Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 2011. / OBJECTIVE: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy and patients
presenting with thyroid nodules often undergo surgery solely for diagnostic purposes.
The goal of our study was to examine the accuracy of Elastic Scattering Spectroscopy
(ESS) in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules in fresh ex vivo
specimens and to design an in vivo ESS probe and device, manufacture it and conduct a
clinical trial.
METHODS: Patients already undergoing thyroidectomy surgery were consented for the ex
vivo study. ESS data was obtained from ex vivo specimens by recording 5 readings per
nodule with five repetitive readings per each site. Final pathology reports were used to
confirm the diagnosis. The spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis,
linear discriminant analysis and leave one out technique. The in vivo ESS study was
conceptually designed and IRB approval from Boston Medical Campus was obtained.
RESULTS: The ex vivo study showed that ESS could predict the difference between benign
and malignant tumors with a sensitivity of 74%, specificity of 90%, positive predictive
value of 82% and negative predictive value of 85%. 193 spectra were analyzed from 64
patients, 120 spectra were from benign nodules and 73 from malignant nodules. Subanalysis
examined only indeterminate nodules showed sensitivity of 65%, specificity of
79%, PPV 77% and NPV 67%. The in vivo ESS probe was designed and 12 identical
instruments were manufactured. Initial experimental readings were taken and parameters
were adjusted for the in vivo tissue environment. The clinical trial is underway.
CONCLUSIONS: ESS is a practical tool that can accurately identify malignancy in ex vivo
thyroid specimens with high specificity and sensitivity. Initial in vivo experimental trials have been conducted and show promise for similar results.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/30916 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Goukassian, Ilona Davidovna |
| Publisher | Boston University |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author. |
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