The importance of semi-quantitative diastolic sonoelastographic evaluation in the management of solid and semi-solid thyroid nodules

Purpose: Our aim was to determine whether the application of strain index method using manual compression synchronized with diastolic period of carotid artery by sonoelastography was useful in the management of thyroid nodules. Material and methods: 176 lesions in 155 consecutive patients with solid or semi-solid thyroid nodules (163 benign, 13 malignant) were prospectively included in this study. For each lesion, B-mode sonography and sonoelastography images were obtained. Strain indexes of the nodules were calculated using the same-level and normal-appearing thyroid region as an internal reference by means of…