Value of two-dimensional shear wave elastography quantitative analysis for evaluation of thyroid function in first...

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Endocrinology
• Radiology

Background:

• Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy poses risks to maternal and child health.
• Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) is recognized for differentiating thyroid nodules but its role in assessing thyroid function is unclear.
• Evaluating thyroid function in early pregnancy is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the utility of 2D SWE quantitative analysis in evaluating thyroid function during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• To determine if 2D SWE parameters correlate with serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in pregnant women.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study including 108 reproductive-aged outpatients undergoing conventional ultrasound and 2D SWE of the thyroid.
• Patients were categorized into three groups: pregnant with normal TSH, pregnant with abnormal TSH, and non-pregnant with normal TSH.
• Comparison of conventional ultrasound and 2D SWE quantitative parameters (mean and maximal elasticity) among the groups.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in thyroid size or echotexture among the three groups.
• Key 2D SWE quantitative parameters, including mean and maximal elasticity, did not differ significantly between pregnant women (with normal or abnormal TSH) and non-pregnant controls.
• P-values for all comparisons were greater than 0.05, indicating a lack of statistically significant findings.

Conclusions:

• Conventional ultrasound features do not reflect serum TSH levels in early pregnancy.
• Quantitative parameters from 2D SWE are not indicative of thyroid function status (serum TSH levels) in the first trimester.
• Current ultrasound-based elastography techniques may not be suitable for non-invasive evaluation of thyroid function during pregnancy.