Combining ultrasound-guided fnac with elastography improves the sensitivity and specificity in pre-operative diagnostics of thyroid nodules and prediction of molecular markers expression?
Abstract
Background. The occurrence of thyroid nodules is common and ultrasound (US) examination reveals them in up to 50-60% of unselected population.
Aim.To assess the correlation between US-guided elastography and US-guided FNAC (USG-FNAC) with results of definitive histology and the presence of BRAF and KRAS genes mutations and the VEGF-A gene expression in thyroid nodule. Subjects and methods.
The case-control study included 32 patients/nodules (20 malignant and 12 benign as the control) operated in 2013 due thyroid nodules at the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Prague. The correlation of the elastography score with USG-FNAC and the difinitive histology with the genetic examination could be analyzed in 20 nodules.