Research Article

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography for Differential Diagnosis of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Lesions: Single-Institutional Prospective Study of Qualitative and Quantitative CEUS Characteristics

Table 5

Results of CEUS qualitative parameters.

Qualitative characteristic count (percentage)Benign N = 55Malignant N = 13 value

Enhancement pattern<0.001
Homogeneous24 (43.6%)4 (30.8%)
Heterogeneous4 (7.3%)9 (69.2%)
Ring enhancement27 (49.1%)0
Absent00
TIC shape of the nodule0,275
Monophasic21 (38.2%)4 (30.8%)
Typical biphasic32 (58.2%)7 (53.8%)
Atypical biphasic2 (3.6%)1 (7.7%)
Polyphasic0 (0%)0 (0%)
Cannot be determined0 (0%)1 (7.7%)
Comparison of the TIC shape of the lesion and the surrounding tissue0.004
Identical54 (98.2%)9 (69.2%)
Different1 (1.8%)3 (23.1%)
Cannot be determined0 (0%)1 (7.7%)