Superficial Parts Ultrasound
Sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinoma
Liu Meijuan, Xia Yu, Jiang Yuxin, Dai Qing, Bi Yalan, Cai Sheng, Zhang Bo, Yang Meng, Li Jianchu
Published 2015-10-01
Cite as Chin J Med Ultrasound(Electronic Edition), 2015,12(10): 773-777. DOI: 10.3877/cma.j.issn.1672-6448.2015.10.007
Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
MethodsClinical and sonographic features of MTC in 49 pathologically confirmed patients were retrospectively analyzed, 64 pathologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients were settled as control group. Sonographic features such as lesion size, shape, echogenicity, calcification, intranodular vascularity and neck lymphadenopathy were compared between MTC and PTC groups.
ResultsBoth MTC and PTC lesions were often presented as hypoechoic (51/61, 83.6%) with unclear margin (39/61, 63.9%), microcalicifications (33/61, 54.1%) and neck lymphadenopathy (22/49, 44.9%) were noticed in both two groups. Compared with PTC (M=2.20 cm, Q=1.70 cm), the mean size of MTC (M=0.80, Q=0.70 cm) was larger (P<0.001); MTC group presented less ʺtaller than wideʺ feature [4/61 (6.6%) vs 45/79 (57.0%), P<0.001]; Complex echogenicity in MTC group were more commonly seen [10/61 (16.4%) vs 2/79 (2.5%), P = 0.003]; More MTC lesions presented increased intranodular vascularity [56/61 (91.8%) vs 31/79 (39.2%), P<0.001].
ConclusionSonographic features of MTC and PTC group were similar, however, the statistical difference between two groups were noticed and should be considered in the process of thyroid nodule diagnosis.
Key words:
Thyroid neoplasms; Ultrasonography, Doppler, color; Thyroid gland
Contributor Information
Liu Meijuan
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China; Department of Medical Ultrasound, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Shandong 264000, China
Xia Yu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Jiang Yuxin
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Dai Qing
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Bi Yalan
Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Cai Sheng
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Zhang Bo
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Yang Meng
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
Li Jianchu
Department of Medical Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China