ObjectiveTo investigate the value of ultrasound elastography and CEUS(Contrast-enhan ced Ultrasound)in the evaluation of the ultrasound guided MMA(Microwave Ablati on)of benign thyroid nodules.MethodsThirty-one patients with benign thyroid nodules supported by fine-needle aspiration were selected.Every patient was examed by elastography before and after MMA,and CEUS was performed before ablation,immediately,15 minutes and 30 minutes after MMA.The volumes of thyroid nodules after MMA measured by CEUS and elastography,the volumes of thyroid nodule at different times measured by CEUS and the change of thyroid nodule elasticity which include Emean,Emax,Eratio(the ratio of the elastic value of the hardest portion of the nodule to the elastic value of the surrounding normal tissue)before and after MMA were compared.ResultsAfter MMA,the lesions area showed no enhancement on CEUS during the whole process.The volumes of thyroid nodules at different times after MMA measured by CEUS were nonsignificant.Under the elastography,the thyroid nodules after MMA appeared as predominantly orange and yellow areas,surrounded by green normal thyroid tissue,and the ablation nodules were clearly demarcated from the surrounding normal tissue.The Emean,Emax and Eratio of thyroid nodule after MMA were increased compared with those before ablation,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions1 CEUS can accurately delineate the boundary of thyroid nodule after MMA and evaluate the situation of ablation.2 The size of thyroid nodule after ablation does not change significantly in a short period of time after MMA,putting off the time of first contrast imaging after thyroid nodules MMA can reduce the interference of gasification of ablation and further improve the accuracy of CEUS.3 Ultrasound elastography can objectively measure the hardness changes before and after MMA of benign thyroid nodules,which can be used to reflect the situation of the MMA of benign thyroid nodules.4 The size of thyroid nodule after microwave ablation was consistent between CEUS and elastography.5 Elastography has the advantages of being free from gasification interference,non-invasive,repeatable and economical,which can make up for the deficiency of CEUS.It may become another effective method to evaluate MMA of benign thyroid nodules. |