Objectives This study aims to explore the feasibility of employing generative adversarial networks (GAN) to generate synthetic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) from grayscale ultrasound images of patients with thyroid nodules while dispensing with the need for ultrasound contrast agents injection. Materials and methods Patients who underwent preoperative thyroid CEUS examinations between January 2020 and July 2022 were collected retrospectively. The cycle-GAN framework integrated paired and unpaired learning modules was employed to develop the non-invasive image generation process. The synthetic CEUS images was generated in three phases: pre-arterial, plateau, and venous. The evaluation included quantitative similarity metrics, classification performance, and qualitative assessment by radiologists. Results CEUS videos of 360 thyroid nodules from 314 patients (45 years ± 12 [SD]; 272 women) in the internal dataset and 202 thyroid nodules from 183 patients (46 years ± 13 [SD]; 148 women) in the external dataset were included. In the external testing dataset, quantitative analysis revealed a significant degree of similarity between real and synthetic CEUS images (structure similarity index, 0.89 ± 0.04; peak signal-to-noise ratio, 28.17 ± 2.42). Radiologists deemed 126 of 132 [95%] synthetic CEUS images diagnostically useful. The accuracy of radiologists in distinguishing between real and synthetic images was 55.6% (95% CI: 0.49, 0.63), with an AUC of 61.0% (95% CI: 0.65, 0.68). No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed when radiologists assessed peak intensity and enhancement patterns using real CEUS and synthetic CEUS. Conclusion Both quantitative analysis and radiologist evaluations exhibited that synthetic CEUS images generated by generative adversarial networks were similar to real CEUS images. Key Points <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Question</Emphasis>It is feasible to generate synthetic thyroid contrast-enhanced ultrasound images using generative adversarial networks without ultrasound contrast agents injection. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Findings</Emphasis>Compared to real contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, synthetic contrast-enhanced ultrasound images exhibited high similarity and image quality. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Clinical relevance</Emphasis>This non-invasive and intelligent transformation may reduce the requirement for ultrasound contrast agents in certain cases, particularly in scenarios where ultrasound contrast agents administration is contraindicated, such as in patients with allergies, poor tolerance, or limited access to resources. Graphical Abstract

Synthesize contrast-enhanced ultrasound image of thyroid nodules via generative adversarial networks

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年8月30日

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Min Lai,
Jincao Yao,
Yahan Zhou,
Lingyan Zhou,
Tian Jiang,
Lin Sui,
Jinglan Tang,
Xinying Zhu,
Jiaheng Huang,
Yifan Wang,
Junping Liu,
Dong Xu

摘要

Objectives

This study aims to explore the feasibility of employing generative adversarial networks (GAN) to generate synthetic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) from grayscale ultrasound images of patients with thyroid nodules while dispensing with the need for ultrasound contrast agents injection.

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent preoperative thyroid CEUS examinations between January 2020 and July 2022 were collected retrospectively. The cycle-GAN framework integrated paired and unpaired learning modules was employed to develop the non-invasive image generation process. The synthetic CEUS images was generated in three phases: pre-arterial, plateau, and venous. The evaluation included quantitative similarity metrics, classification performance, and qualitative assessment by radiologists.

Results

CEUS videos of 360 thyroid nodules from 314 patients (45 years ± 12 [SD]; 272 women) in the internal dataset and 202 thyroid nodules from 183 patients (46 years ± 13 [SD]; 148 women) in the external dataset were included. In the external testing dataset, quantitative analysis revealed a significant degree of similarity between real and synthetic CEUS images (structure similarity index, 0.89 ± 0.04; peak signal-to-noise ratio, 28.17 ± 2.42). Radiologists deemed 126 of 132 [95%] synthetic CEUS images diagnostically useful. The accuracy of radiologists in distinguishing between real and synthetic images was 55.6% (95% CI: 0.49, 0.63), with an AUC of 61.0% (95% CI: 0.65, 0.68). No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed when radiologists assessed peak intensity and enhancement patterns using real CEUS and synthetic CEUS.

Conclusion

Both quantitative analysis and radiologist evaluations exhibited that synthetic CEUS images generated by generative adversarial networks were similar to real CEUS images.

Key Points

QuestionIt is feasible to generate synthetic thyroid contrast-enhanced ultrasound images using generative adversarial networks without ultrasound contrast agents injection.

FindingsCompared to real contrast-enhanced ultrasound images, synthetic contrast-enhanced ultrasound images exhibited high similarity and image quality.

Clinical relevanceThis non-invasive and intelligent transformation may reduce the requirement for ultrasound contrast agents in certain cases, particularly in scenarios where ultrasound contrast agents administration is contraindicated, such as in patients with allergies, poor tolerance, or limited access to resources.

Graphical Abstract