Lin Yan1,2, Yukun Luo3, Jing Xiao1, Lin Lin1. 1. Department of Ultrasound, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. 2. Health Management Center, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, No. 467 Zhongshan Road, Shahekou District, Dalian, China. 3. Department of Ultrasound, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China. lyk301@163.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement between gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in measuring ablated volume (Va) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: A total of 173 patients with 190 benign thyroid nodules who underwent RFA were included in this study. After RFA, the total volume of ablated nodule was divided into Va and the incompletely treated vital volume. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, and every 12 months thereafter. Two independent observers measured Va using US and CEUS during the same follow-up visit. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the two measurement modalities was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval. The Bland-Altman analysis was used to evaluate agreement, which was expressed as a mean difference with 95% limits of agreement (LOA). RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 23.17 ± 12.70 months. Va measured by US was significantly larger than by CEUS (p < 0.001). The intra- and inter-observer reliability decreased over the follow-up period and became moderate in both subgroups at 12 months (all ICC < 0.75). The mean difference and LOA became larger and wider during the follow-up. The best agreement was found in nodules < 10 ml at 1 month with a mean difference of 1.166 and LOA between 0.413 and 3.294. CONCLUSIONS: The intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement of US and CEUS in measuring Va were unsatisfactory. CEUS should be considered when Va was needed for further evaluation or in the case of nodules with suspected regrowth. KEY POINTS: • Va measured by gray-scale and Doppler US was significantly larger than that by CEUS. • Va measured by gray-scale and Doppler US lacked intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement with CEUS. • CEUS should be preceded to gray-scale and Doppler US for the measurement of Va.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement between gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in measuring ablated volume (Va) after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: A total of 173 patients with 190 benign thyroid nodules who underwent RFA were included in this study. After RFA, the total volume of ablated nodule was divided into Va and the incompletely treated vital volume. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, and every 12 months thereafter. Two independent observers measured Va using US and CEUS during the same follow-up visit. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the two measurement modalities was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence interval. The Bland-Altman analysis was used to evaluate agreement, which was expressed as a mean difference with 95% limits of agreement (LOA). RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 23.17 ± 12.70 months. Va measured by US was significantly larger than by CEUS (p < 0.001). The intra- and inter-observer reliability decreased over the follow-up period and became moderate in both subgroups at 12 months (all ICC < 0.75). The mean difference and LOA became larger and wider during the follow-up. The best agreement was found in nodules < 10 ml at 1 month with a mean difference of 1.166 and LOA between 0.413 and 3.294. CONCLUSIONS: The intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement of US and CEUS in measuring Va were unsatisfactory. CEUS should be considered when Va was needed for further evaluation or in the case of nodules with suspected regrowth. KEY POINTS: • Va measured by gray-scale and Doppler US was significantly larger than that by CEUS. • Va measured by gray-scale and Doppler US lacked intra- and inter-observer reliability and agreement with CEUS. • CEUS should be preceded to gray-scale and Doppler US for the measurement of Va.
Entities:
Keywords:
Radiofrequency ablation; Reproducibility of results; Thyroid nodule; Ultrasonography
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