Abstract：Objective To explore the diagnostic value of virtual touch quantization(VTQ) in diffuse thyroid disease.Methods The VTQ technique was used in 85 patients with diffuse thyroid disease(case group) and 20 normal subjects(control group).At the same time,transverse shear wave velocity was measured to calculate the elastic compliance using VTQ analysis software and the relevant data were analyzed for diffuse thyroid disease.Results Thetransverse shear wave velocity was(1.54±0.42)m·s-1,(1.83±0.31)m·s-1,(1.96±0.53)m·s-1,(2.34±0.24)m·s-1,(3.34±0.12) m·s-1 and(3.83±0.37)m·s-1in control,simple goiter,hyperthyroidism,subacute thyroiditis,hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,respectively.Transverse shear wave velocity in control group was significantly greater than that in case group(all P<0.05),but there were no obvious differences between simple goiter and hyperthyroidism(P>0.05).Transverse shear wave velocities in subacute thyroiditis,hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis were significantly greater than those in simple goiter and hyperthyroidism(all P<0.05),and transverse shear wave velocities in hypothyroidism and subacute thyroiditis were obviously smaller than those in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(P<0.01).Conclusion The VTQ technology has high clinical reference value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of diffuse thyroid disease
2011, Vol. 53 
