title: Correlation between thyroid nodule calcification morphology on ultrasound and thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the detection of thyroid nodule calcifications on ultrasound and their relationship to thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microcalcifications (≤2 mm) and macro calcifications (>2 mm) on preoperative ultrasound examination of thyroid and lymph nodes were compared with postoperative pathological diagnoses in 4186 patients undergoing thyroid surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher incidences of micro- and macrocalcifications were found in patients with thyroid carcinoma than in those with benign disease. The incidence of malignant disease was significantly higher in patients with microcalcifications than those with macrocalcifications, suggesting that the presence of microcalcifications is a better predictor of malignant thyroid carcinoma than other calcification types. The specificity of microcalcifications for a diagnosis of malignant thyroid carcinoma was 96.5%. Microcalcifications were significantly more frequent in patients aged≤45 years, but there was no difference between genders. The incidence of malignancy was significantly higher in patients with single nodule calcifications than in those with multiple nodule calcifications. Lymph node calcifications were seen in 12 patients, all of whom had papillary carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid microcalcifications are strongly associated with thyroid carcinoma, especially micropapillary carcinoma. When cervical lymph node calcification is present, immediate surgery is required.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult