Abstract:

Objective To assess the changes in ultrasonic indexes in Hashimoto′s thyroiditis patients of different ages，and to determine the ultrasonic diagnostic indices and threshold value by using conventional ultra⁃ sound and shear wave elastography（SWE）. Methods A total of 147 patients with clinically diagnosed HT in our hospital were selected as a HT group，while 124 healthy people were selected as a control group. Both groups were divided into subgroups of ages 21 ~ 35（47，40 cases），36 ~ 50（53，43 cases）and 51 ~ 65（47，41 cases）. All the patients underwent ultrasonography. Thyroid volume（TV），isthmus thickness，peak systolic velocity（PSV） of superior thyroid artery，echo grade，blood flow grade，SWEmean and SWVmean were recorded. The differences of ultrasonic parameters in different age groups of HT patients and controls were compared，and the correlation between ultrasound parameters and age were analyzed. Ultrasonic parameters between HT and controls （overall and in different age groups）were compared. The ROC curves were used to determine the ultrasonic diagnostic indexes and cutoff values of HT in different age groups. Results In different age groups of HT patients，there were statistically significant differences in thyroid echo grade，SWEmean and SWVmean（P < 0.05）；while in the control group，there were significant differences in SWEmean and SWVmean（P < 0.05）. The age of HT patients and controls was positively correlated with SWEmean and SWVmean（r = 0.231，0.236；r = 0.476，0.408；P < 0.05）. The ROC showed：in all the subgroups，SWEmean had the highest AUC value for diagnosing HT，and as the cutoff values were 13.53，13.78，15.96 kpa，both sensitivity and specificity were higher，which were 95.7% and 80.5%，96.2% and 89.4%，89.4% and 62.5%，respectively. Conclusions Conventional ultrasound and SWE can be used to objectively assess the changes in thyroid gland in HT patients of different ages. Thyroid echo decreases whereas elasticity increases with age. SWEmean can be used as the best ultrasound diagnostic index for HT patients aged 21 ~ 35，36 ~ 50 and 51 ~ 65，with its diagnostic cutoff values of 13.53，13.78，and 15.96 kpa，respectively.

Key words:

aging changes, ultrasonic evaluation, hashimoto′s thyroiditis, shear wave elastography