title: Diffuse microcalcifications only of the thyroid gland seen on ultrasound: clinical implication and diagnostic approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the clinical implications and diagnostic approach of lesions showing only diffuse microcalcifications on thyroid ultrasound (US).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2004 to January 2011, a total of 31 patients had lesions showing diffuse microcalcifications alone on thyroid US. Among them, 26 patients (M:F ratio 4:22; mean age 37.5 years, range 15-56 years) who had underwent US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB), subsequent surgery, or follow-up US after 1 year after initial US-FNAB were included. Histopathologic results from surgery or US-FNAB were considered as standard reference. Clinical and US features were compared to standard reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the disease of 26 patients, 16 (61.5%) were diagnosed as malignancy and 10 (38.5%) as benign. Seventeen (65.4%) of the 26 patients included were diagnosed as having Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) on a clinical basis. Eight (80.0%) of the 10 benign lesions were diagnosed as benign on initial US-FNAB, and the remaining 2 lesions (20.0%) were nondiagnostic. All malignant lesions were diagnosed as suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or PTC by US-FNAB. Of the US features, presence of pathologic lymph nodes were significantly higher in malignant disease compared to benign findings, 10 (62.5%) to 0 (0.0%) (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffuse microcalcifications only lesions of the thyroid show high prevalence of PTC and lymphocytic thyroiditis. US-FNAB shows an acceptable performance in lesions showing microcalcifications only on thyroid US.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult