Thyroid nodules: evaluation with power Doppler and duplex Doppler ultrasound

Abstract

This study purposes a new classification of thyroid nodules blood flow by power duplex Doppler ultrasound. A total of 177 nodules were studied with B-mode scanning, power Doppler, and spectral analysis. These data were compared with cytological results from ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. The power Doppler analysis of the nodules produced 5 vascular patterns: I, absence of signal blood flow; II, exclusively perinodular blood flow; III, perinodular >/= central blood flow; IV, central blood flow > perinodular blood flow; V, exclusively central blood flow. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between these vascular patterns and cytological results. The spectral analysis demonstrated that the resistance index were higher in nodules with malignant versus other cytology ( P < 0.001). The results indicate that power duplex Doppler facilitates screening of thyroid nodules at high risk for malignancy with elevated sensitivity (92.3%) and specificity (88%).