Ultrasound Radiomics for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Ultrasound radiomics is gradually emerging as a powerful tool for improving the diagnosis and management of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional ultrasound, such as high interobserver variability and difficulties in evaluating nodule characteristics. This narrative review aims to systematically summarize the fundamental principles, algorithms, and clinical application progress of ultrasound radiomics in HT, focusing on its diagnostic value in early diagnosis of HT, assessment of inflammatory activity, differentiation of benign and malignant nodules, and prediction of lymph node metastasis. Meanwhile, this review analyzes the current challenges, including data heterogeneity and insufficient model interpretability. Future directions are also prospected, including the establishment of standardized databases and interpretable artificial intelligence models to support the precise diagnosis and treatment of HT.