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01-08-2019 | Ultrasound | Ultrasound

CAD system based on B-mode and color Doppler sonographic features may predict if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold

Authors: Ali Abbasian Ardakani, Ahmad Bitarafan-Rajabi, Afshin Mohammadi, Sepideh Hekmat, Aylin Tahmasebi, Mohammad Bagher Shiran, Ali Mohammadzadeh

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 8/2019

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the analysis of sonographic parameters could predict if a thyroid nodule was hot or cold.

Methods

Overall, 102 thyroid nodules, including 51 hyperfunctioning (hot) and 51 hypofunctioning (cold) nodules, were evaluated in this study. Twelve sonographic features (i.e., seven B-mode and five Doppler features) were extracted for each nodule type. The isthmus thickness, nodule volume, echogenicity, margin, internal component, microcalcification, and halo sign features were obtained in the B-mode, while the vascularity pattern, resistive index (RI), peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and peak systolic/end diastolic velocity ratio (SDR) were determined, based on Doppler ultrasounds. All significant features were incorporated in the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system to classify hot and cold nodules.

Results

Among all sonographic features, only isthmus thickness, nodule volume, echogenicity, RI, and SDR were significantly different between hot and cold nodules. Based on these features in the training dataset, the CAD system could classify hot and cold nodules with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.898. Also, in the test dataset, hot and cold nodules were classified with an AUC of 0.833.

Conclusions

2D sonographic features could differentiate hot and cold thyroid nodules. The CAD system showed a great potential to achieve it automatically.

Key Points

• Cold nodules represent higher volume (p = 0.005), isthmus thickness (p = 0.035), RI (p = 0.020), and SDR (p = 0.044) and appear hypoechogenic (p = 0.010) in US.

• Nodule volume with an AUC of 0.685 and resistive index with an AUC of 0.628 showed the highest classification potential among all B-mode and Doppler features respectively.

• The proposed CAD system could distinguish hot nodules from cold ones with an AUC of 0.833 (sensitivity 90.00%, specificity 70.00%, accuracy 80.00%, PPV 87.50%, and NPV 75.00%).

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Title: CAD system based on B-mode and color Doppler sonographic features may predict if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold
Authors: Ali Abbasian Ardakani
Ahmad Bitarafan-Rajabi
Afshin Mohammadi
Sepideh Hekmat
Aylin Tahmasebi
Mohammad Bagher Shiran
Ali Mohammadzadeh
Publication date: 01-08-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Published in: European Radiology / Issue 8/2019
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5908-y

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CAD system based on B-mode and color Doppler sonographic features may predict if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Key Points

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Abstract

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