title: Ultrasonography features of medullary thyroid cancer as predictors of its biological behavior.
abstract: Background Although there are many well-known prognostic predictors of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), the ultrasonography (US) findings of MTC have not been sufficiently validated in this regard. Purpose To investigate the US findings of MTC and their relationship with the biological behavior of MTC. Material and Methods The US findings and clinical and pathology records of 123 MTC nodules from 108 patients were retrospectively analyzed at two tertiary referral hospitals. MTCs were classified according to US findings, i.e. MTC with benign (B-MTC) and malignant US findings (M-MTC). We then compared the clinical and pathology findings between the two groups. Results Eighty-two M-MTCs (66.7%) and 41 B-MTCs (33.3%) were identified. M-MTCs showed a significantly higher prevalence of lateral lymph node metastases as well as extrathyroidal and extranodal extension (all P < 0.05). M-MTCs larger than 1 cm showed a significantly higher prevalence of multifocality, recurrence, extrathyroidal and extranodal extension than B-MTCs larger than 1 cm in the largest dimension (all P < 0.05). Tumors > 1 cm were more likely to be B-MTC and one-third of all MTCs had benign US features. The common findings of B-MTC included a solid, ovoid to round shape, with a smooth margin, hypoechogenicity, and without calcification. Conclusion The biological behavior of M-MTCs results in poorer outcomes than that of B-MTCs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cherry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|2 Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: EunJu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Eun
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Kyun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won Bae
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 6 Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Kee
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Medullary thyroid cancer; biological behavior; prognosis; recurrence; ultrasonography