C Shi1, S Li, T Shi, B Liu, C Ding, H Qin. 1. Fourth Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the detection of thyroid nodule calcifications on ultrasound and their relationship to thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Microcalcifications (≤2 mm) and macro calcifications (>2 mm) on preoperative ultrasound examination of thyroid and lymph nodes were compared with postoperative pathological diagnoses in 4186 patients undergoing thyroid surgery. RESULTS: Higher incidences of micro- and macrocalcifications were found in patients with thyroid carcinoma than in those with benign disease. The incidence of malignant disease was significantly higher in patients with microcalcifications than those with macrocalcifications, suggesting that the presence of microcalcifications is a better predictor of malignant thyroid carcinoma than other calcification types. The specificity of microcalcifications for a diagnosis of malignant thyroid carcinoma was 96.5%. Microcalcifications were significantly more frequent in patients aged≤45 years, but there was no difference between genders. The incidence of malignancy was significantly higher in patients with single nodule calcifications than in those with multiple nodule calcifications. Lymph node calcifications were seen in 12 patients, all of whom had papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid microcalcifications are strongly associated with thyroid carcinoma, especially micropapillary carcinoma. When cervical lymph node calcification is present, immediate surgery is required.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the detection of thyroid nodule calcifications on ultrasound and their relationship to thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Microcalcifications (≤2 mm) and macro calcifications (>2 mm) on preoperative ultrasound examination of thyroid and lymph nodes were compared with postoperative pathological diagnoses in 4186 patients undergoing thyroid surgery. RESULTS: Higher incidences of micro- and macrocalcifications were found in patients with thyroid carcinoma than in those with benign disease. The incidence of malignant disease was significantly higher in patients with microcalcifications than those with macrocalcifications, suggesting that the presence of microcalcifications is a better predictor of malignant thyroid carcinoma than other calcification types. The specificity of microcalcifications for a diagnosis of malignant thyroid carcinoma was 96.5%. Microcalcifications were significantly more frequent in patients aged≤45 years, but there was no difference between genders. The incidence of malignancy was significantly higher in patients with single nodule calcifications than in those with multiple nodule calcifications. Lymph node calcifications were seen in 12 patients, all of whom had papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid microcalcifications are strongly associated with thyroid carcinoma, especially micropapillary carcinoma. When cervical lymph node calcification is present, immediate surgery is required.
Authors: Gary Gamme; Tyler Parrington; Edward Wiebe; Sunita Ghosh; Brendan Litt; David C Williams; Todd P W McMullen Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2017-04 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: María Inés Vera; Tomás Meroño; María Agustina Urrutia; Carina Parisi; Yanina Morosan; Melanie Rosmarin; Marta Schnitman; Fernando Brites; Silvio Grisendi; María Sol Serrano; Wilfredo Luciani; Leonardo Serrano; Carlos Zuk; Guillermo De Barrio; Claudia Cejas; María Cristina Faingold; Gabriela Brenta Journal: J Thyroid Res Date: 2014-06-23