Deep-learning radiomics based on ultrasound can objectively evaluate thyroid nodules and assist in improving the diagnostic level of ultrasound physicians.

Background: The incidence rate of thyroid nodules has reached 65%, but only 5-15% of these modules are malignant. Therefore, accurately determining the benign and malignant nature of thyroid nodules can prevent unnecessary treatment. We aimed to develop a deep-learning (DL) radiomics model based on ultrasound (US), explore its diagnostic efficacy for benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and verify whether it improved the diagnostic level of physicians.

Methods: We retrospectively included 1,076 thyroid nodules from 817 patients at three institutions. The radiomics and DL features of the US images were extracted and used to construct radiomics signature (Rad_sig) and deep-learning signature (DL_sig). A Pearson correlation analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis were used for feature selection. Clinical US semantic signature (C_US_sig) was constructed based on clinical information and US semantic features. Next, a combined model was constructed based on the above three signatures in the form of a nomogram. The model was constructed using a development set (institution 1: 719 nodules), and the model was evaluated using two external validation sets (institution 2: 74 nodules, and institution 3: 283 nodules). The performance of the model was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves. Furthermore, the C_US_sigs of junior physicians, senior physicians, and expers were constructed. The DL radiomics model was used to assist the physicians with different levels of experience in the interpretation of thyroid nodules.

Results: In the development and validation sets, the combined model showed the highest performance, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.947, 0.917, and 0.929, respectively. The DCA results showed that the comprehensive nomogram had the best clinical utility. The calibration curves indicated good calibration for all models. The AUCs for distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid nodules by junior physicians, senior physicians, and experts were 0.714-0.752, 0.740-0.824, and 0.891-0.908, respectively; however, with the assistance of DL radiomics, the AUCs reached 0.858-0.923, 0.888-0.944, and 0.912-0.919, respectively.

Conclusions: The nomogram based on DL radiomics had high diagnostic efficacy for thyroid nodules, and DL radiomics could assist physicians with different levels of experience to improve their diagnostic level.