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A Swin Transformer-Based Model for Thyroid Nodule Detection in Ultrasound Images
Published on: April 21, 2023
Multimodality US versus Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System Criteria in Recommending Fine-Needle Aspiration of
Fan Xiao1, Jian-Ming Li1, Zhi-Yu Han1
1From the Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, No. 28 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100853, China (F.X., J.M.L., Z.Y.H., F.Y.L., J.Y., P.L.); Department of Cadet Corps, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, China (F.X.); Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (M.X.X.); Department of Ultrasound, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, China (P.Z.); Department of Ultrasound, Aero-space Center Hospital, Beijing, China (L.L.); Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China (G.M.Z.); Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China (Y.C.); Department of Ultrasound, Yantai Hospital of Shandong Wendeng Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Yantai, China (S.R.W.); Department of Ultrasound, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China (C.L.); and Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China (Z.B.C.).
Abstract:
Background Current guidelines recommend the use of conventional US for risk stratification and management of thyroid nodules. However, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is often recommended in benign nodules. Purpose To compare the diagnostic performance of multimodality US (including conventional US, strain elastography, and contrast-enhanced US [CEUS]) with the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) in the recommendation of FNA for thyroid nodules to reduce unnecessary biopsies. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, 445 consecutive participants with thyroid nodules from nine tertiary referral hospitals were recruited between October 2020 and May 2021. With univariable and multivariable logistic regression, the prediction models incorporating sonographic features, evaluated with interobserver agreement, were constructed and internally validated with bootstrap resampling technique. In addition, discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis were performed. Results A total of 434 thyroid nodules confirmed at pathologic analysis (259 malignant thyroid nodules) in 434 participants (mean age, 45 years ± 12 [SD]; 307 female participants) were included. Four multivariable models incorporated participant age, nodule features at US (proportion of cystic components, echogenicity, margin, shape, punctate echogenic foci), elastography features (stiffness), and CEUS features (blood volume). In recommending FNA in thyroid nodules, the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81, 0.89) for the multimodality US model, and the lowest AUC was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.68) for TI-RADS (P < .001). At the 50% risk threshold, 31% (95% CI: 26, 38) of FNA procedures could be avoided with multimodality US compared with 15% (95% CI: 12, 19) with TI-RADS (P < .001). Conclusion Multimodality US had better performance in recommending FNA to avoid unnecessary biopsies than the TI-RADS. Clinical trial registration no. NCT04574258 © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article.
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