The role of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis

The aim of this study is to assess the applicability of shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (CAT) patients.

The study group consisted of 50 patients with first-diagnosed CAT and 40 control subjects (CS). In all patients with CAT and CS, sonoelastographic measurements were made in both thyroid lobes. Optimal cut-off values were chosen to maximize the sum of sensitivity and specificity. Positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy values were also calculated.

Quantitative elastographic analysis evaluated by SWE in CAT patients (2.56 +/- 0.30 m/s) was significantly higher compared with CS (1.63 +/- 0.12 m/s) (p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value was 2.42 m/s. SWE had 77% sensitivity, 71% specificity, 92% PPV, 81% NPV, and 87% accuracy for the presence of CAT.

Our data indicate that SWE correctly defines the elasticity of thyroid parenchyma, and this technique may assist in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of CAT.