Preliminary studies on ultrasonic elastic tissue in the normal thyroid with the method of measuring shape and value velocity of shear wave by using a acoustic radiation force impulse image technology (ARFI)
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Abstract
Objectives: Measure the reference value of average velocity of shear wave in healthy healthy thyroid tissue by using acoustic
radiation force impulse imaging.
Methods: Evaluate 49 healthy volunteers with normal thyroid: 27 women and 22 men without thyroid pathology, thyroiditis, localized lesions,calcium metabolic disease, not taking these drugs affect thyroid. Identify Region Of Interest (ROI ) for thyroid tissue depth of 1.2 cm, for respectively stenocleidomastoid muscle depth of 0,6 cm.The result measured by two observers with different levels of experience performed independently and blindly.
Results: Average velocity of shear wave in the healthy’s thyroid tissue is 1,47 ± 0,41m/s. There is no statistically significant difference in shear wave velocity between two gender and age (p > 0,05). Average velocity of shear wave in the healthy’s stenocleidomastoid muscle is 1,42 ± 0,32m/s. There is no statistically significant difference in shear wave velocity between three age groups but there is statistically significant difference in shear wave velocity between two gender (p < 0,05).In term of interobserver results, no statistically significant difference in shear wave velocity obtained by two observers with different levels of experiences (P > 0,05).
Conclusions: The results of this study show that shear wave velocity measurement in healthy’s thyroid of women (1,50 ± 0,41
m/s) was significantly higher than in men but there is no statistically significant (p > 0,05). In contrary, average velocity of shear wave in the healthy’s stenocleidomastoid muscle of men (1,54 ± 0,29 m/s) was higher than in women (1,33 ± 0,32 m/s) statistically significant
( p < 0,05). Thyroid tissue elastogram shows the structure of the tissue is quite soft, homogeneous and smaller B-mode image. ARFI can be performed in the thyroid tissue with reliable results.
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References
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