ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical value of ultrasonic elastosonography in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. MethodsThe elastosonography images of 119 thyroid nodules in 71 patients treated between February 2010 and February 2013 were analyzed and the hardness of the nodule was classified into five grades according to the results of elastosonography. It was defined that the nodules with grade 0-Ⅱ hardness were benign while those with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ were malignant. The results of elastosonography were compared with surgery and pathology. ResultsIn these patients, the number of benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 102 and 17, respectively according to pathology. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of elastosonography in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules were respectively 100.0%, 73.5% and 77.3%. ConclusionUltrasonic elastosonography is helpful in the diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid nodules; the combined elastosonography and conventional ultrasound can improve diagnostic accuracy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of femoral hernia. MethodsThe ultrasonographic features of 39 femoral hernias in 37 patients treated between March 2008 and October 2013 were retrospectively analyzed, and the results were confirmed by surgery. ResultsThirty-nine femoral hernias were diagnosed by surgery, including 19 in the right side, 16 in the left side, and 2 with double-side hernias. Thirty-seven femoral hernias were diagnosed with ultrasonography. Two femoral hernias were misdiagnosed as lipoma in one, and as enlarged lymph nodes in one, respectively. Ultrasound diagnosis accurate rate was 94.9% (37/39). Hernia content could be seen through surgery in 28 cases, and the ultrasound accurate rate in assessing the hernia content was 85.7% (24/28). ConclusionUltrasonography is the first choice for improving the diagnosis efficacy of femoral hernia.