Analysis of CT diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of plain and enhanced CT examination in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Methods The plain and enhanced CT data of 86 cases of thyroid tumor were retrospectively analyzed, there were 34 cases of benign tumors, including 29 cases of thyroid adenoma, 5 cases of nodular goiter and 52 cases of malignant tumors, which were performed by CT imaging diagnosis, surgery and pathological results. Results CT scan showed that the shape of tumor was round or like round in benign thyroid tumor, the density was homogeneous in 26 cases (76.5%), the border was clear in 31 cases (91.2%), and calcification in 6 cases (17.6%); CT scan of thyroid carcinoma showed irregular shape in 40 cases (76.9%), uneven density in 50 cases (96.2%), unclear boundary in 34 cases (65.4%), calcification in 15 cases (28.8%). After statistical analysis, the shape and density of the tumor were homogeneous, and whether the boundary was clear or not was significantly different between benign and malignant thyroid tumors (P<0.01), there was no significant difference in calcification between the two groups (P=0.237). Enhanced CT scanning of thyroid benign tumor enhancement in 26 cases (76.5%), and the surrounding adipose tissue of 31 cases with clear boundary (91.2%), trachea or vascular compression in 15 cases (44.1%), cervical or submandibular lymph nodes in 9 cases (26.5%); thyroid cancer was enhanced in 45 cases (86.5%), with clear peripheral fat tissue in 18 cases (34.6%), tracheal or vascular compression in 3 cases (5.8%), and neck or submandibular lymph node shadow in 23 cases (44.2%). There was significant difference between the benign and malignant thyroid tumors (P<0.01) and whether the boundary of the surrounding tissues was clear or whether the trachea or the vessels were compressed, there was no significant difference between benign and malignant thyroid tumors, whether enhanced or not, and the P values were 0.229 and 0.096, respectively. Conclusions Plain scan and enhanced CT scan are of great value in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors. Key words: Thyroid tumors; Benign and Malignant; Tomography; X-ray computer