Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ospedale San Luca, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, p.le Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy,
Endocrine. 2014 Feb;45(1):153-5. doi: 10.1007/s12020-013-0062-4. Epub 2013 Sep 25.
Aim of the study was to evaluate the elastographic appearance of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) by a retrospective evaluation of 18 nodules histologically proven as MTC. Free-hand qualitative elastography was performed using Hitachi Logos EUB 7500. The elasticity score (ES), was assessed based on a colour elastogram, the blue colour being correlated with hard tissue, red colour with soft tissue, and green with intermediate hardness. Nodules were classified into four classes. A alleged diagnosis of malignancy was assigned to nodules with ES3 or 4 and a presumptive diagnosis of benignity was assigned to nodules with an ES1 or 2. More than half (55.6 %) of MTCs have a low-intermediate grade of elasticity. The hardest lesions (ES4) were those with ultrasonographic features highly suspicious for malignancy. In conclusion, most of MTCs present an elastographic pattern of benignity. Therefore, qualitative elastography does not add useful information in pointing out MTC on the basis of its hardness. Our data suggest a marginal role for this technique in MTC evaluation.
目的 本研究旨在通过回顾性分析 18 个经组织学证实为甲状腺髓样癌（MTC）的结节，评估 MTC 的弹性成像表现。使用日立 Logos EUB 7500 进行手动定性弹性成像。弹性评分（ES）基于彩色弹性图进行评估，蓝色与硬组织相关，红色与软组织相关，绿色与中等硬度相关。结节分为 4 类。ES3 或 4 提示恶性的疑似诊断，ES1 或 2 提示良性的假定诊断。超过一半（55.6%）的 MTC 具有低-中等弹性分级。超声表现高度怀疑恶性的最硬病变（ES4）。总之，大多数 MTC 的弹性成像表现为良性。因此，定性弹性成像在根据硬度提示 MTC 方面并未提供有用的信息。我们的数据表明，该技术在 MTC 评估中的作用有限。
