Sonography of thyroid nodules with peripheral calcifications.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the role of sonography (US) in the differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid nodules with peripheral calcifications.


METHODS
Sixty-four thyroid nodules with peripheral calcifications that were detected on US were included in the study. Nineteen nodules (30%) were benign, and 45 nodules (70%) were malignant. We retrospectively compared the US findings of the benign and malignant nodules, including interruption, thickening (>or=0.5 mm and over more than 50% of the circumference) of calcifications, internal echogenicity, margin, and presence of cystic change, size, and shape. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Interruption of peripheral calcifications was more common in malignant nodules (84%) than in benign nodules (53%) (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.3-48.4; p < 0.05). Thickening of the peripheral calcification was seen more frequently in malignant nodules (64%) than in benign nodules (11%) (OR, 14.7; 95% CI, 1.8-117.5; p < 0.05). For internal echogenicity, malignant nodules (58%) were more often hypoechoic than benign nodules (OR, 23.6; 95% CI, 2.2-256.3; p < 0.01). The mean tumor size was 1.1 cm for malignant nodules and 1.2 cm for benign nodules (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences for the presence or absence of cystic change, size, shape, and margin between malignant and benign nodules.


CONCLUSIONS
Interruption and thickening of peripheral calcifications and decreased internal echogenicity of a thyroid nodule with peripheral calcifications are in favor of malignancy.
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Minjung
M
Park
Jung Hee
JH
Shin
Boo-Kyung
BK
Han
Eun Young
EY
Ko
Hye Sun
HS
Hwang
Seok Seon
SS
Kang
Jung Han
JH
Kim
Young Lyun
YL
Oh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult