickness, anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies (Abs), and antithyroglobulin (TG) Abs were detected in the 162 patients with GD, among whom 88 patients underwent initial TSH receptor (TR) Ab examination. RESULTS: The elastic modulus values for patient with GD were significantly higher than those for healthy control subjects. The ROC AUC values for GD by SWE mean was 0.656, and the cutoff value was 15.45 kPa. The sensitivity and specificity were 56.8% and 71.1%, respectively. The duration of disease, thyroid size, isthmus thickness, and levels of TPO Ab, TG Ab, and TR Ab were positively correlated with SWE mean in GD. However, there was no correlation between age, FT3, FT4, TSH, and SWE mean. CONCLUSION: Quantitative SWE helps in the diagnosis of GD. The duration of disease, thyroid size, isthmus thickness, and levels of thyroid autoantibodies (TPO Ab, TG Ab, and TR Ab) could influence thyroid stiffness of GD.