title: Sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas according to tumor size: comparison with papillary thyroid carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas according to nodule size and compared with findings for papillary thyroid carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 38 medullary thyroid carcinoma nodules and 91 papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules, which were confirmed by pathologic examination between May 2008 and September 2013. Nodules were divided into those that were greater than 10 mm (large nodules) and 10 mm or less (small nodules). The differences in sonographic features (composition, echogenicity, margin, calcifications, and shape) between groups were analyzed with a χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Large medullary thyroid carcinomas more frequently showed an ovoid-to-round shape and a smooth margin; small medullary thyroid carcinomas more frequently showed a taller-than-wide shape and a spiculated margin; the differences were statistically significant between the groups (P < .05). Compared with papillary thyroid carcinomas, large medullary thyroid carcinomas tended to have an ovoid-to-round shape, a smooth margin, and macrocalcifications and were more frequently diagnosed as indeterminate nodules (P < .05); however, there were no significant differences in the internal composition, calcifications, echogenicity, margin, and shape between small medullary thyroid carcinomas and small papillary thyroid carcinomas (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that the sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas are associated with tumor size; furthermore, the sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas are similar to those of small papillary thyroid carcinomas but greatly different from those of large papillary thyroid carcinomas. Large medullary thyroid carcinomas are more commonly diagnosed as indeterminate nodules by sonography than large papillary thyroid carcinomas, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy or serum calcitonin measurement may be helpful.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ultrasound (L.Z., H.Z., B.L.) and Pathology (M.Z.), Provincial Hospital Affiliated With Shandong University, Jinan, China; and Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China (B.C.).
authors.forename: Liguang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ultrasound (L.Z., H.Z., B.L.) and Pathology (M.Z.), Provincial Hospital Affiliated With Shandong University, Jinan, China; and Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China (B.C.).
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ultrasound (L.Z., H.Z., B.L.) and Pathology (M.Z.), Provincial Hospital Affiliated With Shandong University, Jinan, China; and Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China (B.C.).
authors.forename: Miaoqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ultrasound (L.Z., H.Z., B.L.) and Pathology (M.Z.), Provincial Hospital Affiliated With Shandong University, Jinan, China; and Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China (B.C.).
authors.forename: Huawei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Ultrasound (L.Z., H.Z., B.L.) and Pathology (M.Z.), Provincial Hospital Affiliated With Shandong University, Jinan, China; and Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China (B.C.). slyyliangbo@sina.com.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: head and neck ultrasound; medullary thyroid carcinoma; papillary thyroid carcinoma; sonography; thyroid gland