[Optical sonography in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodes]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Oncology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Thyroid nodules are common, requiring accurate diagnosis to distinguish benign from malignant conditions.
• Current diagnostic methods can be invasive, necessitating the development of non-invasive alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of optical sonography as a non-invasive tool for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
• To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of optical sonography in identifying different types of thyroid lesions.

Main Methods:

• Optical sonography was performed on 623 patients with thyroid nodules.
• Ultrasound-assisted fine-needle aspiration biopsy and surgical histopathology were used for comparison.
• Diagnostic performance metrics were calculated for distinguishing cystic colloidal goiter (CCG), follicular adenoma (FA), and thyroid cancer.

Main Results:

• Optical sonography demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.75, specificity of 0.62, and accuracy of 0.67 for diagnosing thyroid malignancies.
• For follicular adenoma, sensitivity was 0.85, specificity 0.62, and accuracy 0.73.
• The technique showed effectiveness in differentiating between CCG and FA, CCG and thyroid cancer, and FA and thyroid cancer.

Conclusions:

• Optical sonography is a viable non-invasive method for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
• The technique provides valuable data for distinguishing benign thyroid conditions from malignant ones.
• Further research may enhance the diagnostic capabilities of optical sonography in thyroid nodule evaluation.