Mean peak systolic velocity of superior thyroid artery for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis: a diagnostic meta-analysis

• Published in: BMC endocrine disorders 2019-06, Vol.19 (1), p.56-56, Article 56
• Main Authors: Peng, Xiaojuan, Wu, Shenglan, Bie, Caiqun, Tang, Huijun, Xiong, Zhe, Tang, Shaohui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Analysis; Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Bias; Blood Flow Velocity; Destructive thyrotoxicosis; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic imaging; Diagnostic meta-analysis; Differential diagnosis; Disease; Flow velocity; Graves Disease - complications; Graves Disease - diagnosis; Graves Disease - diagnostic imaging; Graves' disease; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Iodine; Medical research; Meta-analysis; Peak systolic velocity of superior thyroid artery; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Quality; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Statistical analysis; Strategic planning (Business); Studies; Systole; Thyroid; Thyroid diseases; Thyroid gland; Thyroid Gland - blood supply; Thyroid Gland - diagnostic imaging; Thyroiditis; Thyroiditis - complications; Thyroiditis - diagnosis; Thyroiditis - diagnostic imaging; Thyrotoxicosis; Thyrotoxicosis - complications; Thyrotoxicosis - diagnosis; Thyrotoxicosis - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Ultrasound; Ultrasound imaging; Veins & arteries; Womens health
• ISSN: 1472-6823; 1472-6823
• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-019-0388-x

Thyrotoxicosis is often caused by destructive thyroiditis (DT) or Graves' disease (GD), and a prompt and accurate differential diagnosis for thyrotoxicosis is needed as management strategy differs. A meta-analysis of published literature was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy for differentiating GD from DT patients by the measurement of mean peak systolic velocity of superior thyroid artery (STA-PSV) using ultrasonography. The databases of Embase, Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI were retrieved without time limit to identify eligible studies. The statistical information and scientific quality were assessed and classified. The data were analyzed using Stata12.0 software. A total of 11 studies with 1052 cases only from Asia were included. Meta-analysis results showed the pooled sensitivity and pooled specificity of STA-PSV by ultrasonography were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.90) and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.86-0.97) in distinguishing GD from DT, respectively, with the AUC of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.96) . STA-PSV by ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method in differentiating GD from DT. More studies from other countries are needed to further evaluate the accuracy of STA-PSV for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis.