[Value of e-Flow combined with TI-RADS in qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodules]

To investigate the value of combination of thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and enhanced flow (e-Flow) in the qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodules; and to compare the diagnostic efficiency between e-Flow and color doppler flow imaging (CDFI.

The study chose 133 patients with 179 nodules (127 benign, 52 malignant nodules) who had per-operative ultrasound examination of their thyroid using grey-scale ultrasound, CDFI, e-Flow, and their noudles were graded by TI-RADS. Then the ultrasound diagnostic value were compared with their surgical pathology results by TI-RADS; TI-RADS and CDFI; TI-RADS and e-Flow, and diagnostic efficiency between e-Flow and CDFI were compared.

The results revealed that combination of TI-RADS and e-Flow had a higher sensitivity (94.23%, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between TI-RADS and the combination of TI-RADS and CDFI. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the combination of TI-RADS and e-Flow and the combination of TI-RADS and CDFI. The e-Flow showed a higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy compare to the CDFI.

Combining e-Flow and TI-RADS could improve the sensitivity in qualitative diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Also, e-Flow has a better diagnostic efficiency of thyroid nodules.