title: Do hyperechoic thyroid nodules on B-ultrasound represent calcification?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the correlation between hyperechoic thyroid nodules observed on B-ultrasound and histological calcification seen in paraffin-wax sections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of patients who underwent surgical removal of thyroid nodules diagnosed on preoperative B-ultrasound were analysed retrospectively. Calcification present on B-ultrasound was compared with calcification seen in postoperative pathology specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,655 patients included in the study, 518 had malignant and 1,137 had benign thyroid nodules. Calcification on B-ultrasound was seen in 366 patients with malignant, and 414 with benign nodules. Calcification was confirmed on histology in 209 and 127 of these patients, respectively, giving a sensitivity and specificity for B-ultrasound in diagnosing calcification (compared with histology) of 95.87% and 47.67%, respectively, in thyroid cancer and 90.71%, and 71.21% respectively in benign thyroid nodules. Microcalcification was seen in 483 patients on B-ultrasound and in 186 on histology, of whom 294 (60.87%) and 152 (81.72%), respectively, had thyroid cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  B-ultrasound is a useful and accurate test for detecting calcification in thyroid nodules, with a high sensitivity. There is a close association between calcification (especially microcalcification) and thyroid cancer on both B-ultrasound and pathological examination.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. wugang66916@yahoo.com.cn
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Wu
authors: Zhongwen
authors: Z
authors: Zhou
authors: Tianyi
authors: T
authors: Li
authors: Duan
authors: D
authors: Cai
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Thyroid nodule; calcification; thyroid cancer; ultrasound