Diagnosed values of fine needle aspiration combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the diagnosis of early thyroid microcarcinoma

Abstract

Objective To analyze the role of thyroid imaging reporting and data system(TI-RADS), contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS), fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and tumor proliferation related genes in the early diagnosis of thyroid micro-papillary carcinoma(PTMC) and risk assessment of early metastasis. Methods From May 2018 to May 2019, a total of 140 patients with Thyroid micronodules for surgical resection and pathological diagnosis of benign or malignant into the Seventh People′s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine for the retrospective study.There were 90 cases in benign group and 50 cases in malignant group.The levels of TI-RADS, CEUS enhancement mode, peak intensity (PI) and cyclin D1 (CCND1), cell nuclear Proliferating Antigen (PCNA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were compared between malignant and benign groups, VEGF) mRNA expression level.The positive rate of FNAC, TNM stage, capsule invasion and lymph node metastasis were evaluated. Results The percentage of class four and more by TI-RADS grade in malignant group was significantly more than benign group((92.0% (46/50) vs.5.6% (5/90), χ2=103.718, P<0.001), more early low enhancement by CEUS(86.0%(43/50) VS.6.7%(6/90), χ2=91.328, P<0.001) and PI value higher than benign group, too((6.79±1.88) VS.(5.32±1.46), t=4.968, P=0.008). The positive rate of FNAC in malignant group was 92.0% (46/50). FNAC was positive in 42 cases of TNM stage, 9 cases of capsule invasion and 6 cases of lymph node metastasis.The pathological positive rate after resection was 50 cases of TNM stage, 10 cases of capsule invasion and 6 cases of lymph node metastasis.The expression of CCND1, PCNA and VEGF mRNA in malignant group was significantly higher than that in benign group((0.5624±0.134) VS.(0.213±0.097), t=15.639, P<0.001; (0.453±0.126) VS.(0.186±0.056), t=20.253, P<0.001; (0.633±0.159) VS.(0.252±0.097), t=31.265, P<0.001). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided FNAC is used to determine TNM staging, capsule invasion and lymph node metastasis, CCND1, PCNA and VEGF expression level, contrast-enhanced mode and peak intensity value measured by quantitative evaluation software have good accuracy for early diagnosis of PTMC, and are consistent with the pathological results of hand surgery. Key words: Thyroid micro-papillary carcinoma; Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Fine needle aspiration cytology