ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of conventional ultrasound（US）

virtual touch imaging and quantification（VTIQ） and contrast-enhanced ultrasound（CEUS） in differential diagnosis of mummified thyroid nodules.MethodsTwenty-three patients with mummified thyroid nodules and 17 patients with papillary thyroid carcinomas（PTCs）were enrolled in this study.The size

shape

margin

echogenicity

calcification

posterior shadowing

black and white double halo

vascularity

shear wave velocity（SWV） and CEUS parameters for each nodule were obtained. The receiver operating characteristics（ROC）curves were plotted to get the SWV cutoff value

and the area under the curve was calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the independent influence factor of mummified thyroid nodules.ResultsThere were significant differences in blood flow signals

SWV

enhancement mode

peak intensity ratio <1

and area ratio under the curve <1 in the mummified nodule group and PTCs group（all P<0.05）

and there were no significant differences in other characteristics.ROC curve showed that the cutoff value of SWV was 3.69 m/s

the diagnostic sensitivity was 82.4%

the specificity was 52.2%

and the area under the curve was 0.673. Logistic regression analysis showed that the black and white double halo sign and peak intensity ratio <1 were independent influence factors of thyroid mummy nodules（OR=27.589

40.877

P=0.012

0.007）.ConclusionMastering the ultrasound findings of mummified thyroid nodules and combining previous ultrasound findings are critical for detecting benign nodules from malignant nodules.US

VTIQ and CEUS all have important value in differential diagnosis of mummified thyroid nodules.