Comparison of diagnostic values between ultrasound elastography and ultrasound-guided thyroid nodular puncture in thyroid nodules

Diagnostic value between ultrasound elastography and ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture biopsy in thyroid nodules was compared to provide reference for the selection of thyroid nodule (TN) diagnostic mode. A total of 194 patients with TN, admitted from June 2014 to June 2015, were selected to be treated with ultrasound elastography and ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture biopsy. The ultrasonic elasticity score and results of ultrasound-guided TN puncture were compared with diagnostic results of surgical or ultrasound follow-up for 12 months, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of differentiating and diagnosing TN of the two methods were calculated to compare the clinical diagnostic values. A total of 194 patients were diagnosed with TN 217, including 129 benign and 88 malignant lesions. All the nodules were obtained by effective ultrasound elastography and ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture cytological pathological specimens, and it was diagnosed by ultrasound elastography that there were 75 benign nodules and 142 malignant nodules. It was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture that there were 112 benign, 78 malignant and 27 uncertain nodules. The specificity and accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture in the diagnosis of TN were higher than that of ultrasound elastography and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference between the sensitivity of ultrasound elastography and ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture biopsy in the diagnosis of TN (P>0.05). Ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of TN has a low specificity and the diagnosis of ultrasound-guided fine needle puncture biopsy may have uncertain results. There are some defects in the two diagnostic schemes and their combined application can complement each other's advantages and improve the early diagnostic efficiency of TN.