[Thyroid nodules with calcification and thyroid carcinoma].
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.
Liu
Hong-feng
HF
Department of General Surgery, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China. liuhongf@sina.com
Tang
Wei-song
WS
Yang
Zhi-ying
ZY
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*