Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40455930›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Application research of artificial intelligence software in the analysis of thyroid nodule ultrasound image characteristics.

Chen Xu, Zuxin Wang, Jun Zhou, Fan Hu, Ying Wang, Zhongqing Xu, Yong Cai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chen XuPublic Health Research Center, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Zuxin WangPublic Health Research Center, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Jun ZhouProject Department, Tend.AI Medical Technologies Co., Shanghai, P.R. China.
Fan HuPublic Health Research Center, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Ying WangPublic Health Research Center, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Zhongqing XuDepartment of General Practice, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Yong CaiPublic Health Research Center, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5706-7906

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Thyroid nodule, as a common clinical endocrine disease, has become increasingly prevalent worldwide. Ultrasound, as the premier method of thyroid imaging, plays an important role in accurately diagnosing and managing thyroid nodules. However, there is a high degree of inter- and intra-observer variability in image interpretation due to the different knowledge and experience of sonographers who have huge ultrasound examination tasks everyday. Artificial intelligence based on computer-aided diagnosis technology maybe improve the accuracy and time efficiency of thyroid nodules diagnosis. This study introduced an artificial intelligence software called SW-TH01/II to evaluate ultrasound image characteristics of thyroid nodules including echogenicity, shape, border, margin, and calcification. We included 225 ultrasound images from two hospitals in Shanghai, respectively. The sonographers and software performed characteristics analysis on the same group of images. We analyzed the consistency of the two results and used the sonographers' results as the gold standard to evaluate the accuracy of SW-TH01/II. A total of 449 images were included in the statistical analysis. For the seven indicators, the proportions of agreement between SW-TH01/II and sonographers' analysis results were all greater than 0.8. For the echogenicity (with very hypoechoic), aspect ratio and margin, the kappa coefficient between the two methods were above 0.75 (P < 0.001). The kappa coefficients of echogenicity (echotexture and echogenicity level), border and calcification between the two methods were above 0.6 (P < 0.001). The median time it takes for software and sonographers to interpret an image were 3 (2, 3) seconds and 26.5 (21.17, 34.33) seconds, respectively, and the difference were statistically significant (z = -18.36, P < 0.001). SW-TH01/II has a high degree of accuracy and great time efficiency benefits in judging the characteristics of thyroid nodule. It can provide more objective results and improve the efficiency of ultrasound examination. SW-TH01/II can be used to assist the sonographers in characterizing the thyroid nodule ultrasound images.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceImage Processing, Computer-AssistedSoftwareThyroid NoduleAdultFemaleHumansImage Interpretation, Computer-AssistedMaleMiddle AgedUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID40455930
PMCPMC12129332

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.