Artificial Intelligent Accelerates the Learning Curve for Mastering Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound of Thyroid Nodules

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this observational study is to learn about the learning curve for mastering the thyroid imaging reporting and data system of contrast-enhanced ultrasound with the assistance of artificial intelligence in patients with thyroid nodules. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can we develop a artificial intelligent software to assist doctors in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules using contrast-enhanced ultrasound? Can artificial intelligent reduce the number of cases and time for doctors to master the contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules? Participants will be asked to undergo contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules. Researchers will compare the number of cases and time for doctors with and without artificial intelligent assistance to master the contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules to see if artificial intelligent reduce the number of cases and time.

Official Title
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Artificial Intelligent Accelerates the Learning Curve for Mastering Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound

Conditions
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Thyroid Nodule

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Artificial Intelligent


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with thyroid nodules with a solid component ≥5 mm confirmed by conventional ultrasound; Patients who underwent conventional ultrasound, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy; Patients with a final benign or malignant pathological results. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with cytopathology of Bethesda I, III, or IV and without final benign or malignant pathology； Patients with a history of thyroid ablation or surgery; Patients with low-quality ultrasound images.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Training set<br>Patients with thyroid nodules underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration during January 2018 and December 2020 in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital Sun Yat-sen University. | Other: Artificial Intelligent<br>* Artificial intelligence assisted radiologists to extract ultrasound features of thyroid nodules.<br>|
| Internal test set<br>Patients with thyroid nodules underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration during January 2021 and May 2023 in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital Sun Yat-sen University. | Other: Artificial Intelligent<br>* Artificial intelligence assisted radiologists to extract ultrasound features of thyroid nodules.<br>|
| External test set<br>Patients with thyroid nodules underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration during January 2022 and June 2023 in Houjie Hospital of Dongguan and Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang. | Other: Artificial Intelligent<br>* Artificial intelligence assisted radiologists to extract ultrasound features of thyroid nodules.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Area under curve. | Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. | At the end of the first (M1), third (M3), and sixth (M6) months of the trainees' rotation. | 
| The number of cases | The faculty responsible for the training program assessed the skills of each resident. | At the end of the first (M1), third (M3), and sixth (M6) months of the trainees' rotation. | 
| The cases time. | The faculty responsible for the training program assessed the skills of each resident. | At the end of the first (M1), third (M3), and sixth (M6) months of the trainees' rotation. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Ultrasonography, Contrast Media, Deep Learning, Thyroid Nodule, Learning Curve