title: [Thyroid nodules with calcification and thyroid carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the significance of thyroid calcification for diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 817 thyroid nodules' pre-operative ultrasonic and postoperative pathologic results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total ultrasonic thyroid calcification ratio was 18.1% (148/817). Total pathologic thyroid calcification ratio was 19.6% (160/817), which in benign samples was lower than that in malignant samples (13.1% vs 53.5%, P < 0.01). Micro-calcification ratio in benign samples was lower than that in malignant samples (2.9% vs 38.6%, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid nodules with calcification especially micro-calcification is considered to be the most specific sign of thyroid carcinoma, so the detection of it should be an important diagnostic criterion.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China. liuhongf@sina.com
authors.forename: Hong-feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-song
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhi-ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology*