title: Do the calcifications in the thyroid gland predict malignancy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between calcifications in the thyroid gland and malignant thyroid lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2005 - May 2010, 169 patients, who had been operated on for thyroidectomy, were evaluated. The demographic findings were analyzed with regard to ultrasonographic and histopathologic calcifications. The relationship between calcifications and malignant and benign thyroid lesions was statistically determined by SPSS 10.01 version of Z-test and Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microcalcifications were found in 54 patients (31.95 %). Macrocalcification was found in one patient (0.59 %).Malignancy was determined in 29 patients (17.16 %). The rate of malignancy in patients with calcifications was 17/55 (30.9 1%). The diagnosis was nodular colloidal goiter in 38 patients (38/55, 69.09 %) with calcifications. The rate of calcification in malignant patients was 17/29 (58.62 %). The rate of malignancy in patients without calcification was 12/114 (10.52 %). The difference between the rate of malignancy in patients with calcification and the rate of malignancy in patients without calcification was statistically significant (Z-test, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microcalcifications of the thyroid gland could predict malignant thyroid disease. They should be strictly evaluated by all thyroid cancer diagnostic modalities and surgical treatment should also be considered (Tab. 4, Ref. 29).
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. bgungor@omu.edu.tr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seren
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erzurumlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult