Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules Using Ultrasound Cine-Loop Video Sequences

In total, 189 patients with 329 TNs (78% females, aged 54 ± 15 years; 76% diagnosed via surgery; 14% malignant) were included. On SIC, 58 TNs (18%) were not identified (all benign). When comparing CL with SIC, a strong correlation was observed for nearly all ultrasound features (echogenicity, composition, margin, and foci; each <i>p</i> < 0.001) and both TIRADSs (each <i>p</i> < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of CL was slightly superior, with maximum values of 85% for ACR and 87% for Kwak TIRADS, respectively. Rating confidence and image quality exhibited superiority on SIC (each <i>p</i> < 0.001). The occurrence of image artifacts was more prevalent in CL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The integration of cine loops into thyroid ultrasound was found to be a seamless process, thereby enhancing the risk stratification of nodules. Image quality impairments manifested more frequently in cine loops, while static image captures demonstrated higher levels of assessment confidence.