title: Multidetector computed tomography analysis of benign and malignant nodules in patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) features of benign and malignant nodules in patients with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT). MDCT findings, including the size, solid percentage, calcification, margin, capsule, anteroposterior-transverse diameter ratio as well as the mode and the degree of enhancement of 137 thyroid nodules in 127 CLT cases were retrospectively analyzed. Furthermore, the correlation between MDCT findings and pathological results combined with the CT perfusion imaging was analyzed for the differences between benign and malignant nodules. A total of 77.5% (31/40) of malignant nodules were completely solid, and 33% (32/97) of benign nodules were predominantly cystic. Compared with the benign nodules, micro-calcification and internal calcification were more frequently observed in the malignant nodules (P<0.05). MDCT features such as ill-defined margin, absence of capsule or incomplete capsule or homogeneous enhancement were more likely to be present in the malignant nodules (P<0.05). Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in the enhancement degree at arterial or venous phase between benign and malignant nodules (P>0.05). MDCT features are useful in differentiating the benign and malignant nodules in CLT patients, and it may be essential for a radiologist to review the MDCT characteristics of nodules in the clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Caisong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kangwei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
keywords: chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; multi-slice computed tomography; thyroid nodules